Event Comment: FFlying Post, 1 March: On Thursday Night last, the Village Opera was play'd the Fifth Time, but met with a most unaccountable Reception; however, tis presumed not from any Pique against the Author, but the Resentment of the town upon some later Proceedings. No sooner did poor Colin appear upon the Stage, but his Arrival was usher'd in with a Serenade of Cat Calls, Penny-Trumpets, Clubs, Canes, Hoarse Voices, whistling in Keys, Hells, Fists; and Vollies of whole Oranges; however, the Players went on with uncommon intrepidity, and like the truly great Men, seem'd greater by opposition. The Audience call'd out for any other Play, Farce or Entertainment, but the Peasants seem'd too intent upon what they were about, to give Ear to them. This so exasperated the Spectators, that they mustered up all the Artillery they could possibly lay hold and made such an Uproar, during the whole intended Entertainment, that it was scarce possible to hear a word the Actors said. As every Player came upon the Stage, they call'd upon him by his real, not fictitious Name, and Swore not a Man of them would come to his Benefit. When Mrs T@@@ appeared, they call'd out for a Quartern of Gin, to chear up her Spirits. The Word Constable being first mentioned in the Gallery, it ran round the House like Wild-fire; and immediately the general Cry was, No Constable, no Constable. At the Conclusion of the Play, a Fellow came upon the Stage, to put out the Lights with his long Pole, but a Gentleman broke it in two, and another taking a Candle from one of the Sockets of the Sconces, his Example was immediately followed by several others, who soon clear'd them of their Lights; when a new kind of Shower compos'd of Candles fell think as Hail on the Stage

Event Comment: At the particular Desire of the King of the Cherokees, the Prince, the four Generals, and the young Captain, lately arrived from South Carolina. At Common Prices

Event Comment: A New Ballad Opera, [By George Lillo.] Receipts: #91 9s. 6d. Daily Courant, 12 Nov.: On Tuesday Night...Sylvia...was perform'd for the first Time...where there appeared a Set of People, who seem'd inclined to damn the whole Performance (if it had been in their Power)by their continual Hissing and Cat-Calls; notwithstanding which, the same was perform'd with Applause, by the general Approbation of the Pit and Boxes

Event Comment: Preface to edition of 1734: The Fourth Night a Set of about eight or ten young Fellows went to the Bedford Coffee-House ... and declared publickly that they came purposely to damn the Play, and would not leave the Play-House till they had compassed their Ends. . . . Accordingly Mr Ryan coming on to speak the Prologue, they began their Uproar, but were soon silenced, and the Prologue was heard with Applause. The Play beginning, they began again, and were so loud that Mr Ryan acquainted them, that as he could not imagine there was anything in the Play they could except against, he was apprehensive he had the Misfortune to displease them. Mr Quin then came on, and told them he found the House was divided, and as the Majority was for hearing the Play, he hop'd those who were not, would go out. The House on that were unanimous, and cry'd, Turn them out, Turn them out, but they saved the Audience the Trouble of doing it, and retired under the general Hiss of every Person then present

Event Comment: London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 4 Nov.: We are informed, that when Mr Handel waited on their Majesties with his New Opera of Ariodante, his Majesty . . . was graciously pleased to subscribe 1000/. towards carrying on the Opera [at CG. No confirmation of this point is known]

Event Comment: London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 30 Nov.: Last Night there was a Rehearsal of a new Opera before his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales at his House in Pall-Mall, in which Farinelli and Senesino each of them perform'd a Part

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by Shakespear. London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 12 Dec: Whereas, on Saturday last, the Audience . . . was greatly incens'd at their Disappointment in Mr Poitier and Madem Roland's not Dancing, as their Names were in the Bills for the Day; and Mr Quin, seeing no way to appease the Resentment then shewn, but by relating the real Messages sent from the Theatre, to know the Reasons why they did not come to perform, and the Answers return'd: And whereas there were two Advertisements in the Daily Post of Tuesday last, insinuating that Mr Quin had with Malice falsely accus'd the said Mr Poitier and Madem Roland, I therefore think it (in Justice to Mr Quin) incumbent on me to assure the Publick, that Mr Quin has conducted himself in this Point towards the Abovemention'd with the strictest regard to Truth and Justice; and as Mr Quin has acted in this Affair in my Behalf, I think myself oblig'd to return him Thanks for so doing. Charles Fletewood

Event Comment: By particular Desire. London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 4 Jan.: The kind Reception which Mr Poitier met with in his Performance on Wednesday last . . . lays him under the greatest Obligation to the Publick; and if he has lost the good Opinion of anyone, by the late unhappy Disturbance [see 7 Dec. 1734], he hopes his future constant Endeavours to oblige, will both be accepted, and regain their Favour

