Event Comment: Afterpiece: A New Dramatic Masque. Admission 5s., 3s., 2s., 1s. No Money under the full Price will be taken; and the Advance Money will he returned to those who chuse to go out before the Overture to the Entertainment begins. Edition of 1736: Invented by Mr Pritchard. Musick composed by Mr Arne. Scenes painted by Mr Hayman

Event Comment: Benefit of Mr Arne (Farce much hiss'd) (Cross). Last time of performing the afterpiece. Mr Arne hopes his Friends will excuse his not waiting on them, the Notice of his Benefit being too short. Receipts: #82 (Cross); charges, #63 (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: This Musical Farce of one Act was wrote by Mr G on purpose to introduce Miss Abrams (a Jew) about 17 Years old. She is very small, a Swarthy Complexion, has a very sweet Voice and a fine Shake, but not quite power enough yet-both the Piece and Young Lady were receiv'd with Great Applause (Hopkins Diary). Books of the Songs, Choruses etc. of Afterpiece to be had at the Theatre. The Conscious Lovers oblig'd to be deferred till Monday, with which will be performed the last new Grand Ballet, The Savage Hunters. [Advertisement to the published edition: "The author of this musical Farce, begs leave to inform the readers, if there should be any, that it was merely intended to introduce The Little Gipsy to the public, whose youth and total inexperience of the stage made it necessary to give as little dialogue to her character as possible, her success depending wholly upon her singing-This reason added to another, which is that the piece was produced at an early part of the season, when better writters are not willing to come forth, is the best apology the Author can make for its defects."] Paid 6 days salary list at #104 7s.-per diem, #626 2s.; Mr Lamash on note #5 5s. (Treasurer's Book). [The note on sale of books of the songs and choruses for the afterpiece occurs on all subsequent bills this season in which May Day is mentioned. The songs and chorusses and overture by Dr Arne. The afterpiece reviewed in Westminster Magazine for Nov.: The preparation is palatable, and the hand of the preparer is discoverable from the affinity between the scene of Roger and the Old Man, and that of whittle and Thomas in the Irish Widow....The Music of the overture and Finale were remarkably light and pretty: some of the airs also did Dr Arne credit. As to Miss Abrams, she has a sweet pipe, and a natural shake that charmed us;-If maturity does but strengthen her voice, at the same time that it gives her ease in deportment, she will prove an ornament to the stage."] Receipts: #205 3s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: fterpiece]: A Masque by Mr Dodsley. Went off Toll (Cross). New Dresses, Scenes, Decorations, &c. Music compos'd by Mr Arne. Nothing under Full prices will be taken. [Customary note for all subsequent performances this season. Will not be repeated.] Receipts: #170 (Cross); #161 19s. (Powel)

Event Comment: Benefit Arne. Tickets to be had of Arne next door to the Crown in Great Queen St., by Lincoln's Inn Fields; at St. James's Coffee House; at Nando's Coffee House, Temple Bar; and at Mr Simpson's Music Shop in Sweeting's Alley near the Royal Exchange, and places taken of Hobson at the Stage Door where tickets may also be had. -General Advertiser. Last night, at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane was perform'd King Pepin's Campaign, with great applause. The Music is said to be inimitable in its way. -Daily Advertiser, 17 April

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr Arne. In the Manner of an Oratorio. The Music composed by Arne. Boxes Half a Guinea. Pit 5s. First Gallery 3s. Upper Gallery 2s. To begin exactly at half an hour after Six. Tickets to be had and places to be taken of Varney at the Stage Door; and of Arne, next door to the Passage, in Charles St., Covent Garden. The Book is sold at R. Francklin's in Covent Garden, and at the Theatre the night of the performance. Price 1s. [Cross lists no receipts.

