Event Comment: Post Man, 5-8 Sept. 1696: At Mr Barns's Booth in Southwark Fair, near St Georges Church, will be seen the only English, Dutch, Spanish, High German and Indian Companies of Rope-Dancers, who are all five joined together, and will perform such variety of Dancing, Walking, Vaulting and Tumbling; the like was never seen in England before. 1st, You will see the famous Indian Woman and her Company. 2. You will see the High German Company. 3. You will see the Spanish Company dance excellently well on the Low Rope. 4. You will see the two famous Dutch Children, who are the wonder and admiration of all the Rope Dancers in the World of their Sex and Age. 5. You will see the two famous Englishmen, Mr Edward Barns of Rederiff, and Mr Appleby, who are the only two Master Ropedancers and Tumblers in the old world; also you may see Mr Edward Barnes dance with a Child standing on his shoulders, and with 2 children at his Feet, in Jack-boots and Spurs, and cuts Capers a yard and a half high, and dances a Jig on the Rope with that variety of steps, that few, or no Dancing Masters can do the like on the ground: He likewise walks on a slack Rope no bigger than a penny Cord, and swings himself 6 or 7 yards distance. Afterwards you will see the famous Indian Woman Vault the High Rope with great dexterity. Likewise you will see the famous Mr Appleby, who is the only Tumbler in all Europe, fling himself over 16 mens heads, through 12 Hoops, over 14 Halbards, over a Man on Horseback, and a Boy standing upright on his Shoulders. You will likewise the entertained with good Musick. The merry Conceits of Harlequin and his Son Punch. You will see the English and Dutch Flag on the top of the Booth. Vivat Rex. We shall play in this place 12 days

Event Comment: Post Boy, No 482, 4-7 June 1698: At York Buildings this Day, being the 7th of June, will be performed an Entertainment of New Musick, Vocal and Instrumental, Mr Pate, Mr Leveridge, Mr Freeman, Mr Bowen, and all the best Masters perform their Parts. Composed by Mr Daniel Purcell for his Benefit

Event Comment: Rec'd by sundry charges made to Mr Theophilus? Cibber more than paid him last season...#58 8s. 5d. Paid Mr Finch for Mr Cibber's creditors the moneys stopp'd out of his sallary for their use #58 8s. 5d. Rec'd of Mr Finch a Bill paid to Forest June 1745 for a Habeus &c for Mr Cibber. Receipts: #91 19s. 6d

Event Comment: Afterpiece: By desire. To Mr G-, Sir: You will very much oblige many of your friends by reviving the play of Ulisses wrote by the celebrated Mr Rowe; We apprehdnd there are four characters in which yourself, Mr Barry, Mrs Cibber and Mrs Pritchard would shine inimitably. If you think this hint worthy your notice, we make no doubt it will in every Respect answer your expectations, as well as gratify the town in general. S. W., S. T., &c. (General Advertiser). This day is publish'd, at 1s. Lethe Rehears'd or a critical discussion of the beauties and blemishes of that performance; interspers'd with occasional remarks upon dramatick satires in general, as well as on some that have been best receiv'd in particular. The whole in a free conversation amongst several persons of distinction. Printed for J. Roberts (General Advertiser). [This is a fifty@two@page puff for Lethe, and for the usefulness of the stage for propagating morals. The characters who lead the discussion are: Sir Francis Friendly , a sensible learned Gentleman; Dr Heartfree , a candid, judicious person; who has a great opinion of Mr Garrick; Mr Snip@Snap , a vociferous modern Critic; and Two Women .] Receipts: #120 (Cross); #118 12s. 6d. (Powel)

Event Comment: TThe London Chronicle for 1758 (p. 455): On Friday the 3rd instant was presented Coriolanus. The two first acts of this play, as it is performed at the above theatre, were written by Shakespear; the three last for the most part by Mr. Thomson. But how a man of Mr Sheridan's knowledge (who first introduc'd it there about four years ago) could think of pounding into one substance two things so heterogeneous in their natures as the productions of those authors, is to me amazing. Mr Smith enters in the first act, after having (as we are to suppose) just overcome the Volsci, to the tune of violins and hautboys; but I am a little afraid the grandeur of his triumph is a little misapplied, considering the early times in which Coriolanus lived, before the Roman empire had arrived to any degree of splendor and magnificence, and was great in virtue only. However it makes a fine show; and Mr Smith, who has an excellent person, by the help of a little burnt cork and a real coat of mail cuts a very martial appearance. I think it was one of the Gracchi, who, when he was speaking to the people, always had a servant behind him in the Rostrum with a pitch-pipe which he touched whenever he found his master's voice rising beyond a certain height; such an instrument as this would, in my opinion, be of service to Mr Smith, for his fault seems to be that of keeping too much at the top of his vioce. Mrs Hamilton in the part of Veturai, especially in the last act, excells herself; and in particular, she repeats that line: "He never can be lost who saves his country," with the genuine spirit of a free-born Englishman. By the unnatural conjunction which is attempted to be made in this tragedy, most of the other characters are robbed of their significance. Those two excellent actors, therefore, Ryan and Sparks, only give us just cause to regret that the parts of Tullus and Volscius are not longer....After the play was presented a Ballad Opera called The Contrivances; in which some good comedians are oblig'd to submit to the drudgery of supporting as contemptible a trifle as ever was acted on the stage

Event Comment: N.B. We have engag'd Mr King; & Miss Baker from Ireland, one Mr Moody, a Stroler,-Mr Beard is gone to Covent Garden, 'tis said to be manager Mr Mossop to Ireland. Receipts: #120 (Cross). Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places from Mr Varney at the Stage Door. No admittance behind scenes. [The customary note about prices and admittance will not be noted further here.] [At the opening of the theatres this season appeared an essay in Goldsmith's Bee, giving close observations upon actors, and deploring the relative stiffness and formality of English actors in comparison with the French. Advised English actors to travel abroad. Yet (Vol. 1759, p. 12) commented on the magnificnece of "our theatres as far superior to any others in Europe where plays only are acted. The great care our performers take in painting for a part, their exactness in all minutiae of dress, and other little scenical proprieties has been taken notice of by Riccoboni." Complains of the convention of laying a rug before a dying scene and of the vacant expressions of mutes on stage.