Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not played for 20 years. Afterpiece: By Desire. The Play very dull Little Applause (Hopkins Diary). Benefit for Reddish. Theatrical Review, 28 March: The plot of this piece is taken from a well known passage in history, which, however, is too barren of incidents for the support of a piece of 5 acts, on which account it is rather languid and tedious, notwithstanding the language in general is tolerable poetical. What could induce Mr Reddish to revive so dull a performance, after it had been neglected for 20 years, we cannot conceive, unless it was with a view of having an opportunity to rant a few speeches in favor of liberty; but (as the piece was miserably represented except in the characters of Timoleon and Eunesia) we think Mr Reddish extended his liberty a little too far with the public; for which neither his Occasional Prologue, the Solemn Sacrifice, nor the Epilogue spoken by Miss Younge, made sufficient atonement. Paid 4 days salary #333 19s.; Mrs Abington's Cloaths Acct #1; Mr S. French 6 days #1 10s. (Treasurer'sBook). Receipts: #205 16s.; Charges: #67 6s. 6d.; Profit to Reddish: #138 10s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Great Applause to Mr G. House (Hopkins Diary). N.B. King Arthur which was to be performed this evening for Mr Barry's Benefit, is oblig'd to be deferred till further notice, on account of his continuing ill. Receipts: #266 14s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Zara first time Miss Younge-very well (Hopkins Diary). Benefit for Miss Younge. Paid Salary List #333 19s.; Mrs Abington's Cloaths acct, #1; Mr S. French 6 days, #1 10s. (Treasurer's Book). Barry Ill (Winston MS 10). Last time of performing till the Holidays (playbill). Receipts: #253 7s. 5d.; Charges: #65 17s. Profits to Miss Younge: #187 13s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Baddeley. Miss Sherry made her first appearance upon this Stage in Lady Macbeth, a Sensible Speaker pretty good voice Short Clumsy Figure met with Applause--The Farce very well receiv'd (Hopkins Diary). Afterpiece: A Farce by George Downing. Paid 6 day's salary at #82 19s. 9d., #497 18s. 6d.; Mrs Abington on Cloaths acct, #2; Mr S. French 6 days #1 10s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #135 1s. 6d. Charges: #68 12s. Profits to Baddeley: #66 9s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: House (Hopkins Diary). Paid Printer's Bill #9 6s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #243 (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Palmer. Mainpiece: Not acted these 12 years. Rec'd Mr Stevens 1 year's rent to Lady Day last (taxes deducted #13 3s. 8d.) #3 6s. 4d. (Treasurer's Book). Mrs Barry Isabella (1st time) great Applause (Hopkins Diary). Burton died on Sunday 3 May (Winston MS 10). Receipts: #158 15s. Charges: #64 17s. Profit to J. Palmer: #93 18s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mrs Usher Alicia (very bad) (Hopkins Diary). Benefit for Grimaldi, Messink and Giorgi. Paid half year's King's Tax and Window Lights for St Martin's to Lady Day last, #48 3s. 4d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #205 9s. Charges: #40 13s. Profits to Grimaldi, Messink & Georgi: #164 16s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: House (Hopkins Diary). Doors open at 5 o'clock. Play to begin promptly at six. Paid Printer's Bill #9 6s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #236 18s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Rosetta 1st time Mrs Wrighten very well, great Applause (Hopkins Diary). Benefit for Ackman and Mrs Wrighten. Paid Master Brown 4 nights #1 10s. (16th inst. incl.). Receipts: #207 6s. 6d. Charges: #65. Profits to Ackman and Mrs Wrighten: #142 6s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: House (Hopkins Diary). Ladies and Gentlemen are desired to come early. Paid Printer's Bill, #9 6s. Receipts: #238 8s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Last time of performing Mainpiece this season. House (Hopkins Diary). But Tickets delivered for Benefit of Mr W. Barry will be taken. Mr Wm. Barry's tickets this night (Box 88; Pit 76; Gallery 