Event Comment: Yesterday [11 Jan.] there was Practice...of a new Italian Dramatic Pastoral...As Lucius Verus consisted of celebrated Airs from Handel's Operas, the Music of the above Pastoral is chiefly extracted from the Works of the most famous Italian Composers. A new Pastoral Opera...With a new Concerto on the Violincello. Pit and Boxes Half a guinea; Gallery 5s. To begin at 6 p.m. No Person to be admitted without Tickets

Event Comment: Benefit for Staunton and Mrs Hedges. Gazetteer, 8 May: Tickets to be had of Staunton, No. 9, St. Martin's-street, Leicester-fields; of Mrs Hedges, opposite Old Bond-street, Piccadilly. Receipts: #208 1s. 6d. (15/13/0; 19/15/6; 0/16/0; tickets: 171/17/0) (charge: #106 0s. 11d

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Mountain. [Philipps is identified in Monthly Mirror, Sept. 1796, p. 315. As Mrs Plomer Sga Salvini had 1st appeared at the hay, 12 June 1788.] Afterpaece [1st time; MF 2, author unknown. Larpent MS 1131; not published]: The Music and Overture by Spofforth. Morning Herald, 4 May: Tickets to be had of Mrs Mountain, No. 6, York-street, Covent-Garden. Receipts: #380 18s. 6d. (150.7.6; 5.16.0; 224.15.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for the Author [i.e. compiler of the entertainment, identified in Oracle, 21 May, as LeTexier]. The Tickets, engraved by Bartolozzi, will be delivered in Lisle-street [LeTexier's home address] only, and no where else

Event Comment: Benefit for Lewis. Public Advertiser, 25 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Lewis at his house in Broad-court, Bow-street. Afterpiece [1st time in London; co 2. MS: Larpent 620; not published]: Written by the Author of The Castle of Andalusia, The Agreeable Surprise, Son-in-Law, &c &c. [John O'KeefFe, 1st acted at the Crow Street Theatre, Dublin, 15 Apr. 1777, and altered in the CG season of 1783-84 as The Poor Soldier]. The Airs Select [ed by the author from] Irish [airs]. With a New Overture and Accompaniments by Shield, who composed the music of Rosina. The Words of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Receipts: #256 9s. (201/10; tickets: 54/19) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: The Burletta a New Musical entertainment composed by Hook. Tickets 3s. 6d. [The performance occurs between a concert and fireworks. The whole entitled Mr Hook's Annual Festival. The news commentary in the Public Advertiser notes the performance seems adapted to all Tastes on account of the great Variety it affords, the Ode being rather serious, and the Burletta is wrote on a Subject of Ridicule."

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A Tragedy never performed there. Mrs Yates first appearance this stage in 8 years. This Play is from the Orestes of Voltaire Mrs Yates who has been at Covent Garden these 8 years is now return'd & chose to make her first appearance in the part of Electra. Mr Garrick wrote an Excellent Prologue & Epilogue for the Occasion both of which were greatly receiv'd With great Applause. The Play is very dull & heavy & Mrs Yates wanted Spirit greatly in the part of Electra had but little Applause (Hopkins Diary). Paid salary list 5 days at #91 8s. 10d. #457 4s. 2d.; Mr French on acct #5 5s. (Treasurer's Book). [From Westminster Magazine, Oct. (of the mainpiece): From its want of business, it is a very heavy, tedious performance. Most of the scenes are mere declamations; and a certain air of coldness and apathy, which is the peculiar characteristic of French drama, runs thro the whole, which must ever render it unpleasing as well as uninteresting to an English Audience." Gave a severe comment on the Prologue with its theme "home is home be it ever so homely." Preferred the Epilogue. The perspective scenery of Argosv, the Palace of Aegisthusv, and the Tomb of Agamemnonv, designed by Loutherbourg, and painted by Messrs French and Roy, were warm and spirited, and the dresses elegant and characteristic."] Receipts: #243 17s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Hull. Books of the afterpiece to be had at the Theatre. Afterpiece: Founded on the plan of the old Ballad of that name. The songs adapted to old English, Irish and Scotch tunes. [Shuter's Prologue is Larpent MS 218, wherein he enters in character of a Ballad singer, interrupting the music as the overture comes to a close. He sings snatches from some ten old ballads, stopping in the midst of each to comment on the superiority of modern circumstances which parallel those referred to in the old ballads. As the bell rings he introduces the afterpiece.

