Event Comment: The King's Company. Newdigate newsletters (Folger Shakespeare Library), 15 Nov. 1681: This being ye Q.s birthday ye K.s players acted Alexdr ye great after wch was a ball & entertainment given to ye Ct. (Wilson, Theatre Notes from the Newdigate Newsletters, p. 80). Luttrell, 15 Nov. 1681: The 15th, being the birth day of her majestie, was kept with ringing of bells, bonefires, &c.; and at night there was a play acted at Whitehall before the king and queen, where the court appeared in great splendor (A Brief Relation, I, 144). The Earl of Arran to Ormond, 15 Nov. 1681: I am going to a play at court (HMC, Ormonde MSS., New Series, VI, 230). L. C. 5@144, p. 246, 22 Nov. 1681: Whereas Jeoffrey Ayleworth, Thomas ffarmer, Thomas ffinall & Richard Tomlinson foure of his Mates Musitians have neglected their dury in attending at ye play acted before his Mate at Whitehall on Tuesday night last for which I have suspended them (L. C. to the Treasurer of the Chamber, in Boswell, Restoration Court Stage, p. 100)

Event Comment: GGeneral Advertiser: This day is publish'd at 6d. An Apology to the Town, for Himself and the Bottle. By J. Nick-all. N.B. Mr P- was mistaken in the name. To which is prefix'd an exact representation of the scene of Harlequin's Escape into the Bottlev , introduc'd into the Pantomime of Apollo and Daphne, or the Burgomaster Trick'd, the Character of Harlequin by Mr Phillips. Printed for B. Dickenson, the corner of Bell Savage Inn, Ludgate Hill

Event Comment: Benefit for Will Hill. Mainpiece: By Particular Desire of his friends. N.B. The Gentlemen are desired to meet Mr Hill after the Play at the Rose Tavern, Temple Bar. [He had advertised since 15 April that "Gentlemen and Ladies who intend to honour him with their presence," should take tickets at: the Thatched House, St. James's St; Jack Bridell's, the One Tun in the Strand; Half moon in Holborn; Rose, Temple Bar; King's Head, in the Poultry; Castle, Lombard St; Bell, East cheap; King's Head, Tower Hill, Rummer, Bishopsgate St; West India and Jerusalem Coffee Houses near the Royal Exchange; Chapman's, Swordcutler, in Exchange Alley; and at Will Hill's Lodgings, Mr Geves's in Abchurch Lane.

Event Comment: Benefit for Palmer and Shuter. Last time of acting mainpiece this season. Tickets of Hobson at the stage Door. At Sadler's Wells near Islington will this day be opened a Concert of Vocal and Instrumental Music, divided into two parts; the vocal parts to be perform'd by Hemskirk, Bell, Mrs Yates, and Mrs Hooper. Between the two parts of the concert will be introduced several curious Performances, among which will be a fine representation of the Italian Shadows, which have not been performed in England these 30 years. The whole to conclude with a Grand piece of Fireworks, decorated with machinery and paintings entirely new, Each person to be admitted for a pint of Wine. To begin at 5 o'clock (General Advertiser). Receipts: #170 (Cross)

Event Comment: Both pieces By Command of his Majesty. [The Assembly at the Temple of Taste in the Five Bell's tavern (see 20 Feb.) received a puff this day: 'On Thursday Night there was a brilliant appearance of Ladies and Gentlemen, at the opening of the Temple of Taste, who express'd much Satisfaction at the entertainment they met with, which was not only instructive, but extremely polite and pleasing; if any Complaint was made, it was that (nothwithstanding is lasted full three hours) instead of being tir'd with the Performance, as at many Publick exhibitions, they seem'd to think they had too little of it; As we are always glad to embrace any Opportunity of shewing our zeal for the Service of the Publick, we can but applaud an Undertaking than which nothing appears more rational and better calculated for the general good" (General Advertiser).