47) #38 2s.; Paid Printer's Bill #9 6s.; Master Brown 2 nights (26th incl.) 15s.; Extra trumpet 2 nights (March 31st incl.) #1 1s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #155 13s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mr Diamond made his first appearance upon the Stage in the Part of Romeo he is very younge a Smart Figure good Voice & made a very tolerable first appearance he met with great Applause (Hopkins Diary). [Macmillan's note from Kemble differs slightly.] Paid Chorus 2 nights (this inc.) #5 1s.; Paid Mr French on acct #20; Paid printer's bill #11. Paid Mr Garland, for copper plate printing #10 17s. 6d.; Paid Mr Weston, per order #18 17s. 4d. [The printer's bill was paid regularly each Thursday, averaged #8 19s. per week, and will not be further noted. Total payments this season #353. See Town and Country Magazine for favorable review of Miss Mansell as Juliet and of Diamond as Romeo.] Receipts: #208 13s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mrs Smith made her first Appearance in Sylvia a pretty Innocent looking figure a Sweet Voice & very proper for the Character She had vast Applause & very deservedly. (Hopkins Diary). [Macmillan note from Kemble differs slightly in wording.] Receipts: #125 2s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: This Farce was wrote on purpose to Shew Mrs Barry in an Irish part. She did not succeed so well in it as was expected but upon the Whole the Farce was well perform'd & met with great Applause (Hopkins Diary). [Macmillan note from Kemble differs slightly. See Account of the Irish Widow" in British Theatre article, London Magazine, Oct. 1772.] Paid Mr Rochfort for men's cloaths #7 7s. (Treasurer's Book). [The account in Town and Country Magazine of the afterpiece: "Upon the whole it is very indifferent production and as it did not meet with the applause that was expected, no one has adopted the bantling. The many are of opinion that Garrick had a hand in it, as it is got up to the best advantage, and a new dance is introduc'd between the acts to put the audience in a good humour for the succeeding scenes. Mrs Sutton is the principal dancer in the Irish Fair, in which she displayed great spirit and activity. The piece concludes with a song sung by Mrs Barry, which we think injudiciously alloted to her, as her forte does not consist in singing."] Receipts: #200 9s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Miss Biddy by Miss Jarratt (an apprentice to Mr Jefferson) a pretty little figure & met with Applause. Not much of an Actress (Hopkins Diary). [Macmillan note from Kemble differs slightly.] Paid Mr L. Frederick for sattin, #57 18s. 6d.; Mrs Sykes for women's cloaths #13; Mr Vernon on note #9 9s. (Treasurer's Book). [Reviewer for Town and Country Magazine (Treatre, XL) writes of Miss Jarratt, she has been under the tuition of Mr Jefferson and promises to be become an agreeable actress in parts (such as Biddy").] Receipts: #224 11s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mr Barry being Ill Mr Palmer pay'd Bajazet-So-So (+Hopkins Diary). Barry suddenly taken ill, Palmer hopes for the indulgence of the public as he has undertaken Bajazet at short warning (Winston MS 10). Paid Mr Evans one year wardrobe acct, #10 10s.; Chorus 2 nights (this incl.) #4 16s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #175 19s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mrs Smith Patty for the first time very well & great Applause (Hopkins Diary). Paid Tallow chandler's 2nd bill #36 9s. 5d.; Mr L. Frederick for sattin, #21 9s.; Mr Weston per order Mr G. G. #7 7s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #156 2s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: By Command. The King seem'd vastly pleas'd at the Farce (Hopkins Diary). Paid Chorus 2 nights (this incl.) #5 1s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #256 15s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: With proper Scenes, Dresses and Other Decorations (playbill). Miss Venables (a pupil of Mr Michl Arne) made her first appearance on the Stage in Philadel. She is very Short, & has a mean appearance a tolerable Voice-but little applause