Event Comment: Benefit Winstone and Miss Cole. Mainpiece: Written by Shakespear. [Tickets for Mrs Anderson, Villeneuve, Rainton, and Master Green taken.]

Event Comment: A New Oratorio. Tickets will be deliver'd to subscribers (on paying their Subscription money), this day, and every day following at Mr Handel's in Brook Street, near Hanover Square. Attendance will be given from 9 o'clock in the Morning till Three in the Afternoon. Pit and Boxes to be put together and no persons to be admitted without tickets, which will be deliver'd that day at the Office in Covent Garden Theatre, at Half a Guinea each, First Gallery 5s. Upper Gallery 3s. 6d. N.B. Each subscriber is to pay Six Guineas upon taking out his subscription ticket, which entitles him to three Box tickets every night of Mr Handel's first six performances in Lent; and if Mr. Handel should have any more performances after his first six nights, each subscriber may continue on the same conditions. The Gallery will be open'd at Four O'Clock. Pit and Boxes at Five. To begin at Six o'clock. [These notices concerning price, subscription, and time of performance recur regularly, but will not be recorded further here.

Event Comment: SShuter having engag'd with Mr Rich Garrick in Bayes said you are a good Actor & I am sorry you have left me-a Clap (Cross). Both plays put up for last time of performing this season. Full prices throughout performance. No money returned after curtain is up. Tis hoped no gentlemen will take it ill that they cannot possibly be admitted behind the scenes or into the orchestra, the Entertainment depending chiefly upon the Machinery and Music. Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Event Comment: DDrury Lane Theatre open'd Sat: Sept 13th. The House new Gilt, Painted & ornamented wth Festoons &c. Mr Mossop left us. Mr Wilder discharg'd. Mrs Mills is gone to end her Days in Wales, wth an Allowance of #20 per An: from the Managers (Cross). Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. No money returned after the Curtain is up. No Persons to be admitted behind the Scenes. Places for Boxes to be had of Mr Varney at the Stage Door. [Notice customarily repeated and will not be further noted.] Receipts: #109 (Cross)

