Event Comment: A New Opera. [By Metastasio. Music by Francis Veracini. For a full account of this opera and opera in general, see Ilchester, Lord Hervey and his Friends, pp. 238-39.] Daily Advertiser, 26 Nov.: Their Majesties, his Royal Highness, and the Princesses [attended] Adriano, compos'd by the famous Signior Veracini, who perform'd the first Fiddle

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A New Comedy [By Francis Lynch]

Event Comment: A New Opera. [Music by Francis Veracini.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Afterpiece: A new dramatic Pastoral Farce. The Music composed by Hook. Play by Francis Gentleman

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A new Comedy [by Francis Gentleman, first perform'd at Chester, 1760 (Biographia Dramatica)]. By Permission. Benefit for Mrs Williams. Note: For performances at dl and cg 18 and 20 September, see Season of 1773-1774, p. 1745

Event Comment: A new short Introductory Piece before a play [The Meeting of the Company]. This new Prelude call'd The Meeting of the Company or Bayes' Art of Acting by D. G. Esq--it is full of fine Satyr & an Excellent Lesson to all performers, it was receiv'd with very great Applause (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly in the wording. The salaries this season were #94 7s. 8d. per day; #566 6s. per week. Kemble's note as to total receipts is short by 8 pence.] Prices: Box 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. [Unfavorable review of Meeting of the Company in The Westminster Magazine (Sept., p. 472). The actor Aickin referred to this season is J. Aickin. Francis Aickin left dl before the beginning of this season. He was dismissed by Garrick in May. See Booden, Private Correspondence of David Garrick, I, 651-55.] Paid Renters #8; Advanced Mr Watson (box office keeper) #10; Ditto to Mr Mortimer (box office keeper) #15 (Treasurer's Book). [The funds to the box office keepers was operating cash which was returned 29 May 1775. Payment to Renters was same for each acting night until the eighty-eighth night (9 Jan. 1775) when it dropped to #4 nightly, since half of the stock holders (the Old Renters) were paid up by that time. The remaining 100 nights of the season plus 11 Oratorio nights yielded #448 to the Renters. No further mention of this item of expense will be made this season.] Total to Renters #1,152. Receipts: #212 14s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: This Tragedy is taken from ye French by ye Revd Mr Francis. A great Noise before ye play began, occasion'd by ye Music not playing what they lik'd, they being Palted wou'd not come into the Orchestra-a Branch knock'd down, Candles thrown &c.-Mr Garrick went on, order'd ye Music in, & all was quiet-went off with great Applause (Cross). Never acted before. Characters New Dress'd Mr Garrick is intitled to my sincerest Gratitude for his Performance as an Actor, and for his Punctuality as a Manager...his strong good Sence, with that Spirit of Theatrical Criticism, which is his peculiar natural Genius (Prefatory matter by Francis first in ed.). Receipts: 180 (Cross)

Event Comment: MMr Francis has successfully avoided the common fault of a buskin'd expression, and left the plain language of nature to be supported by the dignity of the sentiment: He has I think, not above one or two similies, and scarce one unnecessary or purely ornamental epithet. In this he has judiciously imitated the simplicity of the antients, and of our Milton's Samson Agonistes, as he has also done in the contrivance of the fable, by preserving the unities...'Twould be idle in me to observe that this play is a true tragedy, tho' nobody dies in it, as it has so large a share in exciting the only objects, terror and pity. There is one excellency, which I cannot help pointing out, as it is almost universally overlook'd by all dramatic writers: I mean the MORAL without which there is no perfect drama. (Have at you All; Or The Drury Lane Journal, 20 Feb. 1752). Receipts: #170 (Cross)

Event Comment: A New Tragedy by Dr Philip? Francis, author of Eugenia, --went off very indifferently (Cross). [This tragedy is mercilessly attacked in The Tuner No 2 by Paul Hiffernan, who compares its phrasing in a dozen instances with similar, but more perfect phrasing in Shakespeare.

Event Comment: 2nd piece [1st time; M 3, by--Francis. Perhaps the same as a piece performed under this title at Bath, 20 Nov. 1785]: With new Musick, Scenes, Dresses and Decorations. The new Musick and Overture by Dr Arnold. The Scenery by Rooker. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre

Event Comment: Benefit Coker, Morgan, Salter, Mrs Gulick, Miss Francis. Receipts: money #4 19s. 6d.; tickets #141 18s