Event Comment: The Provoked Husband and Rival Candidates was given out for Tuesday. On Sunday Morning Mrs Yates sent word she was ill and could not play--sent to Miss Younge, and she sent word that she was ill in bed--King sent word he had a sore Throat, and could not play--so that we could do no Play but the Committee and Rival Candidates. On Monday the Managers met, but nothing was settled. At twelve o'clock Mrs Baddeley sent word she had a sore Throat, and could not play in the Riv[al] Can[didates] (Hopkins Diary). The Hypocrite and The Christmas Tale are obliged to be deferred. "[Smith] has a good figure, is gentlemanlike, and decent in everything he undertakes. When we allow that, we have said all; he wants both feeling to be affected, and powers to convey his feelings, if he had them. In fine, in spite of all the partiality of his friends, or the ignorant prejudices of those who never judge but at second hand, his performance of Richard was little more than a strong union of judgement and industry, unaided by nature. He should woo genteel Comedy oftener; and not that coy sister of hers, who certainly holds Smith at the point of her lance" (London Magazine, Oct. 1776, p. 511). Receipts: #186 18s. 6d

Event Comment: MMr Burton being taken ill this morning, Mr Aickin read Narbas (Hopkins Diary)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: With New Scenes, Dresses and Decorations. This New Comedy by Mr Bickerstaff much hiss'd (Hopkins Diary). [See comment on mainpiece in Town and Country Magazine (from Theatre No. XXII, p. 593.

Event Comment: MMrs Jeffries very imperfect in Lucy. The Farce greatly applauded (Hopkins Diary). Afterpiece: With alterations

Event Comment: MMrs W. Barry very bad in Almeria-imagine she was in Liquor (Hopkins Diary)

Event Comment: For the Farce--New Scenes, Dresses, Music. Book of the play sold at the Theatre. Play to begin at 6 o'clock (Winston MS 10). The Farce went off very well,--some hisses (Hopkins Diary)

Event Comment: This Pantomime is a Medley patch up from several old ones was very well receive'd & applauded (Hopkins Diary). With New Music and an Overture. Receipts: #222 1s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted in 10 years. [See 20 Dec. 1764.] Mrs King and Mrs Greville Imperfect (Hopkins Diary). Receipts: #107 11s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: This Play (Medea) was performed the first time for the Managers-Mrs Yates was fine in her Character; but the Play is too heavy and will not do (Hopkins Diary). Receipts: #142 5s

Event Comment: Grist Axalla--some Hisses (+Hopkins Diary). [Prologue by Nicholas Rowe.] Receipts: #193 15s. 6d

Event Comment: By Command of Their Majesties. Smith Don Felix--very so, so. The Play was very imperfect (+Hopkins Diary). Receipts: #249 12s. 6d. (235.6.0; 12.15.6; 1.11.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Baddeley. Public Advertiser, 22 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Baddeley, No. 2, Little Russel-street, Covent Garden. Mainpiece: Written by Massinger. Receipts: #143 18s. 6d. (56/15/0; 21/6/6; 0/7/0; tickets: 65/10/0) (charge: #108 11s. 8d.)

Event Comment: Books of the Opera sold at Theatre. This Night Mr Grimaldi Sprain'd his Leg (Hopkins). Mr Grimaldi had the misfortune to hurt himself so much in dancing, as to render him incapable of Performing for Some time (Public Advertiser, 19 March). Receipts: #112 2s. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: Well rec'd: all but the 1st Chorus w[hic]h was Hiss'd. First Dance Hiss'd off. Mr Norris being ill, Mrs Dormond perform'd in his room, much applauded (Cross Diary). Acted but once. Books of the Opera to be sold at the Theatre. Receipts: #169 1s. 6d. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: Paid 3 days Salary List at #86 15s. 6d. per diem #260 6s. 6d.; Mr Bransby on note #20; Sg Como, Sga Crespi, and Sg Demaria 3 days each not on list, #4 3s. 3d.; Mr J. French on Act #20; 2 pair dancer's shoes 14s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #267 18s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid Mr Johnston's bill for the Garter #56 15s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #230 10s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid Hull on account of Salary as Acting Manager #30. Receipts: #179 2s. (178.3; 0.19)

Event Comment: Benefit for Wathen. 3rd piece: By permission of the Proprietor of the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden. True Briton, 2 June: Tickets to be had of Wathen, No. 2, Frith-street. Receipts: #358 1s. (54.12.0; 61.13.6; 3.14.0; tickets: 238.1.6) (charge: #212 5s. 6d.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Whitfield. 2nd piece: Written by George Colman, Esq. Not acted these 10 years [acted 20 Dec. 1777]. After which, a Grand Procession of the principal Characters of Shakespeare, as exhibited at the Jubilee at Stratford upon Avon [in Sept. 1769]. Public Advertiser, 5 May: Tickets to be had of Whitfield at his house, Leicester Court, Castle Street, Leicester Fields. Receipts: #114 4s. (45/18; tickets: 68/6) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: Benefit for the young D'Egvilles, Johnston & Dale. Receipts: #233 1s. 6d. (24.12.0; 15.15.6; 0.16.0; tickets: 191.18.0) (charge: #108 7s. 11d.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Caulfield, Miss DeCamp, Miss Tidswell & Miss Heard. [In mainpiece the playbill assigns Mr Worthy to Benson but "an apology was made for the absence of Benson...His part of Worthy was read by Whitfield" (Thespian Magazine, July 1793, p. 50).] Tickets delivered for the 8th of June will be admitted. Morning Herald, 24 May: Tickets to be had of Caulfield, No. 8, Dartmouth-street, Westminster; of Miss DeCamp, No. 70, Tottenham-Court-Road; of Miss Tidswell, No. 3, Little Charles-street, St. James's-square; of Miss Heard, No. 13, Panton-street, Hay-market. Receipts: #182 3s. (28.17; 3.5; tickets: 150.1) (charge: #86 8s.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Wilson. Second Course [1st time; M. INT I, by James Cobb. Larpent MS 567; not published]: With Songs and a New Overture. Entrement [1st time: INT I, by Charles Stuart. Larpent MS 566; not published]. Desert: Never acted here; by Permission of Harris [proprietor of cg. The playbill assigns Princess Huncamunca to Mrs Kennedy, but "Huncamunca was very well performed by a Lady who resembled Mrs Kennedy in her voice" (Public Advertiser, 23 Aug.; and see 24 Aug.)]

Event Comment: Benefit for Ryder. Public Advertiser, 7 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Ryder, No. 68, Dean-street, Soho. 2nd piece: Written by Foote. 3rd piece: Not acted these 10 years [not acted since 29 Oct. 1773]. Receipts: #274 16s. (176.3.6; 5.3.6; tickets: 93.9.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Pope. Mainpiece: Not acted these 14 years [acted 1 June 1786]. Public Advertiser, 14 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Miss Pope, No. 62, Great Queen-street. Receipts: #264 19s. (91.6; 28.3; 4.2; tickets: 141.8) (charge: #121 4s. 10d.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Pope. Mainpiece: Not acted these 6 years. Afterpiece: Not acted these 5 years. Oracle, 25 Feb.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Pope at her house in Half Moon-street, Piccadilly. Receipts: #498 5s. (319.2; 8.12; tickets: 170.11)