Event Comment: NNeville MS Diary: To Ranelagh to hear a grand Jubilee Entertainment; it is the most elegant public room in the world and must give foreigners a high idea of the riches of our nation. It is circular and the fireplace is under a circular Portico in the middle, round which are tables at which the company are served with tea and coffee, and there are two sets of boxes at the side one above another for the same purpose. The landing room from the river which projects a little into the water commands a fine view of the river and country...Saw the Tripoline ambassador in the dress of his country. Took notice of a Miss Spencer and a Miss Johnson, two pretty ladies of the town, the latter had one of the prettiest faces I ever saw. Brunswick, Cumberland...Tripolian Ambassador...Miss Spencer and a Miss Johnson, two pretty ladies of ye town... were there...Began to use an Opera glass

Event Comment: NNeville MS Diary: At 6 went to Marybone Gardens, a place of the kind of Ranelagh-but not so elegant nor frequented by such good company--indeed much indifferent company resort to both. A transparent picture of a Patagonian man, woman and child was exhibited for the first time; went and returned on foot. Marybone fields are much pleasanter than the gardens. Got home about 11

Event Comment: With several curious and uncommon performances by the Venetian and his children. Neville MS Diary: At 6 got into the Pit at Sadler's Wells just as the entertainment began with concerts. The singing by Mrs Lampe, Master Herryman, &c. Dancing by Sg Grimaldi, Tassoni, Miss Reynolds from Drury Lane. Tumbling, but not equal to that by Plaida's company. Postures in which the Venetian and his children (a boy and a girl particularly) excel greatly. One stands on his hands, turns his feet backwards to his haunches, and walks in this position or forms an arch with his breast, while the other stands on his head upon it, the father carries one on his hand around his body, one stands on his head on his father's hand. These I mention as a specimen of many more, equally curious, tho' seeing these postures is disagreeable to a humane mind. The Father balances too the slack rope. The whole concluded with the pantomimic entertainment called Merlin

Event Comment: The above Play and Farce, will not be performed again for a considerable time. Neville MS Diary: Shuter took off Alderman Beckford...The House very full

Event Comment: A Tragedy for Warm Weather. Written after the manner of the Worst, as well as the Best of the English Poets, containing amongst a Variety of Particulars, curious, entertaining, and pathetic, the Rebellion of the Journeymen Taylors on the Score of Wages, etc. Neville MS Diary: Half past Six went to ye Haymarket Theatre but could not get into ye Pit or first Gallery, so stood on ye last row of the shilling Gallery, tho' I could see little, to see how ye Taylors, a new tragedy for warm weather, would go off, being the first night of its performance. 3rd Act hiss'd-ye Gods in ye shilling Gallery called for ye Builder's Prologue-hissed off ye part of ye Old Maid twice and Davies who came to make an excuse. The Gentlemen, many of whom were there, cried No Prologue" but to no purpose. At last Foote said if he knew their demands he would be ready to comply with them. The noise ceasing, after some time he was told the Builder's Prologue was desired. He said he had done all in his power to get the performers, having seen them. After some time he came and informed them he had got the performers together, and if the House would be pleased to accept of ye Prologue in our dresses as we are you shall have it." This was followed by great clapping which shows the Genius of our English mobility ever generous after victory. Left ye House after ye Farce began. [Flints were journeymen tailors who refused to comply with the masters' terms and the regulations of the magistrate, in contradistinction to those who submitted and were in derision stiled Dungs. The term dates from 1764-OED. An extract from the Occasional Prologue (the Builder's Prologue) in prose on the opening of the Theatre Royal in the Haymarket, by Foote published in the London Magazine July 1767, p. 351. Foote, Scaffold, and Prompter are the three participants. Foote tells Scaffold he will be paid by the audience. Scaffold notes that the audience must in that case be pleased at all times. Foote promises no long processions [will] crowd my narrow scenes." He assumes that any of the reforms he plans will but echo the public voice. The Prompter then calls the actors on.

Event Comment: By Particular Desire. [The BM Playbill lists Mercury-Bannister.] Half past six went into ye Pit to see $Barry do Hastings and Mrs Dancer Jane Shore. Before ye play began, ended reading ye parts of Hastings, Jane Shore and Dumont. When ye Gods called for ye Prologue, York beckoned to be quiet. What authority these fellows assume! T. Barry did Dumont, but he will never be equal to his father. The Entertainment was Lethe. Old Man and Lord Chalkstone by Shuter. Garrick, who sat near me, laughed at his understanding ye character of Lord Chalkstone so little, as to say--"She married for money, and I for a title." Drunken man pretty well by Weston (Neville MS Diary)

Event Comment: NNeville MS Diary: Read ye parts of Varanes and Athenais before I went into ye Pit to see ye Play of Theodosius. Barry and Mrs Dancer are excellent in Varanes and Athenais. Young Barry did Theodosius, and Sowdon Marcian, who, tho' ugly, has a pretty good person and is a tolerably good player. Liontine by Bannister

Event Comment: NNeville MS Diary: Barry played Lear very well. His broken voice is appropriate in that character; tho' I am apt to imagine that certain nice inflections of voice in expressing ye language of passion, are mistaken for a failure of ye voice itself...[partial cast]. Young Barry was tolerable in some parts of Edgar, but very inanimate in ye last scenes...The House very full

Event Comment: Afterpiece: Never performed there. Neville MS Diary: Shuter made ye house laugh by saying to the conjurer. Should be glad to see you at Court; there will a change in ye Ministry soon" and by desiring Jo to take care of his Toes

