Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Clive. Mainpiece: Written by Colley Cibber. [The Old Maid for 8 May 1756 reviewed this performance of Lethe, or possibly the one with the same cast on 30 April. The reviewer was 'particularly diverted with Mrs Clive's Italian Song, in which this truly humorous actress parodys the Air of the Opera, and takes off the action, of the present favorite female at the Hay-Market, with such exquisite ridicule, that the most zealous partisans of both, I think, must have applauded the comic genius of Mrs Clive, however they might be displeased with this application of it." The reviewer is lukewarm in praise of the "New Character"..."What is there new in a Lord's having Gout, loving a bottle, pretending to taste, or being follow'd by a flatterer?"] Receipts: #210 (Cross)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 7 years [not acted since 18 Sept. 1778. Mrs Brooks is identified in Reed, p. 145]. "Miss George spins around every fifteen seconds like a top, and then runs to the back of the stage. She too is very apt to stay at the back of the stage. She knows when it is her turn to speak, joins the party, speaks, spins, and away again! Pray, Miss George, sometimes do your friends the favour to stay amongst them, and attend to what is going forward" (Morning Chronicle, 24 July)

Event Comment: Benefit for a Widow & Children (Cross), who are fallen into great distress (Winston MS 8). Tickets to be had at Mr Gladman's, a Trunk-maker, Charing Cross; at the Amsterdam Coffee House, behind the Exchange; at the Rainbow and Janeways in Cornhill; at Anderton's and the Temple-Exchange, in Fleet St.; at George's, Temple Bar; Somerset Coffee House, Strand and at Stage Door of the Theatre. Receipts: #97 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Lessingham. Mainpiece: Not acted these 5 years. [See 29 Dec. 1766.] Afterpiece: A Comedy of two acts taken from Vanbrugh's Relapse [by John Lee?]. Tickets by Mas. Harris will be taken. Charges #65 18s.; Profit to Mrs Lessingham #39 18s. 6d., plus #79 13s. from tickets (Box 166; Pit 131; Gallery 185) (Account Book). [The Gentleman who played King Henry was George Savile Carey (Hogan).] Receipts: #105 16s. 6d

Event Comment: Afterpiece: Not acted these 2 years. [Prologue by George Colman, the elder.

Event Comment: Benefit for Newbold and Miss Bird. [2nd piece: Prologue by George Colman, the elder.]

Event Comment: [Mathews was from the Royal Circus. Prologue by George Colman the elder (Colman, Prose, ui, 269).] Places for the Boxes to be taken of Rice, at the Theatre. Doors to be opened at 6:00. To begin at 7:00 [same throughout season]. Hunt the Slipper is unavoidably postponed. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. 2nd Gallery 1s

Event Comment: Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. 2nd Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Rice at the Theatre. The Doors to be opened at 6:00, and begin at 7:00 [same throughout season]. [Address by George Colman, ynger (London Chronicle, 21 June).

Event Comment: The Doors to be opened at 5:15. To begin at 6:15 [see 25 Apr. 1791]. Afterpiece: Not acted these 3 years. [Prologue by George Colman, elder.] Receipts: #195 8s. (156.4.0; 32.17.6; 6.6.6.)

Event Comment: [3rd piece: Prologue by George Colman, elder.] Paid Printer's bill [for playbills] to 1st Inclusive #21 10s. 6d. Receipts: #242 7s(209.5; 31.8; 1.14)

Event Comment: [Afterpiece: Prologue by George Colman, elder.] Receipts: #200 14s. (156.9; 44.2; 0.3)

Event Comment: [Afterpiece: Prologue by George Colman, the elder.] Powell: Love a-la-mode rehearsed at 10 (for King); Lodoiska music at 11 (for Kelly, Storace, Crouch); Natural Son at 12 (King, Moody. Miss Farren one scene). Receipts: #347 15s. 6d. (283/0/0; 53/13/6; 7/2/0)

Event Comment: [Afterpiece: Prologue by the elder George Colman.] Receipts: #226 7s. (161.8.6; 62.8.0; 2.10.6)

Event Comment: [Mainpiece in place of Jane Shore, advertised on playbill of 15 Oct. Afterpiece: Prologue by George Colman, elder.] Receipts: #291 19s. (229.12.0; 56.18.6; 5.8.6)

Event Comment: [2nd piece: Prologue by George Colman, elder.] Receipts: #190 19s. (138.13.6; 49.16.6; 2.9.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 2 years. [Afterpiece: Prologue by George Colman elder.] Receipts: #327 8s. (244.10.6; 81.2.0; 1.15.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A new Tragi-Comedy. Benefit the Author. [Author unknown. Apparently not published.] Boxes 5s. pit 3s. Gallery 2s. There's none Sir Courtly, can my Lord Beau call, He's a bold-Fop, and represents you all

Event Comment: [Extra night] By Permission [of the Lord Chamberlain]. Benefit for Mrs Lisley, late Miss Barsanti. T. Davis's benefit, which was intended for Tuesday next, is obliged to be deferred till a Future Day, of which Proper Notice will be given. [Digges's 1st recorded appearance as Lord Townly was at Edinburgh, 6 Mar. 1756.

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: MMr Reddish played Lord Townly, being his first appearance in London, --was well received and met with Applause, --but an indifferent figure, --will be useful (Hopkins MS Notes)

Event Comment: At 5 went into the Pit at Covent Garden to see Mrs Yates do Lady Townly. Yates is an excellent Sir Francis, but Powell does not shine in Lord Townly....The Entertainment was the new comedy in two acts called the Oxonian in Town, with a prologue by Woodward in the character of a student....It being suspected that a number of sharpers whose characters and practices are laid open in this piece, would attempt to damn it tonight (the 3rd of its being Performed) under pretence of its casting odium on the Irish, bills were dispersed in the House during the play vindicating it from any such intention. Woodward was allowed to speak the prologue, but as soon as the curtain drew up catcalls began. When the performers retired, Powell spoke several times, but was not heard. I was told that the author (Mr Colman) desires to know whom he has offended. The Pros were a very great majority, and at last after a contest of better than 1!2 an hour, the victory was over and the piece was performed. I think it contains many good sentiments, and excellent instruction to young men and is not unworthy of Mr Colman. If vice must not be exposed to hatred and contempt, the usefulness of our theatres is at an end. Only I think the Covent Garden pleasures are represented in too favourable a light. When all was over Powell came on the stage and thanked the audience for their generous protection (Neville MS Diary). Receipts: #212 12s. (Account Book)