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: A Serious English Opera never performed before, by Mr Rolt. Music by Mr Michel Arne and Mr Battishall. Though it met with a favourable reception was preformed but six nights to thin audiences (Victor, History of the Theatres, III, 58)

Event Comment: Benefit for Messrs Rooker, Messink and Giorgi. Paid salary list #520 7s. 6d.; Mr J. French on acct #20; Rec'd of Mr Hopkins in full #20; Stopages #18 6s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #196 4s. Charges: #74 14s. Profits to beneficiaries: #121 10s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: By Authority of the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for Walker. Afterpiece [1st time; F 2]: by a Gentleman from Edinburgh [unidentified. Larpent MS 433; not published. Authors of Prologues unknown. Mrs Moss is identified on playbill of 22 Apr. 1777]. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. The Doors to be opened at 5:00. To begin at 6:00. Tickets to be had of Walker, No. 4, New Round-court, Strand; of McIntosh, the King's Head, near Marybone-street; at the St. Andrew, Wapping; at the Mount-street Coffee-house, Grosvenor-square

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr and Mrs Brereton. Part of the Pit will be laid into the Boxes. To prevent Confusion Ladies are desired to send their Servants by half past Four o'clock. Morning Chronicle, 21 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mr and Mrs Brereton, No. io, Charles-street, Covent Garden. Receipts: #317 6s. 6d. (121/17/0; 7/11/6; 1/6/0; tickets: 186/12/0) (charge: #106 2s.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Bannister. [Mrs Wells had 1st acted Macheath at the hay, 14 Sept. 1781; Bannister had acted Polly at the same theatre, 16 Sept. 1785.] Gazetteer, 3 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Bannister, No. 7, Suffolk-street, Haymarket. "There is now a most vehement rage of innovation in language, government, religion, and everything else...On the British stage, with infinite applause, young and beautiful actresses perform sometimes the Parts of highwaymen; and some singing actors squall in an affected voice resembling, and intended to imitate, that of women; the most humourous dramatic pieces are frittered away into songs; and I should not be surprised to hear that henceforth Miranda and Juliet are to be personated by grim-visaged grenadiers seven feet high, and Falstaff by a slender miss just entered her teens" (Universal Magazine, Mar. 1795, p. 171). Receipts: #285 14s. (162.4.6; 5.9.6; tickets: 118.0.0)

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill assigns Margarita to Mrs Powell, and Clara to Miss Heard, but Mrs Powell "being suddenly indisposed, Miss Heard was her substitute" (Morning Chronicle, 30 Sept.). It is not stated who acted Clara.] Receipts: #245 2s. (150.3.6; 92.18.6; 2.0.0)

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: 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: This Comedy written by Mr Kelly was brought on the Stage by Capt. Addington as his own was well perform'd & receiv'd with great Applause (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly in wording.] Rec'd stopages #24 12s. 6d.; Paid salary list #529 2s.; Mr King's extra salary #3; Miss Brooker, 8 weeks not on list #8. (Treasurer's Book). [Mainpiece reviewed favorably by the Westminster Magazine: "He that cannot relish such a pleasing picture of Manners with such powerful Sentiments, so interesting a Fable, and so striking a Moral, must be a churl indeed."] Receipts: #244 15s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire and advertised as Garrick's last time of performing the character of Lusignan. This Farce of Two Acts was written by Mr Colman -the first Act was receiv'd with great Applause the second Act a little heavy -and not so much Applause as the first (Hopkins Diary). Paid Mr Park 1 chorus 4 nights (Jubilee) #1 10s. (Treasurer's Book). [The Westminster Magazine for March tells the plot of the afterpiece, and concludes: "The wit and dialogue of this piece will hardly keep it long in esteem with the public. They are sometimes lively, but generally pert and affected."] Receipts: #272 18s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Inchbald. Mainpiece: By Permission of Colman [proprietor of the HAY, owner of the copyright of the play, and author of Epilogue]. Morning Chronicle, 22 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Inchbald, No. 10, Great Russel-street, Covent Garden. Receipts: #107 8s. (71/17/6; 5/1/6; tickets: 30/9/0) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Altered into Three Acts. "All the comic part of the play is cut out" (Monthly Mirror, Dec. 1795, p. 123). Afterpiece [1st time; P 2, by William Pearce]: The Incidents principally selected from the legendary Ballads of the 13th Century. The Scenery, Machinery, Music, Dresses and Decorations entirely new, and in correct conformity to the Times. The Pantomime invented by Mr Lonsdale. The Songs written by Mr O'Keeffe. The Overture and the Music (with the exception of a few Antient Ballad Tunes) by Reeve. The Dances invented by Byrn. [The concluding Grand Scene regulated by Thomas Harris (Monthly Mirror, supra).] The Scenery painted by Hodgins, Lupino, Phillips, Thorne, Hollogan, Blackmore, and assistants. The Machinery by Sloper and Goosetree. The Dresses by Dick and Mrs Egan. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. [For a further assignment of the Vocal Characters and for a more detailed synopsis, see 4 Jan. 1796.] Account-Book, 16 Jan. 1796: Paid Goosetree for the Keep and Hire of Horses for the Pantomime #15 13s. Receipts: #321 19s. (318.10; 3.9)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: [By Mrs Eliza Haywood.] By Reason of the Indisposition of an Actress, the Part of the Wife is to be perform'd by Mrs Haywood, the Author. Afterpiece (Daily Post, 10 Aug.): A new Dramatic Entertainment...design'd by Mr Theo. Cibber, with new Music compos'd and adapt'd by Mr Jones, which proper Judges allow to be the best of the kind now extant

Event Comment: This Comedy was written by Mr Kelly as soon as the Curtain was drawn up they began to hiss--a party was made against it--because he was suspected of Writing for the Court party. Much hissing. Mr Garrick call'd for. No play &c. Cry'd out, at last the play was got thro' with much hissing and Groaning When the play was given out again One Party was for it no more and Kelly's party was for it again so that no play at all was given out (Hopkins Diary). [See Criticism in "British Theatre" article, London Magazine, March, also an extended account of the attack upon the piece. This occurs also in the Town and Country Magazine, which mentions that since the curtain was not drawn up for the farce the audience received a refund.