Event Comment: Benefit Decay'd and Antient Masons. The Brothers are desir'd to meet at the Day of Performance at the Five Bells Tavern in the Strand, at 4 p.m. Tickets to be had of Mr Lauder at the Theatre

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: [G$Genest, V, 119, suggests The Deuce is in Him for afterpiece with King as Prattle and Miss Reynolds as Bell. Treasurer's Book, however, states Queen Mab. Cunning Man-deferred. Mrs Arne Ill. Wonder reviv'd after two years. See 13 May 1765.] Receipts: #103 9s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid James Amson for a set of China for Love in the City, #11 2s. 11d. (Account Book). Receipts: #115 13s. 6d. (Account Book). [On 5 March appeared in the Public Advertiser the following squib]: To the Author of Love in the City. @If e'er again thy Muse engage@To laugh at Folly on the Stage,@Let Cockneys 'scape the stroke@Since 'tis with Men of Sense a Rule@That of all Fools, the Bo-Bell Fool@Can least endure a Joke. A.

Event Comment: The Jubilee consists of Dialogue Singing & Dancing. This Entertainment was written & compil'd by Mr G.-and it was receiv'd with bursts of Applause the Procession of Shakespear's Characters &c. is the most Superb that ever was Exhibited or I believe ever will. There never was an Entertainment produc'd that gave so much pleasure to all Degrees Boxes pit and Gallery (Hopkins Diary). The Music by Dibdin. With New Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations. [On all subsequent bills, though some are shortened, the PAGEANT is advertised in large capitals. Larpent MS 298, includes descriptive notes and stage directions, p. 24: "Here follows the Pageant, with Bells ringing, Fifes playing, Drums beating, and Cannons firing. In The Procession every scene in the different plays represents some capital part of it in action...The last Scene is a magnificent Transparent one in which the Capital characters of Shakespeare are exhibited at full length with Shakespeare's Statue in the middle crowned by Tragedy and Comedy, fairies and Cupids surrounding him and all the banners waving at the upper end. Then enter the dancers." The Pageant appeared at the top of the stage and came forward, Reviewed in Freeholder's Magazine, Oct.

Event Comment: Benefit for Hull. Mainpiece: Reviv'd not acted for 30 years [see 21 Jan. 1742]. [Bell's Shakespeare, 1773 (probably revised by Hull) has same cast plus some additions. See Hogan.

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A Comic Opera altered [by Colman] from Gay. The Music entirely new by Dr Arne. Now acted for the first time in 2 Acts. [The 1776 Edition in Bell's British Theatre lists: Achilles-Bellamy; Diphilus-$Dyer; Ajax-$Dunstall; Ulysses-$Owenson; Diomedes-$Fox; Argytes-$Baker; Deidamia-$Mrs Mattocks; Artemona-$Miss Brown; Philoe-$Miss Valois; Thetis-$Miss Catley. [$Miss Pearce">Mattocks; Peripas-$Reinhold; Lycomedes-$DuBellamy; Diphilus-$Dyer; Ajax-$Dunstall; Ulysses-$Owenson; Diomedes-$Fox; Argytes-$Baker; Deidamia-$Mrs Mattocks; Artemona-$Miss Brown; Philoe-$Miss Valois; Thetis-$Miss Catley. [$Miss Pearce may have played Lesbia).] Paid Banks for the Head of a Figure used in The Fair #1 1s.; Paid Mr Gard for performing 5 nights in the Fair and 3 in the Sorcerer #1. Paid Joseph Besford for performing 5 nights in the Fair 12s. 6d. (Account Book). [Afterpiece unfavorably reviewed in the Westminster Magazine.] Receipts: #149 18s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: New Books of the Songs, Chorusses, &c. will be sold in the theatre. [Mainpiece seems definitely to be the Henry Jones version. This cast is that printed in that Bell Edition 1776, of the Jones play.

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; MD 3, by Sir George Collier, based on Zemire et Azor, by Jean Francois Marmontel]: The Music [by Thomas Linley Sen., adapted from Gretry], Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations entirely New. The Scenes, &c., designed by DeLoutherbourg. The Words of the Songs, &c. to be had at the Theatre. The Entertainment is splendidly got up--The Music by Thomas Linley Jun. [sic] was very well received (Hopkins Diary). Public Advertiser, 7 Dec. 1776: This Day is published the Songs in Selima and Azor (6d). [Text 1st published by J. Bell, 1784.] Receipts: #218 7s