Miss Younge Emmeline (first time) So, so (Hopkins Diary). [Macmillan's note from Kemble slightly expanded. Reviewer for Town and Country Magazine (Theatre XL) writes of Miss Venables, She displayed but very moderate talents for the stage. She will doubtless improve under so good a master and when she has gained a greater share of maturity will probably do honor to her tutor.'] Receipts: #140 17s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mrs Smith Polly (first time) very well (Hopkins Diary). Paid Salary list #513 17s. 6d.; Miss Mansell and Mr Dimon 5 guineas each per order, #10 10s.; Mr Clinch ditt, #5 5s.; Rec'd stopages #20 13s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #141 2s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid Tallow Chandler's 4th Bill #41 6s. 5d.; Spermacetti Candles, #132 18s. Mr Tomlinson for Men's cloaths #11 11s.; Mr J. French on acct #20; Miss Hopkins, 15 nights (19th Dec. incl.) #3 15s. (Treasurer's Book). [The sixth edition of Wm. Law's Absolute Unlawfulness of Stage Representations was published this year (1st. edn. 1726) This day was published the Preliminary Number of the Westminster Magazine, which, monthly, included a section called The English Theatre, which observed generally on the state of the Stage, and commented specifically on new plays. Its view of the stage in general was not as sanguine as had been that of the writer for the Town and Country Magazine (1 April 1772). "We are of opinion, that the English Theatre is now in its decline. Whether it is that the stores of Dramatic Subjects or of Dramatic Genius are exhausted, is not immediately obvious; but there is a fault somewhere....We have seen the Morning star of Wit--the Noon too is past; we have now arriv'd at its evening...There is in Arts, as in Empires, a progress which leads to Refinement; and this refinement leads to Ruin." According to the writer the meridian glory of the English stage was during the reign of Queen Anne. Reviewer damns the Irish Widow, refuses to discuss the Gamesters (revived), damns the Rose and praises the Garrick alteration of Hamlet. This year also appeard Granny's Prediction, a 53-page pamphlet attack on Mrs Barry, condemning her on moral grounds (polygamy) and on aesthetic grounds, commenting on each of her characters. By a spiteful female relative Elizabeth Franchetti.] Receipts: #142 10s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mr G. very happy in Lear. great Applause (Hopkins Diary). Receipts: #286 8s

Event Comment: This Tragedy written by Mr Hume was receiv'd with very great Applause Indeed Mrs Barry Seem'd inspir'd She never Appeard to moor Advantage uncommon Applause (Hopkins Diary). New Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations. Paid 4 Day's salary list #348 5s.; Tallow chandler's 6th bill #44 14s. Mr Reddish's draft #10 10s.; Mr Racket for Women's cloaths #12; Mr Dibdin Draft #70 (Treasurer's Book). [Westminster Magazine for March gives a long, and unfavorable review of the new tragedy, concluding Home's genius lies not in the tragic way.] Receipts: #237 11s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mrs Barry was not in Spirits--not much applause (Hopkins Diary). Mrs Barry Failed greatly tonight from what she did the first night (MacMillan). Rec'd Mr Condill's 2nd payment for Fruit Office #20; Mr Burges one yrs rent to Xmas last with #4 4s. King's tax deducted, #16 16s.; Paid Mr Burges, Bricklayer #53 14s. 6d; Barrow & Co. for Oil #96 1s.; Mr Lawrence, paperhanger, #24 4s. 6d.; Mrs Lowe and Co., glaziers, #13 2s. 6d.; Mr Cropley, linen draper, #17 18s.; Mr Hatsell, mercer, #112 17s.; Hewetson & Co., lacemen, #28 19s. 6d.; Mr Scott, copper laceman, #37 6s. 6d.; Spermacetti Candles' Bill #286 8s.; Mr R. Johnston's Bill #124 5s. (Treasurer's Book). [The Westminster Magazine this month printed a counterblast to the flattering Picture of Garrick given 1 Feb. This article damned him as a manager, and quoted Smollett from Roderick Random, II, 260.] Receipts: #176 18s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid Mr Hopkins, Prompter's Bill, #32 15s. 4d.; Mr Reddish's Law bill #28 9s. 6d. Receipts: #144 9s. (Treasurer's Book)