Event Comment: At the Long Room at Hampstead Wells. At 6 p.m

Event Comment: Benefit John Rich. Receipts: #167 10s. 6d. For a long essay on the stage, see Weekly Journal or Saturday's Post, 23 Jan

Event Comment: UUniversal Mercury, February 1726: Elisa...an Opera of a foreign Growth, and of which they promis'd us Wonders before it was brought over. But when it arriv'd, we soon found to our Cost, that its being far fetch'd and dear bought was the only thing that could recommend it: But even that would not do long, and Audiences grew so thin, that the Royal Academy, for fear of making another Call, was oblig'd to drop it

Event Comment: For a long letter on operatic affairs, see Deutsch, Handel, pp. 207-8

Event Comment: [By Sir John Vanbrugh and Colley Cibber.] All the Characters new drest. Mist's 13 Jan.: On Wednesday last a most horrid, barbarous, and cruel Murder was committed...upon a posthumous Child of the late Sir John Vanbroog, by one who, for some Time past, has gone by the Name of Keyber. It was a fine Child born, and would certainly have lived long, had it not fallen into such cruel Hands. Davies (Dramatic Miscellanies, III, 260-61): In all the tumults and isturbances of the theatre on the first night of a new play, which was formerly a time of more dangerous service, to the actors, than it has been of late, Mrs Oldfield was entirely mistress of herself; she thought it her duty, amidst the most violent opposition and uproar, to exert the utmost of her abilities to serve the author. In the comedy of uproar, to exert the utmost of her abilities to serve the author. In the comedy of the Provoked Husband, Cibber's enemies tried all their power to get the play condemned. The reconciliation scene wrought so effectually upon the sensible and generous part of the audience, that the conclusion was greatly and generously approved. Amidst a thousand applauses, Mrs Oldfield came forward to speak the epilogue; but when she had pronounced the first line,-Methinks I hear some powder'd critic say-a man, of no distinguished appearance, from the seat next to tne orchestra, saluted her with a hiss. She fixed her eye upon him immediately, made a very short pause, and spoke the words poor creature! loud enough to be heard by the audience, with such a look of mingled scorn, pit, and contempt, that the most uncommon applause justified her conduct in this particular, and the poor reptile sunk down with fear and trembling. See also Cibber, Apology, I, 310-11; Victor, History of the Theatres, II, 105

Event Comment: FFlying Post, 1 March: On Thursday Night last, the Village Opera was play'd the Fifth Time, but met with a most unaccountable Reception; however, tis presumed not from any Pique against the Author, but the Resentment of the town upon some later Proceedings. No sooner did poor Colin appear upon the Stage, but his Arrival was usher'd in with a Serenade of Cat Calls, Penny-Trumpets, Clubs, Canes, Hoarse Voices, whistling in Keys, Hells, Fists; and Vollies of whole Oranges; however, the Players went on with uncommon intrepidity, and like the truly great Men, seem'd greater by opposition. The Audience call'd out for any other Play, Farce or Entertainment, but the Peasants seem'd too intent upon what they were about, to give Ear to them. This so exasperated the Spectators, that they mustered up all the Artillery they could possibly lay hold and made such an Uproar, during the whole intended Entertainment, that it was scarce possible to hear a word the Actors said. As every Player came upon the Stage, they call'd upon him by his real, not fictitious Name, and Swore not a Man of them would come to his Benefit. When Mrs T@@@ appeared, they call'd out for a Quartern of Gin, to chear up her Spirits. The Word Constable being first mentioned in the Gallery, it ran round the House like Wild-fire; and immediately the general Cry was, No Constable, no Constable. At the Conclusion of the Play, a Fellow came upon the Stage, to put out the Lights with his long Pole, but a Gentleman broke it in two, and another taking a Candle from one of the Sockets of the Sconces, his Example was immediately followed by several others, who soon clear'd them of their Lights; when a new kind of Shower compos'd of Candles fell think as Hail on the Stage

Event Comment: By a Company under the Direction of Mr Aston. At the Front Long Room, next to the Opera-House in the Hay-Market. Price 2s. 6d. At 6 P.M. N.B. We perform henceforward on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays only

Event Comment: N.B. This Tragedy being so long, tis found necessary to drop the Entertainment during its Success

Event Comment: Benefit Thurmond and Rogers. [For a long essay on current theatrical taste, see Universal Spectator, 10 April.

