Event Comment: Benefit for Palmer. Mainpiece [1st time; C 3, by George Colman, the elder, altered from The Mutual Deception, by Joseph Atkinson, which was based on Le Jeu de l'Amour et du Hasard, by Pierre Carlet de Chamblain de Marivaux, and 1st acted at the Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin, 2 Mar. 1785. Prologue by the author (.European Magazine, Sept. 1786, p. 166). Author of Epilogue unknown]. Afterpiece: Never acted at this Theatre. [Prologue and Epilogue by David Garrick.] "This play, originally French, was translated by an Officer (the plot of which may be found in The Man's the Master, as well as in many other English plays and farces) who, with some few additions, changed it into five acts, and called it The Mutual Deception (which is now in print), but was represented in Ireland with little or no success. This Comedy, however, has undergone many very masterly alterations, and received many additions by the able hand of the attentive Manager of this Theatre" (Public Advertiser, 30 Aug.). Public Advertiser, 6 May 1788: To be published May 7, Tit for Tat (1s.)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; ENT 2]: Consisting of Dialogue, Music [chiefly by Henry Purcell and Thomas Linley Sen. (Boaden, Kemble, I, 225)], and Machinery. Altered from [David Garrick's alteration of] King Arthur, by Dryden. With great Variety of very capital Scenery, new Dresses, and Decorations. [The alteration was probably made by John Philip Kemble.] Receipts: #148 11s. (107/13/0; 39/17/6; 1/0/6)

Event Comment: Benefit for ye encrease of a fund for ye support of a publick Charity [Lock Hospital] (Cross(. Rec'd cash #76 17s. 6d., plus #123 16s. from tickets; Total #200 13s. 6d. Paid Moor for pair breeches for Garrick #1 5s.; Paid 1 year's subscription to H. Park Hospital #10 10s.; To Garrick by George Garrick #7 10s.; Paid King playing S. Doctor #1 1s. by order of Lacy (Treasurer's Book). Last time of performing till the Holidays. Receipts: #160 (Cross); charges, #63 (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Last time of performing the afterpiece before the Benefits. A duel with pistols between George? Garrick and Baddeley on account of G. Garrick remon[stratin]g with Baddeley on [receiving] his wife's salary. Baddeley fir'd then G. G. fir'd in the air, and a reconciliation took place (Winston MS 10, from Dr Burney's News Clippings). [See full and humorous acct Town and Country Magazine, March, pp. 157-58 with woodcut of duel.

Event Comment: The Tragedy of Hamlet having been greatly Altered by D. G. was perform'd for the first time Mr Garrick playd divinely & Merited the great Applause he receivd It is Alterd much for the better in regard to the part of Hamlet & I think the alterations very fine & proper (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble considerably briefer. See "Garrick's Long Lost Alteration of Hamlet," PMLA, Sept. 1934.] Paid Mr George Garrick on account #100; Mr Bulkley for Mr Weston, #2 8s. (Treasurer's Book). [Reviewer for Town and Country Magazine comments unfavorably on the Hamlet alteration: "How far the critics will approve these mutations we will not at present determine; but the admirers of Shakespeare must certainly be displeas'd, whenever they see his immortal works mutilated."] Receipts: #284 5s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss George. Gazetteer, 10 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Miss George, No. 23, King-street, St. Ann's. Mainpiece: With a Grand Procession of the different Orders of the Knights of Chivalry. Receipts: #141 19s. 6d. (60/8/0; 22/4/6; 0/15/0; tickets: 58/12/0) (charge: #117/19/0)

Event Comment: New Scenes, Dresses, Machinery and other Decorations. Book of the Entertainment to be had at 1s. 6d. at Theatre. A Dramatic Romance by David Garrick, Music composed by Michael Arne. Gave King's Footmen and Chairmen #4 4s.; Queen's ditto; Dukes of York and Gloucester ditto (Treasurer's Book). [A memorandum dated 22 August 1766 (Folger Library, Garrick Album, 520 MS, Cage) explains that Michael Arne was to compose the Music for Cymon, and as compensation shall be intitled to and receive one third part of the profits of the three first nights which the author shall take for his own Benefits." Zachariah Stephens was witness. See 15 Jan. 1767.] Receipts: #196 5s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Master Mattocks and Mlle L'Contri. Paid Salary List #296 10s. 6d.; Mrs Hobson a bill 3s. (Treasurer's Book). [The George Garrick Treasurer's Book breaks off at this point. It records for 165 nights, a total income of #17,296 9s. as against a total outlay of #12,055 14s. 5d. Cross, who jots down receipts in round figures, and is almost always high, indicates the income from the 164th to the 174th and last night to be #1,446, but since all except one night (11 May) were benefits, the theatre probably received only about #800 (At #63 per benefit). Total income for this season is estimated to be, therefore, #18,096 9s. It is difficult to estimate end of season expenditures. At least #789 10s. 6d. went out in the three final pay days of the season and probably another #500 went out in bills before the books were closed at Midsummer. From this it appears that the profits to the managers that year came to about #4,600.] This day is Publish'd The Actor at 3s. In One Volume (dedicated to the Managers of the British Theatre. A treatise on the art of playing, interspersed with theatrical anecdotes, critical remarks on plays and occasional observations on audiences Printed for R. Griffiths (General Advertiser). Receipts: #120 (Cross). [Income missing from Treasurer's Book.