Event Comment: By the Company of French Comedians, just arrived from France. A Comedy in French after the Italian Manner. Pit and Boxes at 5s. Stage Boxes 7s. 6d. Gallery 2s

Event Comment: At the King's Opera House in The Haymarket. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. To begin at 7 p.m. Vivant Rex et Regina. [Repeated in the bills.] By His Majesty's Company. [First production of an English stage play at this house since 18 Nov. 1710, though touring French or Italian companies had played French plays as late as the spring of 1727. The location verified by Isaac Reed, who attended the performance.

Event Comment: Benefit for Mme Rossi. Tickets, half a guinea each, to be had of Mme Rossi, No. 33, Pall-mall. 2nd ballet: With Grand Chorusses; the original Music by Matthew Locke is entirely preserved; the rest partly new [by Barthelemon], partly compiled from the most favourite Scotch Airs. "We cannot think last night's effort among the most successful . . . Lepicq and Rossi were the Macbeth and Lady--and considering the narrow boundaries of their art, which is tongue-tied, they discoursed 'with most miraculous organs.' Still, however, the whole of the material questions of the scene were agitated with all the disadvantages of contrast with comparative inefficience" (Public Advertiser, 18 Mar.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 4 years. With Additions from Dryden; the Musick by Purcell and Dr Arne, and the new Airs and Chorusses by the late Mr Linley Jun. [Afterpiece in place of A Friend in Need, advertised on playbill of 21 Feb.] The Publick is respectfully informed that on Account of the sudden Indisposition of Sga Bossi DelCaro, The Scotch Ghost [advertised on playbill of 21 Feb.] cannot be performed this Evening (printed slip attached to Kemble playbill). Receipts: #212 2s. 6d. (145.1.0; 61.0.0; 6.1.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Macklin. Afterpiece: A Comedy in 2 acts written by Foote, with Prologue and Epilogue by him. Miss Macklin did Calista and a part in the farce,-all went well (Cross). A Comedy in answer to the French Farce A Frenchman in London, with a Dialogue Prologue, spoken by Macklin & his wife. Epilogue spoken by Miss Macklin. All by Foote. Part of Pit laid into the boxes, with an amphitheatre on stage, all at 5s. Full Prices (Winston MS 8). The Englishman at Paris has been better recev'd that I expected. Garrick, &c., &c....say kinder things of it than modesty will permit me to repeat. Upon the whole it was damnably acted, Macklin miserably imperfect in the words and in the character (a stain to Comedy). You might have seen what I meant,--an English Buck, by the power of dulness instantaneously transformed into an Irish chairman. Miss Roach, accompany'd by some frippery French woman occupy'd, to the no small scandal of the whole house, the Prince's box, whilst the duchess of Bedford &c., &c. were oblig'd to take up with seats upon the stage. The piece will be printed the 25th instant, which I will enclose to you (Samuel Foote to Mr Delaval, MS in Folger Shakespeare Library, written either 24 March, or, perhaps more likely, 24 April, since Foote states later in the letter he is leaving for foreign parts the first of May)

Event Comment: New Overture and Pieces of Music Between the Acts. Music by Barthelemon. New Scenes, Habits and Decorations. The Scenes designed by DeLoutherberg, and painted by Messrs French, Royer, and Greenwood. Books of the songs and Chorusses to be had at the Theatre. This piece is got up in a most Superb manner. The Scenery is beyond description fine -& the whole Performance tho' the most complicated upon the stage went off with uncommon Applause. Mrs Abington played finely--Mr Slingsby & Sga Hidou danc'd for the first time & were Amazingly well Rec'ed. The Ballets are very Grand (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly in wording.] Rec'd stopages #17 18s.; Paid salary list #567 16s.; J. French on Acct #5 5s. (Treasurer's Book). Mainpiece: Never performed before, by John Burgoyne. [The review in the Westminster Magazine, Nov. 1774, tells the plot, and concludes: "After some superb exhibitions of transparent scenery, several characteristic airs, and elegant dances, Mr Oldworth...proclaims Maria his only daughter and gives her to Sir Harry. After a dance of Cupids, Hymen, &c....offering them eternal wreaths, the Druid of the Oaks, freed by the present powers of Beauty from that sequestered habitation to which by mystic spells he had long been doomed, appears to ratify their union, and astonishes the spectators by his magic influence, in a glorious vision of that felicity the virtues of the happy pair had so justly insured. An admirable vaudeville, and a grand dance, conclude the dramatic entertainment....Had it not appeared obvious that the whole was intended as a mere vehicle for the splendid spectacle, we do not suppose, in spite of the managers Orders and Puffs, that the author's labors would have been tolerated. The very excellent scenery, however, of the ingenious Mr Loutherbourg preserved this piece from that damnation, which as a dramatic production, it justly merited."] Receipts: #263 14s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit Norris and Mrs Bullock, the Dancer. At the Desire of several Persons of Quality