Event Comment: Benefit Havard and Boucher, Prompter. Daily Advertiser, 2 June: We hear Mr Odel, Master.., Goodman's-Fields, intends to decline to concern himself any longer with the Management of that Theatre

Event Comment: The Article in the Daily Advertiser of Wednesday last, which mentions Mr Odell's intending to decline concerning himself any longer with the management of Goodman's-fields Playhouse, is a false and scandalous Libel

Event Comment: There being a great Demand for the Welch Opera, we are obliged to advertise the Town, that it being now made into a whole Night's Entertainment, intituled, The Grub-Street Opera, now in Rehearsal, it cannot possibly be performed any longer with this Play

Event Comment: [Written by Shakespear. With new Scenes and Cloaths. At the Desire of several Persons of Distinction the Pit and Boxes will be put together at 3s. Boxes on the Stage 4s. Gallery 1s. [The Prologue is in The Comedian, No. VII, October 1732, with a long essay on the major theatres of the present season.] Daily Advertiser, 4 Oct.: A very splendid and crowded Audience...testify'd their Approbation both of the Decorations and Performance. The principal Embellishments are as follows: On a large Oval over the Pit is represented the Figure of His Majesty, attended by Peace, Liberty, and Justice, trampling Tyranny and Oppression under his Feet; round it are the Heads of Shakespear, Dryden, Congreve, and Betterton. On the Coving on the Left Hand is painted the Scene of Cato pointing at the dead Body of his Son Marcus; in the Middle, that of Julius Caesar stabb'd in the Senate-House; and on the Right, that of Marc Anthony and Octavia, where the Children are introduc'd in All for Love. On the Sounding-Board over the Stage is an handsome Piece of Painting of Apollo and the Nine Muses. [See also Daily Post, 4 Oct. and Gentleman's Magazine, II (October 1732), 1028.

Event Comment: At the Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Daily Advertiser, 20 Nov.: Yesterday Mr Harper was brought up to the Court of King's Bench . . . but the Right Hon. the Lord Hardwicke, Chief Justice, perceiving . . . that it might probably take up a long time to hear [the Counsels'] several Arguments, was pleas'd to put off the Affair till this Morning

Event Comment: At the particular Desire of several Persons of Quality. Note, Mynheer Cajanus is prevail'd upon (at the Request of several Persons of Distinction) to stay a few Days longer in England, and will appear as usual in . .. Cupid and Psyche. [For a discussion of the theatres, see Grub St. Journal, 28 Feb.]

Event Comment: At the Playhouse in Hampstead. Benefit Miss Jones Sr and Jr. N.B. That the Play may be no Hindrance to the Diversion at the Long Room, we shall begin exactly at 6 o'clock, and end about 8

Event Comment: For a long discussion of Stephens' acting, see Grub St. Journal, 31 Oct

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by the late Mr Congreve. [For a long comment on Cibber Sr as actor, see Prompter, 19 Nov.]

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A New Farce of one Act. [By Robert Dodsley.] Prompter, 18 Feb.: This little Performance, without any Theatrical Merit whatsoever, received the loudest Applauses that I have heard this long while, only on Account of its General and Well-Adapted Satire on the Follies of Mankind

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Hallam. At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. Mainpiece: Written by the late Mr Congreve. [Tickets at Mrs Hallam's Lodgings, at Mr Baily's, Corner of James-street, Long Acre.]

Event Comment: London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 31 March, contains a long article outlining opposition to silencing the theatre in Goodman's Fields

Event Comment: The Tragedy of Zara, Made English [by Aaron Hill]. Applauded Thirty-Six Nights running at Paris. The Characters, by a Sett of Gentlemen and Gentlewomen, who never acted before. None will be admitted but by Tickets into the Room that Night, which (by Reason of the Smallness of the Place) will be all commodiously made into Boxes, for the easy Reception of those many Great Personages, who have read and perus'd this Play with Approbation, and desir'd a long Time to see it acted; and charitably agreed to favour and encourage this Design, for the Benefit of [Mr William Bond, the Proprietor], who brings it on at a great Expence (tho' all that act in it, are so good to appear Gratis for him) who has lain ill of the Gout, and Rheumatism, upwards of Four Years. [This bill, in the London Daily Post and General Advertiser, differs considerably in phraseology, though not in basic fact, from that in the Daily Advertiser.]

Event Comment: 6 P.M. At Mr Vipont's New Long Room. 2s. 6d

Event Comment: Daily Advertiser, 15 Dec: The Opera of Adriano, now performing with great Applause, particularly for some fine Songs in it, compos'd for Signior Farinello, having been thought by the King to be rather too long, M. Veracini has shorten'd it, and his Majesty has declar'd his Intention of being present at it [Tuesday 16]. We hear, that after this Opera has had its run, there will be a new one call'd Mithridates, the Drama of which is wrote in English by Colley Cibber, Esq; Poet Laureat, and translated from thence into Italian

Event Comment: Benefit Author of the Farce. Mainpiece: Not Acted these Fourteen Years. Written by Dr Young, Author of the Universal Passion. Afterpiece: A New Tragic-Comic-Operatic-Pastoral Farce [By T. Drury]. At Common Prices. [Preface gives a long account of difficulties in getting the Afterpiece on the stage. See Daily Advertiser, 16 and 17 Jan. for puffs of the Afterpiece.]