Event Comment: We hear that Mr Handel will play a Concerto on the organ in Alexander's Feast, Wednesday next at Covent Garden Theatre

Event Comment: Paid 3 Day's salaries to Wed. 28 Dec. 1757. Rec'd for Mr Dall's painting in Alexander #1 1s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: The Tragedy of Alexander is oblig'd to be deferr'd till further notice. Boxes #42 12s. 6d. (Account Book). Receipts: #175 17s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: In the Gazetteer 25 Feb. appeared a long editorial by "Rectus": "Though the performing oratorios in the time of Lent,is highly censured by many, yet I must own that I think the far greater part of them become enemies to those solemn performances, rather because their ears are more unfit for music than their minds are for the pretended immorality that attends such exhibitions." [The writer wishes not to cry down every entertainment he cannot relish himself and adds], "I have long endeavoured to find out the reason why plays should not be performed on Wednesdays and Fridays in Lent as well as on those days all through the rest of the season. I have never yet been able to find out that Lent makes the least difference in people's way of living." [He wonders, however, why the non-sacred oratorios such as Acis and Galatea and Alexander's Feast have been allowed performance. He then registers a mild complaint about the management of the Oratorios because they do not include sufficient solo instrumental entertainment between the parts.] "This custom was wholly dropped last year, and I complained greatly of it in a letter which you did me the favour to insert. I was greatly surprised to find Mr Pinto, who then led the band, was either not permitted or not paid to play a solo, as well as Mr Hay, who played one every night the preceding season. Mr Stanley's illness not permitting him then to play, that omission was overlooked, though it might have been supplied by a performer on some other instrument. This season the managers have thought proper to treat their audience with one solo or concerto every night, but why not have two?" [He liked Barthelemon's solos, but lamented that Stanley sat idle, and he offered final advice that the managers should alternate the solo instruments for "pleasing variety." The admission price demands it.

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Young and Mr Rooker. House charges #65 1s. Paid for two practices for Alexander #1 16s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: N.B. On Saturday Next, 11 March, for the Benefit of Woodward will be presented Cymbeline...and a New Tragedy in Two Acts, call'd The Rival Favourites; or, The Death of Bucephalus the Great: Alexander-$Woodward; Philip-$Shuter; Statira-$Mrs Green. With a Triumphal Entry. The Funeral Procession of Bucephalus to the Monument of the Houyhnhnms and a Solemn Dirge [See Comment 7, 9, 11 March.] Receipts: #208 7s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Barry. Mainpiece: A Tragedy never acted there, Taken from Southern's Oroonoko [by Francis Gentleman]. Tickets deliver'd for Alexander will be admitted. Ladies send servants by 4 o'clock

Event Comment: Benefit for Woodward. Ladies send servants by 4 o'clock. Charges #66 19s. Balance to Woodward #87 16s. 6d. plus #65 15s. from 263 Box tickets (Account Book). [The proposed afterpiece, Dr Schomberg's burlesque tragedy, The Rival Favourites; or, Death of Bucephalus the Great (Public Advertiser, 4 March), had been sent to the Licenser 27 Feb., had been cast, and put in rehearsal, but was dropped and never played there. It had been done in Edinburgh in 1765. Larpent MS 293 is the Edinburg edn. The rivals are Statira and the Horse, Statira bribes Alexander's physician to kill Bucephalus.] Receipts: #154 16s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Paid Younger for license for the Court of Alexander #2 2s. Gave King's Footmen #2 2s.; Chairmen #2 2s.; Queen's Footmen #2 2s. & Chairmen #2 2s. (Account Book). Receipts: #210 12s

Event Comment: Benefit for Hartry and Fawcett. Paid 1 extra Trumpet in Rehearsal & 5 in Alexander #2 5s. Receipts: #199 5s. 6d. Charges: #65 5s. Profits to the beneficiaries: #134 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid tallow chandler's 2nd bill #34 7s. 4d.; 5 extra trumpets in Alexander 2 nights (11th inst. incl.) #3 15s. Receipts: #113 9s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: [A humorous parody on Alexander's Feast. Music composed by Dr Arne.] Complete Books with the parody on one side and Dryden's Ode on the other, that the allusions may be traced throughout, and the words of the Catches and Glees are to be had at the Theatre. 1s. Dr Arne's last night this season

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr and Mrs Ward. The Country Mad-Cap [announced on playbill of 5 May] is obliged to be set aside on account of Mrs Pitt's indisposition. Tickets delivered for Alexander the Great, for Saturday, May 3, will be admitted. Public Advertiser, 22 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mr and Mrs Ward at Stacy's, No. 76, the Corner of Long-acre, Drury-lane. Receipts: #197 18s. (82.10; tickets: 115.8) (charge: #66 1s.)

Event Comment: [In the 1st ballet the playbill lists Mme Rossi, but she did not dance. As the 2nd ballet the playbill announces Il Ratto delle Sabine, but Mme Rossi was ill, which "rendered a verbal apology unavoidable. 'Mme Rossi was in hopes that her wish to court your favour would enable her to overcome her illness, but it has been as sudden as it is now alarming. She has just been let blood. The manager therefore intreats your indulgence, and that you will accept of Apelles and Campaspe instead of the Grand Ballet, which cannot possibly be performed.' . . . Henry performed the part of Alexander with the greatest propriety" (Public Advertiser, 19 Dec.).]

Event Comment: Benefit for Bannister. The great Overflow from Covent-Garden Theatre, on Tuesday last, has induced many of Mr Bannister's Friends to desire he would again perform the Part of Polly. In Compliance with the Wish of those to whom he is under so many Obligations, he will, this Evening, make his Appearance in that Character, for the last Time of his appearing in Petticoats [but see 3, 13 May]. Tickets delivered for Alexander and Acis and Galatea will be admitted. Receipts: #276 10s. 6d. (167/11/6; tickets: 108/19/0) (charge: #105)