Event Comment: [By Thomas Southerne.] Receipts: #93 10s. 6d. Victor, History of the Theatres, II, 152: I happened to be behind the Scenes the first Night of this Comedy, and was very sorry to find that the Audience did not take the Age, as well as the great Merit of this Author, into their Consideration, and quietly dismiss this last weak Effort to please them. When they were hissing dreadfully in fifth Act, Mr Rich, who was standing by Mr Southern, asked him, if he heard what the Audience were doifg? His Answer was, No, Sir, I am very deaf.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 16 years. [See 19 April 1751.] New Scenes, Machines, Decorations &c. The Characters dress'd in The Habits of the times. This Masque is very well got up with New Scenes & Decorations particularly a Representation of the Grand Naval Review design'd by Mons DeLoutherberg & vastly well Executed had great Applause the piece is very dull (Hopkins Diary). [Macmillan's note from Kemble differs slightly in wording.] Paid five day's salary at #86 13s. 10d. per diem, #433 9s. 2d.; Miss Younge 6 days not on the list #1; Mr Courtney 3 days not on list 7s. 6d.; Mr J. French on Act #10 (Treasurer's Book). The Songs, Chorusses, &c. in the Masque (in the order they are now performed) to be had at the Theatre. The Music by Dr Arne and other masters (playbill). Receipts: #158 12s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but Luttrell purchased his copies of the separately printed Prologue and Epilogue on 15 May 1682 (Huntington Library); hence, the premiere occurred before that date. The Prologue also refers to the feast which the Whigs attempted to hold at Haberdashers' Hall on 21 April 1682 but were restrained, pointing toward late April as a probable date for the first performance. The separately printed Prologue and Epilogue are reprinted in Wiley, Rare Prologues and Epilogues, pp. 77-79. A song, In Phyllis all vile jests are met, with music by Giovanni Draghi, is in Choice Ayres and Songs, The Fourth Book, 1683. Langbaine (English Dramatic Poets, 1691, p. 19): This Play had the luck to be well receiv'd in the Town

Event Comment: By Henry Fielding. Never acted before. On 25 Jan. Lady Hertford wrote to her son: Mr Fielding has wrote a comedy which has been refus'd by the Licenser, not as a reflecting one, but on account of its immorality. On 19 Feb. she wrote again: Mr Fielding by suffering the bawd to be carted, tho she is his favorite character in the new play, has obtained a license to have it acted, and it was perform'd on thursday for the first time, but so much dislik'd that it is believ'd that it will be impossible to prevail with a second audience to hear it through.-Hughes, Hertford, p. 242. The Larpent MS. shows many question marks, and deletions of suggestive, passionate, and physiological references

Event Comment: Wrote by one Mr Crisp. A Gentlewoman, who never appear'd upon ye Stage before did Marcia (Mrs Graham) & had deservidly great applause, the whole play went off, with General Approbation. Mr Carey had his fiddle broke by an apple playing the first Music--the Prologue & Epilogue much lik'd--both wrote by Garrick (Cross). Gentlewoman-Mrs Graham, afterwards Mrs Yates (Winston MS 8). Tuner Letter the 2nd pub. at 6d.--29 pages

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Barry. King Arthur oblig'd to be deferr'd on account of Mr Barry's illness. Tickets deliver'd for The Distressed Mother will be taken. Pit and Boxes are laid together. Send servants by Four o'clock. Afterpiece: Not acted these seven years. [See 21 April 1760.] The Farce hiss'd. Mrs Barry Sir Harry (Hopkins Diary). Paid Salary list #333 19s.; Mrs Abington's Cloaths Acct, #1; Mr S. French 6 days, #1 10s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #296 14s. Charges: #65. Profit to Mrs Barry: #231 14s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; F 2, by Elizabeth Inchbald. Prologue by Edward Topham (London Chronicle, 26 Aug. 1786)]. Account-Book, 5 June 1786: Paid Mrs Inchbald in full for Appearance is against Them #50. Public Advertiser, 11 Nov. 1785: This Day is published Appearance is against Them (1s.). Receipts: #207 2s. (204/10/6; 2/11/6)

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of the premiere is not known, but the fact that the play was advertised in the London Gazette, No. 3151, 20-23 Jan. 1695@6, and entered in the Term Catalogues, February 1695@6, suggests that it was probably acted not later than December 1695. According to the Edition of 1696, the music was set by John Eccles: Come, Thyrsis, come was sung by Reading and Mrs Hodgson; the other songs in the edition lack the names of the singers. In addition, Rich mines of hot love are rooted here, sung by Bowman, was in Deliciae Musicae, The First Book of the Second Volume, 1696; and Let us revel and roar, set by John Eccles and sung by Curco and Reading, was published in Thesaurus Musicus, The Fifth Book, 1696. Downes, Roscius Anglicanus, p. 44: Lovers Luck, a Comedy, Wrote by Captain Dilks, which fill'd the House 6 Days together, and above 50# the 8th, the Day it was left off. A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702), p. 20, lists it among the plays under the heading: Damn'd