Event Comment: GF had advertised The Mistake and Jupiter and Io, but advertises in London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 23 Jan.: Upon the Practice of the Entertainment last Night, by Accident the principal Machine was considerably Damag'd

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A New Farce of one Act. [By Robert Dodsley.] Prompter, 18 Feb.: This little Performance, without any Theatrical Merit whatsoever, received the loudest Applauses that I have heard this long while, only on Account of its General and Well-Adapted Satire on the Follies of Mankind

Event Comment: As 5 March. London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 13 March: Last Night their Majesties and the Princess Caroline . . . heard Esther, an Oratorio; and Mr Handel's two new inimitable Concertos on the Organ. [Egmont also present.]

Event Comment: Benefit Ryan. At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. Afterpiece: A Farce, never performed before. Taken from Moliere. [Author unknown. Apparently not printed. See London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 19, 20, and 21 March, for expressions of good will to Ryan, including a gift often guineas from the Prince of Wales.]

Event Comment: Benefit a Gentleman under Misfortunes. [In London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 24 March, Ryan thanks the public for assistance at his benefit and adds that Sir William Saunderson engaged for Ryan "near a fourth Part of his Audience."]

Event Comment: Ijmdon Daily Post and General Advertiser, 27 March: We hear . . . that to perfect the Performance, Mr Handel designs to introduce, to-morrow Night (in the Oratorio of Deborah) a large new Organ, which is remarkable for its Variety of curious Stops; being a new Invention, and a great Improvement of that Instrument

Event Comment: London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 31 March, contains a long article outlining opposition to silencing the theatre in Goodman's Fields

Event Comment: Benefit the Author of the Farce. [R. Fabian.] By Their Majesties Command. Afterpiece: a Farce of Two Acts. Intermix'd with Songs. London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 13 May: On Saturday Night last, during the Play time, one Mr Mechlin (alias Macloughlin) who lately belong'd to [DL], having had a Dispute with Mr Hallam, of the same Theatre, about a particular Wig, which the latter had from the Wardrobe, to wear in his Part that Night, in the Farce, and which he resign'd to Mr Mechlin; but reproved him for his Behaviour, and ill Language. Some time after Mr Mechlin, thrust a Crabtree Stick that was in his Hand, at the Face of Mr Hallam, which enter'd at his Left Eye, and penetrated into his brain, of which Wound he languish'd till Sunday Night 6 o'clock, when he died

Event Comment: London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 16 May: We hear that Mr Mechlin has sent a Letter to a principal Persons belonging to Drury-Lane Theatre, signifying his great Sorrow, and his Intention to surrender himself next Sessions at the Old Bailey

Event Comment: The Tragedy of Zara, Made English [by Aaron Hill]. Applauded Thirty-Six Nights running at Paris. The Characters, by a Sett of Gentlemen and Gentlewomen, who never acted before. None will be admitted but by Tickets into the Room that Night, which (by Reason of the Smallness of the Place) will be all commodiously made into Boxes, for the easy Reception of those many Great Personages, who have read and perus'd this Play with Approbation, and desir'd a long Time to see it acted; and charitably agreed to favour and encourage this Design, for the Benefit of [Mr William Bond, the Proprietor], who brings it on at a great Expence (tho' all that act in it, are so good to appear Gratis for him) who has lain ill of the Gout, and Rheumatism, upwards of Four Years. [This bill, in the London Daily Post and General Advertiser, differs considerably in phraseology, though not in basic fact, from that in the Daily Advertiser.]

Event Comment: London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 30 June: On Tuesday last died at Islington, in the 21st Year of his Age, Mr Samuel Lally, a very pretty Dance at [CG]

Event Comment: London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 4 July: The Patentee of Drury-Lane Theatre has countermanded the Summer Playing; and the Company has received Orders not to proceed, on account of the several New Preparations for the ensuing Winter

Event Comment: The extravagant Attempt of Sir F. Wronghead gives me painful Apprehensions; but as the Town has given me repeated Instances of their Indulgence. [Prologue is in London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 17 July.]

Event Comment: London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 6 Oct.: The Young Company . . . defer playing 'till next Wednesday se'nnight, at which time they perform a Play, call'd The Two Gentlemen of Verona, written by the celebrated William Shakespear, it being the first Comedy ever he wrote, and which has not been acted these 73 Years

Event Comment: At the particular Desire of several Eminent Merchants and Citizens. Afterpiece: Written by Mr Carey. London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 9 Oct.: Yesterday, between One and Two o'Clock, died of a Haemorrage . . . Mr Charles Hulett, belonging to [GF], whose natural Qualifications to the Stage, had he the Application of many of less Merit, would have render'd him one of the most considerable Performers now alive