Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Lessingham. Mainpiece: Not acted these 2 years. The Characters dressed in the Habits of the Country. Afterpiece [1st time; C 2, ascribed to Charles Stuart. Author of Address unknown]. Public Advertiser, 24 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Lessingham at her House, the corner of Percy-street, Rathbone Place. Receipts: #224 1s. 6d. (151.19.6; tickets: 72.2.0) (charge: #65 13s. 6d.)

Event Comment: "A to the dresses [in afterpiece], they almost as nearly resemble the habits of the peasantry of Russia as of Scotland" (Morning Chronicle, 29 Sept.). Receipts: #201 12s. 6d. (160.10.0; 40.11.6; 0.11.0)

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: The Jubilee consists of Dialogue Singing & Dancing. This Entertainment was written & compil'd by Mr G.-and it was receiv'd with bursts of Applause the Procession of Shakespear's Characters &c. is the most Superb that ever was Exhibited or I believe ever will. There never was an Entertainment produc'd that gave so much pleasure to all Degrees Boxes pit and Gallery (Hopkins Diary). The Music by Dibdin. With New Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations. [On all subsequent bills, though some are shortened, the PAGEANT is advertised in large capitals. Larpent MS 298, includes descriptive notes and stage directions, p. 24: "Here follows the Pageant, with Bells ringing, Fifes playing, Drums beating, and Cannons firing. In The Procession every scene in the different plays represents some capital part of it in action...The last Scene is a magnificent Transparent one in which the Capital characters of Shakespeare are exhibited at full length with Shakespeare's Statue in the middle crowned by Tragedy and Comedy, fairies and Cupids surrounding him and all the banners waving at the upper end. Then enter the dancers." The Pageant appeared at the top of the stage and came forward, Reviewed in Freeholder's Magazine, Oct.

Event Comment: At Phillips's Great Theatrical Booth opposite Cow Lane. With the surprising performances of an Englishman and a Citizen of London [Lort] who performs all the Equilibres on the Slack Rope that were performed by the muchfamed Turk. Prices: 2s. 6d., 1s. 6d., 1s., 6d. To begin at Twelve. [Time and prices the same at all booths.] Afterpiece: With the Escape of Harlequin into a Glass Bottle, also the last new additional Scene of Sig Jumpedo Jumping Down his own Throat. [An unhappy evening, for "last night the gallery of Phillips' booth fell down, with a great number of people in it, by which accident several persons were hurt, and some dangerously. This misfortune could be owing to nothing but the carelessness of the workmen, who upon such occasions deserve to be severely punished" (General Advertiser, 24 Aug.). The Daily Advertiser noted that Mr Stringellow, a goldsmith, in Aldersgate St., and Thomas Hodges, a journeyman-plaisterer in Golden Lane, were killed.

Event Comment: Benefit Mr Perkins, who has unfortunately lost his Sight. At Lee's Great Theatrical Booth. Written by the late Mr Addison. The doors open at three; the play begins at five. [Perkins is the author of The Blind Man's Complaint in Gentleman's Magazine, September 1734.]

Event Comment: Not Acted these Seven Years. Written by Ben Johnson. Daily Advertiser, 1 Nov.: On Saturday Night a great Number of Wax Candles were lighted in the Windows of Mr Cibber's, Mr Booth's, and Mr Wilks's Houses...on account of his Majesty's Birthday

Event Comment: At Reynolds' Booth. The Beggar's Wedding acted until 8 p.m.; Damon and Phillida, 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.; The Humours of Harlequin added to each one. Daily Post, 25 Aug.: This Day his Royal Highness the Duke and their Royal Highnesses the Princesses Mary and Louisa intend to honour Mr Reynolds with their Presence at his Great Theatrical Booth

Event Comment: [Mainpiece in place of The Orphan, announced on playbill of 31 Dec. 1776. Public Advertiser assigns the Ghost to Farren.] Afterpiece: With Additions and Alterations, New Music, Scenes [by Greenwood, Leroy and French Jun. (Morning Post, 4 Jan.)], Dresses, and Decorations. Receipts: #175 1s. 6d. (137.1.0; 34.17.0; 3.3.6)

Event Comment: Written by the ingenious Mr Shadwell, late Poet Laureat. Carefully revis'd. With all the original Decorations of Scenes, Witches, Songs, and Dances proper to the Drama

Event Comment: [By Ambrose Phillips.] At the Desire of several Ladies of Quality. William Egerton: And in the Spring came on Mr Phillips's Tragedy, The Distrest Mother. Mrs Rogers, an Actress, who in her Turn, had made a considerable Figure on the Stage, was designed the Part of (Andromache, Hector's Widow, &. i.e.) the Distrest Mother. But the Author, as well as his Friends, were soon convinced that Mrs Oldfield was infinitely the more accomplished Person for so Capital a Part. Upon its being given to Her, Mrs Rogers raised a Posse of Profligates, fond of Tumult and Riot, who made such a Commotion in the House, that the Court hearing of it send four of the Royal Messengers, and a strong Guard, to suppress all Disorders. This being effected, the Play was brought upon the Stage and crowned with deserved Success (Egerton, pp. 31-32)

Event Comment: Tickets deliver'd by Mrs Lampe, Mrs Jones, Mrs Morris, Miss Cranfield and Mr Hollingsworth will be admitted. Doors opened at half past 5. To begin at half past 6

Event Comment: [As afterpiece the playbill announces The Camp, but in the Account-Book it is deleted, and Harlequin's Invasion substituted.] Receipts: #95 7s. 6d. (61.19.0; 31.10.6; 1.18.0)