Event Comment: Compos'd by Mr Smith--the Introduction, which was a Dialogue in Prose, between Mr Havard & Yates, Much hiss'd & dislik'd. The Opera had great Applause. Miss Young recover'd (Cross). The Opera never performed before with songs from Shakespear, Dryden, &c. The Music by Mr Smith. [The Bill lists no cast or actors. The cast has been retrieved by Hogan from the 1756 ed. plus the musical score published by J. Walsh. Note some parts were doubled. See "Shakespeare's Tempest at Drury Lane During Garrick's Management", G. W. Stone Jr, Shakespeare Quarterly, Winter 1956.] Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Austin and Mr Wood. (Sub-Treasurer). We borrow'd Mr Barrington for Dorcas Zeal (Cross). Tickets deliver'd by Mr Boyce will be taken. Receipts: #140 (Cross); charges #63 (Winston MS 8)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A Tragedy [by Henry Brooke]. New dressed in the habits of the times. This tragedy was wrote by Mr Brooks and performed some years ago at Dublin. The first four Acts went off heavy, the last very well--Miss Mowat made her first appearance in this Piece at Drury Lane--Prologue by Mr Murphy heavy. Epilogue by Mr Garrick, great applause (Hopkins MS Notes)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 12 years. [See 24 Jan. 1758.] Prologue written by Paul Whitehead. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Mr Sarjant (only) at the Stage-Door. No persons can be admitted behind scenes, nor any Money returned after curtain is drawn up. To begin exactly at 6 o'clock. [Customary note in succeeding bills.] Receipps: #190 14s. (Account Book). @The New Occasional Prologue@As when the merchant to increase his store@For Dubious seas, advent'rous quits the shore;@Still anxious for his freight, he trembling sees@Rocks in each buoy, and tempest in each breeze@The curling wave to mountain billow swells,@And every cloud a fancied storm fortells:@Thus rashly launch'd on this Theatric main,@Our All on board, each phantom gives Us pain;@The Aatcall's note seems thunder in our ears,@And every Hiss a hurricane appears;@In Journal Squibs we lightning's blast espy,@And meteors blaze in every Critic's eye.@Spite of these terrors, still come hopes we view,@Hopes, ne'er can fail us--since they're plac'd--in you.@Your breath the gale, our voyage is secure,@And safe the venture which your smiles insure;@Though weak his skill, th' adventurer must succeed,@Where Candour takes th' endeavor for the deed.@For Brentford's state, two kings could once suffice;@In ours, behold! four kings of Brentford rise;@All smelling to one nosegay's od'rous savor@The balmy nosegay of--the Public favor.@From hence alone, our royal funds we draw,@Your pleasure our support, your will our law.@While such our government, we hope you'll own us;@But should we ever Tyrant prove--dethrone us.@Like Brother Monarchs, who, to coax the nation@Began their reign, with some fair proclamation,@We too should talk at least--of reformation;@Declare that during our imperial sway,@No bard shall mourn his long-neglected Play;@But then the play must have some wit, some spirit,@And We allow'd sole umpires of its merit.@For those deep sages of the judging Pit,@Whose taste is too refin'd for modern wit,@From Rome's great Theatre we'll cull the piece,@And plant on Britain's stage the flow'rs of Greece.@If some there are, our British Bards can please,@Who taste the ancient wit of ancient days,@Be our's to save, from Time's devouring womb,@Their works, and snatch their laurels from the tomb.@For you, ye Fair, who sprightlier scenes may chuse,@Where Music decks in all her airs the Muse,@Gay Opera shall all its charms dispense,@Yet boast no tuneful triumph over sense;@The nobler Bard shall still assert his right,@Nor Handel rob a Shakespear of his night,@To greet the mortal brethren of our skies [upper galleries]@Here all the Gods of Pantomime shall rise:@Yet midst the pomp and magic of machines,@Some plot may mark the meaning of our scenes;@Scenes which were held, in good King Rich's days,@By sages, no bad epilogues to plays.@If terms like these your suffrage can engage,@To fix our mimic empire of the stage;@Confirm our title in your fair opinions,@And crowd each night to people our dominions.@--(Poems and Miscelaneous Compositions, Ed. Capt. Edward Thompson, 1777) Covent Garden opened with the Rehearsal with alterations. I was in the Pit. Powell, from Drury Lane, one of the new managers who have bought the patent from Rich's heirs, spoke an occasional Prologue. Shuter did Bayes pretty much to my liking, adding many crochets of his own.... Entertainment The Mock Doctor,...Young Jasper pretty well by one Massey, being his first appearance on that stage (Neville MS Diary)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A Tragedy [by Hugh Kelly] never perform'd. The performance of Mrs Yates alone could have counteracted, for nine nights, its natural tendency towards damnation....A gentleman being asked, after one of the representations of this play, if he did not hiss it, replied "How could I? A Man can't hiss and yawn at the same time." (Biographia Dramatica.) [The advertisement to the 1771 edition thanks Mrs Yates, Bensley, Wroughton, "for their great good nature in undertaking their respective characters at the short notice of a week, when Mr Ross unexpectedly returned the part of Anselmo, which had been in his possession above a fortnight." This circumstance, continues the advertisement oblig'd Mr Bensley, cast for Palermo to undertake Mr Savigny's part, orginally Granville, Savigny taking Anselmo, and Wroughton Palermo." The play was brought on anonymously to avoid political repercussions associated with the name of the author.

Event Comment: Benefit for Waldron and Dimond. Rec'd stopages #15 16s. Paid salary list #525 12s.; Mr King's extra salary #3; Mrs Canning in full of salary not on list (10 Guineas paid 20 Nov. last deducted)-#32 10s.; Mr G. Garrick on Acct in full for this season #50; Mr J. French ditto #5 5s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #188 11s. 6d. Charges: #64 11s. Profits to Waldron & Dimond: #124 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Miles Peter Andrews and Frederick Reynolds; based on Le Dissipateur; ou, L'Honnete Friponne, by Philippe Nericault, dit Destouches. Prologue by the Duke of Leeds; Epilogue by Miles Peter Andrews (see text)]: With new Scenes, Dresses and Decorations. The Scenery designed and executed by Greenwood. Gazetteer, 18 Nov.: At the rehearsal of the new comedy on Tuesday the Duke of Leeds, Major Scott, Mr Angerstein [the banker] and Mr Boswell were in the boxes. Mr Boswell said an epigrammatic thought had struck him...and he brought the following Impromptu into life: Andrews, your play is safe enough; For noble Leeds endures it; Boswell and Scott are pledged to puff, And Angerstein ensures it. World, 13 Dec. 1790: To-morrow will be published Better Late than Never (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #240 14s. (206.7; 32.6; 2.1)

