Event Comment: The Rivals [advertised on playbill of 4 Jan.] is obliged to be deferred on account of the indisposition of a principal performer. "There seems to be a perverse and impolitic system introduced of late years in the management of this theatre, in virtue of which certain plays are suffered to remain in a state of slovenly representation, to serve as a kind of stage lumber, on which the manager can immediately lay his hand (confident of a good half-price, from the popularity of his after-piece); he wants something, no matter what, to fill up the intermediate space of time. This is a system, however, which in the event cannot fail to prove equally injurious to the interest of the proprietors, and the gratification of that part of the audience who pay the full amount of admission" (Dramatic Censor, I, 45). Receipts: #188 5s. (102.16; 83.17; 1.12)

Event Comment: MMrs Aubin against Mr Henly. At the particular Desire of several Persons of Quality Mrs Aubin will make an Oration. Also a Concert. At Topham's Great Room, now The Lady's Oratory. At 6 p.m. Tickets 2s. 6d

Event Comment: MMrs Pendarves, 27 Nov.: They [The king's] have Farinelli, Merighi, with no sound in her voice, but thundering action-a beauty with no other merit; and one Chimenti, a tolerable good woman with a pretty voice, and Montagnana, who roars as usual! With this band of singers, and dull Italian operas, such as you almost fall asleep at, they presume to rival Handel-who has Strada, that sings better than ever she did; Gizziello, who is much improved since last year; and Annabali, who has the best part of Senesino's voice and Caristini's, with a prodigious fine taste and good action! We have had Alcina, and Atalanta, which is acted tonight for the last night with the fireworks....Mrs Porter acts three times a week; I have made a party to go next week; she is the only support of the stage, the house is crammed whenever she acts.-Delany, Autobiography, I, 5578-79

Event Comment: MMrs Woffington continuing greatly indisposed, the Play of All's Well that Ends Well is oblig'd to be deferr'd till further notice. Receipts: #60

Event Comment: MMrs Woffington fainted (Rylands MS.). Last night, in the First Act of All's Well, which was acted at Drury Lane, Mrs Woffington was taken so violently ill, that she fainted away, as she stood at the scenes, ready to come on; After a proper Apology being made, the Audience with great Humanity and Patience, waited till another person dress'd to read the part.--This night the Alchemist (by Particular Desire) is to be performed; and on Thursday, His Royal Highness and the Duke and Princesses have commanded the Tender Husband. On Friday the Play All's Well will be represented; when if Mrs Woffington is not recover'd, Mrs Mills will be ready in the part. Receipts: #100

Event Comment: MMrs Cross now doubling in Mrs Peachum and Diana Trapes

Event Comment: MMrs Tame (see 15 April hay) had announced for her benefit this night The Old Batchelor, with Cibber as Fondlewife, Giffard as the Old Batchelor, and Mrs Giffard as Laetitia, to be followed by Tom Thumb, with Mrs Tame playing Tom Thumb, but a notice of 11 April states that Mrs Tame was ill and the performance had to be deferr'd

Event Comment: MMrs Cibber being perfectly recovered of her late indisposition will certainly perform on Saturday next in Hercules

Event Comment: MMrs Woffington's Benefit intended for this night deferred till 30 March. [See 30 March; Genest IV, 149.

Event Comment: MMrs Cibber to Garrick, 26 Feb. 1746: I despise your vanity when you imagine my danger was as great from Mrs Copin, as yours from Perkin Warbeck; my rival met with disgrace the first night of her appearance; and my not naming her when I writ you about Perkin Jan. 1746] was a piece of generosity scarcely to be met with in the female sex, for my rival was then dismissed the house.--Boaden, Private Correspondence of Garrick, I, 39

Event Comment: MMrs Cibber to Garrick, late Jan.: It is surprising that dl goes on acting; one night with another, to be sure, they have not received above 40 pounds; the actors are paid only three nights a week; though they play every night. But the top stroke of all was Macklin's play! It was entirely new-dressed, and no expense saved in the clothes. I shall say nothing of the piece, because you may read it; but be as vain as you will about your playing Bayes, you never made an audience laugh more than Henry VII has done. There for the first time I saw your rival, Mr Goodfellow; I should have said the rival Mr Lacy wants to make you; do not be quite dispirited about it, for Perkin Warbeck is much below anything I ever yet saw. Here I must ask Mr Stevens's pardon, to whom I have done injustice, for I think he may dispute the pass downstairs with Perkin, and as his head seems to be the heaviest of the two, I think he has the best right to it.--Boaden, Private Correspondence of Garrick, I, 49