Event Comment: By Particular Desire. Neville MS Diary: Went into ye first row of ye Pit. Before ye play began and between ye acts read ye part of Lord and Lady Townly, Sir Francis, J. Moodie, and Sir Richard...The little girl who dances is more applauded than anyone who appears on that stage

Event Comment: Read ye parts of Alexander, Clytus, and Statire before going into Pit (Neville MS Diary)

Event Comment: They have better gangs of Highwaymen and whores here than at ye other Theatres. The Farce was ye School Boy, a low smutty thing (Neville MS Diary)

Event Comment: NNeville MS Diary: In ye evening read ye part of Hartop in the Knights. Went into ye Pit just as ye Beggar and Player came on and saw ye Beggar's Opera for a third time running, Mrs Dancer has more command of her eyes than any woman I ever saw, and sings very sweetly, tho' with less power than ye mere singing Pollys. Barry cannot sing well. Mrs Mahon's expression and propriety in Lucy is delightful. Mrs Jeffries does Doll Trapes better than she does Mrs P

Event Comment: Benefit for Jewell, Treasurer. Afterpiece: A Farce (for that Night only) taken from Congreve's Play of the Old Batchelour. Neville MS Diary: Half past six went to the Haymarket...out could not get into the Pit, Boxes or Galleries

Event Comment: Neville MS Diary: Shuter is a comical dog, a disturbance arising among the gods, he was obliged to stop and looking up to the Gallery asked, Well, are all affairs settled above?" During the noise Filch went off after singing--the gods encored the song. Shuter said You have frightened him so that he has lost his voice" but beckoning to Weston to return and sing. Weston steals Doll Trapes scarf in a new manner; he makes her drop it, etc. and pretending to do something about his knee, till she is out of sight, takes it up, saying I take it with all my spirit. When Macheath went to trial, Shuter cried, "Clear the way there--knock down that old woman with the apples.

Event Comment: NNeville MS Diary: He [Foote] does Paragraph, Strap and Slaughter. In the first he took off Faulkner, the printer of the Dublin Journal; am uncertain who in the last two. In the Counsellor, who examines the witness in the affair of El Can...he takes of Willes, son of the late Chief Justice. That examination and other anecdotes are not in the printed copy of the Orators...Mrs Jeffereys could scarce do her part for laughing at Foote

Event Comment: NNeville MS Diary: At Davies read the Countess of S. At 7 went into the Pit....a foolish Epilogue is spoken by Mrs Dancer, which tends to lessen the impression made by the excellent moral of the Play

Event Comment: The Fifth Day. Neville MS Diary: Going into the first Gallery to hear the Prologue...was obliged to stay and see the Play. When the Epilogue was called for, Barry appeared and said, Mrs Dancer is so ill, she hopes you will excuse her." The gods were so brutish as to continue hissing and crying Off Off" All the while little Froment danced, who stood it very well. At last Mrs Dancer came on the stage and said I have been very ill all night. Otherwise I would not have requested this indulgence. The "Nos" and Clappers prevailing, at last she got off without speaking the Epilogue. The Farce was...purged of a little of its obscenity

Event Comment: NNeville MS Diary: Where we went into several curious scenes of vulgar entertainment. [Neville returned in time for a seven o'clock performance at the Haymarket that night.

Event Comment: Dined at Dolly's, Saw Every Man in His Humour...I see as well with my glass in the 1st Gallery, as in the Pit without it, particularly when only one or two principal characters appear at a time (Neville MS Diary). Receipts: #111 7s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: By Permission. Benefit Barry. Tickets for the 10th instant will be taken. Being positively the last time of performing. Afterpiece: Taken from the Mistake. Neville MS Diary: Barry's expression of the savageness of the Moor, particularly with his eyes, is very great. Mrs Dancer does not suit herself in the character of Desdemona. We had two dances by Miss Froment with a foolish Farce in two acts

Event Comment: The Characters in the Mainpiece New Dress'd. Neville MS Diary: At 6, went into the Pit...House not very full. King John was performed with new Dresses and Decorations. Powell and Smith are good in York and the Bastard, and Mrs Bellamy in Constance....The entertainment was the procession of the Coronation, with the ceremony of the Champion. Every truly free soul, on seeing a representation of such extravagant pageantry, must abhor that form of Government, of the superfluous trappings of which it is but a small specimen. Receipts: #91s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Never acted there. Neville MS Diary: Both theatres opened again with The English Merchant. Went into the Pit of cg. Shuter did Freeport pretty well, but had not that appearance of blunt honesty which Yates has in that character....I like Miss Pope better in Molly than Mrs Mattocks. Mrs Goodman by Mrs Ward, who is a very different figure now from what she was some years ago. Her daughter did Amelia pretty well, but has a stiffiness and an indifferent voice. End Act III, The Irish Lilt-The celebrated dancer Aldridge, Sga Manesiere. Entertainment Harlequin Dr Faustus. I hope this emulation between the 2 Houses will cause exertion. Receipts: #146 8s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Read the two last acts of the Merchant of Venice, which I had not time to read last night (Neville MS Diary). Receipts: #108 4s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: At Half Past 5 went into the Pit to see Macklin do Shylock a second time...Woodward is inimitable as Squire Groom [in the afterpiece] Oblig'd to stand all night (Neville MS Diary). Receipts: #227 2s. 6d. (Account Book)