Event Comment: [Not performed.] Last Night ththe new English Opera of Eliza was suppressed by an Order from superior Power, by which Means many Persons of Taste were deprived of a very elegant Entertainment, as it was universally acknowledg'd that this musical Performance was very extraordinary Merit, being a sensible Composition, calculated to convey the liveliest Ideas to the Fancy, and to awaken the Passions of very feeling Heart. It is said, that instigated by this Disappointment, Mr Arne will apply to P-t for a Bill to unnaturalize him, that he may then have the Privileges of an Englishman, as well as any Foreigner of them all (Gray's Inn Journal No 37, 8 June)

Event Comment: By Desire. Afterpiece: a Dramatic Fable. [By James Miller.] Edition of 1739: The Musick by Mr Arne. Sung by Mrs Clive

Event Comment: Benefit for Lowe. Afterpiece: A New Musical Drama, never performed, taken from Prior. The Music by Mr Arne. Stage will be formed into an amphitheatre where servants may keep places. This day publish'd at 10s. 6d. Susanna, an Oratorio in score by Handel. Printed for J. Walsh

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A Dramatic Masque reviv'd. With proper Decorations, particularly a Grand Scene of Comus's Palace. The Music composed by Mr Arne. Receipts: #90 (Cross)

Event Comment: A new musical entertainment compos'd & wrote by Mr Arne--it was much hiss'd but suffer'd to be given out again (Cross). No latter account will be taken. Books of the Entertainment to be had at the theatre. [Pages covering this date missing from Treasurer's Book. Larpent MS 85 indicates the Character Capt. Sancho-Blakes, deleted.] Receipts: #100 ($Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr Arne the composer of it (Cross). [Cross omits receipts for this night.

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A Comic Opera altered [by Colman] from Gay. The Music entirely new by Dr Arne. Now acted for the first time in 2 Acts. [The 1776 Edition in Bell's British Theatre lists: Achilles-Mattocks; Peripas-$Reinhold; Lycomedes-$DuBellamy; Diphilus-$Dyer; Ajax-$Dunstall; Ulysses-$Owenson; Diomedes-$Fox; Argytes-$Baker; Deidamia-$Mrs Mattocks; Artemona-$Miss Brown; Philoe-$Miss Valois; Thetis-$Miss Catley. [$Miss Pearce may have played Lesbia).] Paid Banks for the Head of a Figure used in The Fair #1 1s.; Paid Mr Gard for performing 5 nights in the Fair and 3 in the Sorcerer #1. Paid Joseph Besford for performing 5 nights in the Fair 12s. 6d. (Account Book). [Afterpiece unfavorably reviewed in the Westminster Magazine.] Receipts: #149 18s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time in London; DR. POEM 5, by William Mason, 1st acted at Crow Street Theatre, Dublin, 30 Mar. 1764]: Written on the Model of the ancient Greek Tragedy. The Overture and all the Music composed New by Dr Arne. With a New Scene designed and executed by Dahl [recte Dall]. The Dresses, Decorations, &c. all entirely New. Books of the Lyrical Part of the Drama to be had at the Theatre. 'But I had rather talk of Caractacus; I agree that he will not suffer by not being sputtered by Barry, who has lost all his teeth. Covent Garden is rather above Drury Lane in actors, but both sets are exceedingly bad, so bad-that I almost wish Caractacus was not to appear. Very seldom do I go to the play, for there is no bearing such strollers" (Walpole [to the author, 8 Oct. 1776], IX, 419-20). "I attended Caractacus last winter, and was greatly interested, both from my friendship for Mr Mason and from the excellence of the poetry. I was out of all patience; for though a young Lewis played a subordinate part very well, and Mrs Hartley looked her part charmingly, the Druids were so massacred, and Caractacus so much worse, that I never saw a more barbarous exhibition" (Walpole [13 July 1777], X, 81-82). Public Advertiser, 7 Dec. 1776: This Day is published the Lyrical Part of Caractacus (6d.). [The publisher, J. Wilkie, states that he also has the "whole Drama, as altered by the Author, 18d." Ibid., 9 Dec., contains an advertisement from Mason stating that this version is unauthorized.] Ibid., 12 Dec.: This Day is published [by A. Ward of York] a new Edition of Caractacus, now altered for Representation at the Theatre-Royal in Covent Garden (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #163 10s. (163.6; 0.4)