Event Comment: Tickets delivered for this Evening [Account-Book: by D'Egville Sen., Johnstone, Dale, Miss Arne, Miss Heard] will be admitted. Dancing: The Musick by von Esch, the Dance by D'Egville Sen. Receipts: #604 15s. (192.17.6; 49.4.6; 2.18.6; tickets: 359.14.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Fawcett. 1st piece: Not acted some years [acted 30 Oct. 1790]. 2nd piece [1st time: ENT 1]. 3rd piece: By Permission of George Colman, Esq., and for that Night only. Tickets and Places to be had of Fawcett at his house, No. 10, Golden Square, and of Brandon, at the Theatre. "To the Public, May 16, 1797. In consequence of repeated Forgeries of Tickets on Benefit Nights, particularly those of Miss Wallis, Mr Incledon, Mr Holman, and Mrs Mattocks, it has been found necessary to offer a large Reward for the Discovery of the Person or Persons concerned in this unjust and cruel Practice. Mr Fawcett, therefore, thinks it his Duty to warn his Friends and the Public from purchasing Tickets for his Night of Strangers, especially those Persons who sell them in the Avenues of the Theatre, as all such will be stopt at the Doors, and if forged the Persons offering them for Admittance will be drawn into a disagreeable dilemma" (printed slip attached to Kemble playbill). Receipts: #462 5s. (189.12; 8.13; tickets: 264.0)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; M. ENT 2, by William Linley. Larpent MS 1246; not published]: With new Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations. The Overture and Musick entirely new, composed by William? Linley. Books of the Songs to be had in the Theatre. [Notice on playbill of 20 Nov.: The Author of The Pavilion, submitting with deference to the decision of the Public, has withdrawn it for the present to make such alterations as he hopes may render it an Entertainment better entitled to their approbation. (On 21 Jan. 1800, altered, it was acted as The Ring.)] "Miss DeCamp need never wish to have a better foil to her exquisite style of acting, than the puny efforts of Kelly and Mrs Crouch. They may be singers, but never should attempt to perform" (Dramatic Censor, I, 9). Receipts: #291 4s. 6d. (157.3.0; 131.8.6; 2.13.0)

Event Comment: Benefit Wright and Miss Seale

Event Comment: Not Acted these Forty Years. Written by Mr Dryden. And new Scenes, Machines, and other Decorations, particularly An Exact Representation of Merlin's Cave, as in the Royal Gardens at Richmond. Boxes and Balconies on the Stage 5s. Boxes 4s. Pit 2s. 6d. Gallery 1s. 6d. No After-Money will be taken. [According to edition of 1736, the Prologue and Epilogue were written by Mr Sterling.]

Event Comment: SSignor Campioni first danc'd here--well (Cross). Afterpiece: With Scenes, Music, Cloths and Decorations entirely new. Paid Rigg (a Smith) #2 10s.; Mr Oram (Scene Painter) on acct #30 by order Mr Lacy (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #100 (Cross)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A New Musical Entertainment in Two Interludes. The words to be sold at the theatre (General Advertiser). Some Gentlemen crowding behind ye Scenes, ye Audience resented it & ye farce was stop'd for half an hour--I drew lines with chalk, but Miss Norris applying publickly to Capt. Johnson, desiring he wou'd retire, He did & ye farce went on with great Applause. The words of this piece were by Mr Mendez, & set by Dr Boyce (Cross). Added to salary list, Mr Campioni. Paid him for cloaths #21, and for 51 days work, #42 10s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #140 (Cross); #142 13s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Costollo and Miss Minors. Tickets of Costollo at his lodgings at Mr Waiter's, Chymist, the Golden Cross, in Russel St., Covent Garden; of Miss Minors, at Mr Nichols's a Baker, in Catherine St., near Russel Court, and at the Stage Door. We are assured that Sg Giardini's Performance on the Violin, at Sga Cuzzoni's Benefit, at the New Theatre in Haymarket, on Saturday Night last, gave the highest pleasure to several of the best judges of that instrument. Receipts: #90 (Cross)

Event Comment: MMrs Cowper did Sylvia, for her first appearance here (she came from Bath, Richmond &c.)-Toll. Afterpiece as originally perform'd (Cross) [i.e., without the burlesque scenes of The Fair (see 6 Nov. 1752).] This piece [Harlequin Ranger] was now acted as originally written. It is surprising that Mr Garrick should be the first to introduce Pantomime Entertainments (this season) especially as his own universal talents are seconded by a good company of performers. We suppose he does it to gratify the taste of the town; but such Smithfield exhibitions should certainly be banish'd from all regular theatres; and as Mr Woodward is an excellent comedian, it would be more eligible in him if he chuses to wear the motley dress any more to appear in the character of a speaking Harlequin, after the manner of the Italian Comedy; and indeed it is not a little surprising that nothing of this kind has yet been admitted upon our stage (Gentleman's Magazine, Oct., p. 493, from Grays' Inn Journal, 13 Oct. 1753.). Receipts: #120 (Cross)