Event Comment: Ryder (p. 195): There is a good deal of mirth in [The Drummer] and something pleasant and entertaining. The prince was at the play. An epilogue was spoken to recommend the cause of religion and liberty and loyalty to the care of the ladies, some part of which was very good. The beginning of it was but dull. However, I was very well pleased to hear it clapped by a full house and a general approbation of the sentiments

Event Comment: For the Entertainment of his Excellency the Ambassador from the States General

Event Comment: Ryder, Diary, pp. 359-60: Went to see the tragedy of Tamerlane which was acted with a new prologue in honour of King William and in memory of what he did for us. The play itself is good....Mills who acted the part of Bajazet did it mighty well and expressed that furiousness and rage and malice and ambition admirably well in his gesture at the end, but, which is his distinguishing character, very well kept up throughout. I observed in the general that the manner of speaking in our theatres in tragedy is not natural. There is something that would be very shocking and disagreeable and very unnatural in real life. Persons would call it theatrical, meaning by that something stiff and affected

Event Comment: Chetwood, A General History of the Stage, p. 198: Yet a blind Man might have borne with Norris in the Roman Patriot , for he spoke it with all the Solemnity of a suffering Hero; while Penkethman, and the rest of the motley Tribe, made it as ridiculous by Humour and Action: And yet some of the first Rank in the Kingdom seemed highly diverted whilst others invoked the...dead Roman and Briton to rise, and avenge their own Cause. Lady Bristol in. Letter Books of John Hervey, II, 74-75: I had no patience to see [Addison's] play burlesqued as it was last night for the entertainment of their Royal Highnesses...their Audience was much too good for them, for there was a great many people of quality

Event Comment: As 26 Jan. Receipts: #42 15s. Daily Journal, 27 Jan.: A New Tragedy, call'd, Friendship Betray'd; Or, the Injured General, was to have been Acted on Tuesday next...but is deferred, on Account of Mrs Bullock's hourly Expectation of being brought to Bed, she having the Principal Part in the Play

Event Comment: Benefit a Gentleman Reduc'd by the late General Misfortune. Written by Shakespear

Event Comment: Before a very numerous Concourse of the Nobility and Quality, who expressed a General Satisfaction at the surprizing Performances of this Lady

Event Comment: Admission as 7 Nov. 1722. Daily Post, 11 Feb.: On Saturday Night last a Disturbance happen'd at the Opera House...occasion'd by a Difference that arose between a Scotch Nobleman and an English Baronet, who were going to decide the same with the Point of the Sword; but the General of the Forces, who was near at hand, being made acquainted with it, very reasonably interposed and put them both under an Arrest by his Majesty's Command

Event Comment: Their Habits were very rich, after the Roman Manner, and the performance of all the Parts was so just that it gave general Satisfaction, and gained the Applause of a very numerous Audience

Event Comment: Written by Shakespear. Receipts: #67 4s. 6d. Daily Journal, 27 Sept.: The Gilding, Painting, Scenes and Columns of Pier Glass, rais'd for the better illuminating the Stage and other Parts of the House, gave a general Surprize and Satisfaction to the Spectators

Event Comment: On this day and on several following days Mrs Violante offered tumbling, dancing and general entertainments, but no plays, at this theater

Event Comment: By His Majesty's Command. N.B. This being the first Time of Acting on Account of Subscriptions, the General Tickets will be sent to the Subscribers. [The King present.

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: At the particular Desire of several Persons of Quality. [The Epilogue is printed in Daily Post, 12 Aug., which added: There was a very handsome Audience, and the young Actors were dismiss'd with general Applause.

Event Comment: At the particular Desire of the King of the Cherokees, the Prince, the four Generals, and the young Captain, lately arrived from South Carolina. At Common Prices

Event Comment: A New Ballad Opera, [By George Lillo.] Receipts: #91 9s. 6d. Daily Courant, 12 Nov.: On Tuesday Night...Sylvia...was perform'd for the first Time...where there appeared a Set of People, who seem'd inclined to damn the whole Performance (if it had been in their Power)by their continual Hissing and Cat-Calls; notwithstanding which, the same was perform'd with Applause, by the general Approbation of the Pit and Boxes

Event Comment: Benefit Carey. Mainpiece: Written by the late Mr Congreve. Daily Advertiser, 12 Jan.: Mr Carey depends entirely on the Favour of his Friends, hoping they will accept of this General Invitation, and honour him with their Presence as much as if he had attended them with Tickets

Event Comment: Preface to edition of 1734: The Fourth Night a Set of about eight or ten young Fellows went to the Bedford Coffee-House ... and declared publickly that they came purposely to damn the Play, and would not leave the Play-House till they had compassed their Ends. . . . Accordingly Mr Ryan coming on to speak the Prologue, they began their Uproar, but were soon silenced, and the Prologue was heard with Applause. The Play beginning, they began again, and were so loud that Mr Ryan acquainted them, that as he could not imagine there was anything in the Play they could except against, he was apprehensive he had the Misfortune to displease them. Mr Quin then came on, and told them he found the House was divided, and as the Majority was for hearing the Play, he hop'd those who were not, would go out. The House on that were unanimous, and cry'd, Turn them out, Turn them out, but they saved the Audience the Trouble of doing it, and retired under the general Hiss of every Person then present

Event Comment: London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 4 Nov.: We are informed, that when Mr Handel waited on their Majesties with his New Opera of Ariodante, his Majesty . . . was graciously pleased to subscribe 1000/. towards carrying on the Opera [at CG. No confirmation of this point is known]

Event Comment: London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 30 Nov.: Last Night there was a Rehearsal of a new Opera before his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales at his House in Pall-Mall, in which Farinelli and Senesino each of them perform'd a Part

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by Shakespear. London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 12 Dec: Whereas, on Saturday last, the Audience . . . was greatly incens'd at their Disappointment in Mr Poitier and Madem Roland's not Dancing, as their Names were in the Bills for the Day; and Mr Quin, seeing no way to appease the Resentment then shewn, but by relating the real Messages sent from the Theatre, to know the Reasons why they did not come to perform, and the Answers return'd: And whereas there were two Advertisements in the Daily Post of Tuesday last, insinuating that Mr Quin had with Malice falsely accus'd the said Mr Poitier and Madem Roland, I therefore think it (in Justice to Mr Quin) incumbent on me to assure the Publick, that Mr Quin has conducted himself in this Point towards the Abovemention'd with the strictest regard to Truth and Justice; and as Mr Quin has acted in this Affair in my Behalf, I think myself oblig'd to return him Thanks for so doing. Charles Fletewood

Event Comment: By particular Desire. London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 4 Jan.: The kind Reception which Mr Poitier met with in his Performance on Wednesday last . . . lays him under the greatest Obligation to the Publick; and if he has lost the good Opinion of anyone, by the late unhappy Disturbance [see 7 Dec. 1734], he hopes his future constant Endeavours to oblige, will both be accepted, and regain their Favour