Event Comment: [Mrs Twistleton, who was from the Liverpool theatre, is identified by Genest, VII, 159. "Her voice wants variety, and, possibly from too much exertion, in order to fill so large a theatre, it came upon the ear with a loud monotony, destructive of all possibility of pathetic effect" (European Magazine, Feb. 1794, p. 136). As afterpiece the playbill announces THE MIDNIGHT WANDERERS, but "Rosina succeeded the play. The Midnight Wanderers was to have been the entertainment; and we could not but lament that Mrs Mountain's indisposition should have prevented its representation" (Mormng Herald, 3 Feb.). The Account-Book notes the same change.] Receipts: #405 14s. 6d. (392/15/6; 12/19/0)

Event Comment: Charles II to Madame, 14 July 1664: I am just now come from seeing a new ill play and it is almost midnight (C. H. Hartman, Charles II and Madame [1934], p. 108). W. J. Lawrence, in a review of Boswell, The Restoration Court Stage, in Modern Language Review, XXVIII (1933), 103, stated his belief that this play was acted at court this day

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. The date of the first production is not known, but as the play was licensed for printing on 27 March 1679, the premiere must have been no later than March 1679. It is possible that Midnight's Intrigue--see introductory note to the 1676-77 season-is an earlier version of this play. The Epilogue suggests that the players faced thin audiences during the spring and that Drury Lane had been closed for some time: So hard the Times are, and so thin the Town, @Though but one Playhouse, that must too lie down. It is possible that Mrs Behn's The Young King may have been acted at this time. See September 1679

Event Comment: DDaily Post, 29 May: We are assur'd that there will be no more Plays acted this Season at [dl], and we hear that there was Yesterday no Play acted...as had been advertiz'd for that Day; the Occasion we are inform'd was, that at Midnight on Saturday last several persons arm'd took Possession of the same, by Direction from some of the Patentees, and lock'd up and barricado'd all the Doors and Entrances thereunto, against the whole Company of his Majesty's Comedians, as also against Mr Cibber, Jun. notwithstanding he had paid to one of the Patentees several hundred Pounds for one third Part of the Patent, Cloaths, Scenes, &c. and all Rights and Privileges thereunto annexed, for a certain Term not yet expired. Mr Cibber, Jun. and the rest of the Company of Comedians, and this Morning to wait upon his Grace the Duke of Grafton, Lord Chamberlain of his Majesty's Houshold, with their humble Petition, and the Representation of their Cast, and to beg his Grace's Favour and Protection

Event Comment: DDaily Advertiser, 30 May: Some of the Patentees of [dl] having thought fit, at Midnight on Saturday last, to give a very extraordinary Instance of the Wisdom and Justice of their Conduct, and of their Capacity for the Management they had undertaken, did also in Justification of their Proceedings, publish and disperse on Monday last, a printed Paper, containing several unjust and false Suggestions and Misrepresentations almost in every Particular, of their own Conduct, and the Case and Intention of the present Company of Comedians, who, in humble Duty...do intend very speedily by plain Matters of Fact, to set the whole affair in a just and clear Light. [See 4 June for a statement by the Patentees.

Event Comment: At the Desire of several Eminent Citizens. A concert, etc. Benefit for Stevens (bookseller). Mainpiece: Written by E. Young, author of the Midnight Thoughts. Boxes 5s. Pit 2s. 6d. Gallery 1s. 6d

Event Comment: [M+Midwife, No II (at about this date) includes a Letter from Mary Midnight to David Garrick, Esq praising him as actor and even as manager, but asking why he neglects Fletcher's plays: "What is the reason that the public patience is so largely try'd, and the human understanding so shamefully insulted as it is, by a perpetual repetition of the Duke and No Duke, the Anatomist, and twenty things of like nature?" Concludes by remarking that the London Cuckolds is a scandal to virtue.] Receipts: #120 (Cross)

Event Comment: A Concert, etc. At the Great Room, Castle Tavern. [See Comment, 5 May 1752.] To be conducted by Mrs Mary Midnight, author of the Midwife, and his Family. No admittance without Tickets, which are to be had at the Bedford Coffee House, Covent Garden. The Room will be lighted by Wax Candles. To begin at 7 p.m. Price 2s. 6d. [Time and price repeated thus for subsequent performances at the Castle Tavern.

Event Comment: At Cleopatra's Cataract between the several acts of her concert, will be pour'd upon the Town a cataract of Originals and Amazing Geniusses, brought by that antient Soverign from Anamamboo, Upper Egypt, and the renown'd Kingdom of Abyssinia. These being an entire new set of performers will exhibit that evening in a new manner sever strange and surprising Feats of an Egyptian Broomstick, the Ghosts, Witches, Imps, modern Saints, Ballad Singer, Conjuror, and Elizabeth Canning. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. To begin at 6 p.m. [A cryptic "puff" in the Daily Advertiser suggests that Mrs Midnight has abdicated in favour of Cleopatra, who will now take over the Haymarket.

Event Comment: Benefit for Lepicq. Tickets, half a guinea each, to be had of Lepicq, No. 33, Pall-mall. "On machinery at this Theatre the less stress is laid the better. The boat, of which, had it been good, there was too much use, was very far from good. The representation of Lepicq swimming transgressed as little the commandment. And as to the ascent of Lepicq in the bucket, that was so badly managed as to put us in heart-felt trepidation . . . The Rivali Delusi was cut very properly by omitting the under singers' airs; yet the curtain did not drop till midnight" (Public Advertiser, 16 Apr.)