Event Comment: Paid George Garrick on account #100; Chorus singers 2 nights, #5 1s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #142 2s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Paid George Garrick #50; Paid Mr Guy (plumber) #53 15s.; Mr Debrose, (linen draper) #20 11s. 6d.; Scott (copper lace) bill #158 15s. 6d.; Hewetson (silver lace) bill #42 8s.; Gastrill (mercer) 2 bills, #227 2s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #196 2s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Altered from Shirley by Garrick--(some hissing at it) (Cross). [See Theatrical Review, 1757 and Beginning of 1758 for generally favorable contemporary comment, but one which deplores Garrick's retention of Shirley's obsolete expressions. The printed version contains scenes in Act III not appearing in the Larpent MS] Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit Garrick. By Command of Prince and Princess of Wales. [Winston MS. from Dyer MS.: A prodigious audience] Farce never acted there. Seven rows of the Pit will be rail'd into the Boxes. Stage to be form'd into side boxes where servants may keep places. Tickets of Mr Valliant, Bookseller, Strand; or at Garrick's, Bow St., Covent Garden

Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. Mr Garrick played Lusignan and Lord Chalkstone. It is almost impossible to express how finely he played both characters. The Prologue was called for. Mr Garrick went on directly to speak it--as soon as he appeared a general clap and a loud huzza,--and there was such a noise from the House being so crowded, very few heard anything of the prologue.--As soon as the play began there was a great disturbance in the Gallery, and some called out, Guards Guards! that they could not go on.--Mr Lacy went on the Stage, and looked up to the gallery, and came off again without saying anything.--They soon grew quiet, and the play went on.--Monsr Rousseau sat in Mr Garrick's box (Hopkins Diary). [Account in the Public Advertiser of the original story upon which VanBrugh founded some circumstance in his Provok'd Wife, signed Heartfree. The Gentleman's Magazine, January, in the Historical Chronicle section noted that Jean Jacques Rousseau arrived in England on 13 Jan. and "was at the play on the 23rd, and presented himself in the upper Box fronting his Majesty."

Event Comment: This farce of Lethe was wrote some years ago and play'd with Success, & was reviv'd this Night with great Alterations, & was but indifferently receiv'd by the Audience (Cross). The Poet, Frenchman, & Sot Mr Garrick perform'd most inimitably (Charles Adams to John Gilbert-Cooper, Theatre Notebook, XI (1957) p. 138). No After Money will be taken, and no Persons will be Admitted behind the Scenes (General Advertiser). Receipts: #180 (Cross); #186 7s. (Powel). N.B.: Mr G-k is the author of Lethe and did receive #36 8s. 6d. for this night which is the overplus after the charge of #63 for the House is paid, and which I must subtract from the rest (Powel). [A letter appeared in the General Advertiser this day giving advance notice and approval of a performance of Cato to be put on at Leicester House 7 Jan. by members of the Royal Family. The author noted that "proper Habits are absolutely in the making," and that the Princes would learn the principles of liberty from the lines of the play.

Event Comment: Lethe is reviv'd with Alterations & a New Character-very well receiv'd & great Applause-Mr Garrick play'd with great Spirit & was much Applauded (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan notes lack of Fribble parts in Larpent MS. Yet Theatrical Review, 11 Jan., describes briefly the alterations, suggesting, The character of the Fine Gentleman in the former Lethe had some strong allusions to the behaviour of Gentlemen behind the scenes at the playhouses, which custom being abolished of late years, the character had lost its importance, on which account it is altered to a Fribble, and consequently entirely new written." A methodist taylor, an Irishman, Mr & Mrs Carbine (originally Mr & Mrs Tatoo) are also new. See account also in Town and Country Magazine (Theatre NO. XXXIII).] Paid Salary list, #502 3s. 6d.; Mrs Abington's cloaths acct #2; Mr S. French 6 days #1 10s.; Rec'd, Stopages. #11 13s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #245 11s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: A Farce of Two Acts (never perform'd before). [Farce by Garrick]

Event Comment: Nothing under full price, will be taken during the time of the performance (General Advertiser). [This note appears on succeeding bills which include Miss in Her Teens this season, and will not be recorded further.] Afterpiece: Never acted there before [by David Garrick]. Receipts: #196 3s