Event Comment: A new Comic Opera (never performed [in London; 1st performed at Florence, 1778]); the Music by Gazzaniga [with additions by Storace, Posi, Trachi (World, 11 May)], under the direction of Mazzinghi. At the London production of La Vendemmia, the duet (Count-Susanna) Crudel perche finora from Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro was sung by Benucci and Anna Storace; probably the first piece of any Mozart opera which was heard on the London stage" (Loewenberg, 364). [In June 1789 it was published by Birchall and Andrews, as "A favorite duett...sung in...La Vendemmia...by Sg Benucci and Sga Storace". See Illustration

Event Comment: Tickets delivered for this Evening [Account-Book: by Andrews, Calkin, Chatterley, Dangerfield, Edwards, Gardiner, Gilles, Henderson, Humphreys, Irish, Long, Massingham, Panchaud, Scott, Sherratt, Smith, Stevens, Thompson] will be admitted. Receipts: #57 15s. 6d. (36.14.6; 17.14.0; 3.7.0; tickets: none listed)

Event Comment: Tickets Delivered for this Evening [Account-Book: by Andrews, Bowley, Calkin, Chatterley, Dangerfield, Edwards, Faux, Gilles, Henderson, Humphries, Irish, Long, Massingham, Panchaud, Scott, Sherratt, Smith, Stevens, Thompson, Wooldridge] will be admitted. Receipts: #64 18s. 6d. (54.5.6; 10.13.0; 0.0.0; tickets: none listed)

Event Comment: Protestant Mercury, 7-9 Sept. 1696: Last night dyed Mr Noaks, the famous Comedian, some miles out of Town, and 'tis said, has left a considerable Estate, tho' he has not frequented the Play-house constantly for some years

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The fee of #20 was paid to John Miles, an officer of Betterton's Company. See Calendar of the Inner Temple Records, III, 342

Event Comment: Weekly Journal or Saturday's Post, 13 June: His Majesty's Comedians have Orders not to depart above a certain Number of Miles from London his Season, in order, as tis said, to be at hand to entertain his Prussian Majesty, who is expected here in a Month's Time

Event Comment: Afterpiece: By Desire. [A full column, front-page letter to the Author of the General Advertiser from one purporting to live many miles from London, but whose curiosity about the New Tragedy Irene brought him to see it, details his experience in the theatre the night of Tues. 14 Feb. Seems to be an illconcealed "puff." The writer listens to three critics in the pit decry the performance, then after seeing it himself concludes: "It was receiv'd with universal approbation...Upon the whole I dare affirm that the Judgment of Posterity will concur with me in distinguishing Irene as the best tragedy which this age has produced, for Sublimity of thought, Harmony of numbers, strength of expression, a scrupulous observation of Dramatic Rules, the sudden Turn of events, the tender and generous distress, the unexpected catastrophe, and the extensive and important moral." He inquires why the play has not been so favorably received as others, and concludes it is too finely and artistically conceived to please the masses. He closes by complimenting the Ladies of Great Britain for he "scarce ever saw so shining an assembly in the Boxes. Their early approbation of a Tragedy in which not only the words but the ideas are entirely chaste; a tragedy filled with noble sentiment and poetic beauty is at once a proof of their delicacy and penetration."] Receipts. #100 (Cross); #101 (Powel)