Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of the premiere is not known, but the fact that the Songs were advertised in the Post Boy, 29-31 March 1698, and performance probably occurred in early March. One song, All things seem deaf to my complaints, set by John Eccles and sung by Mrs Bowman, was published in The A'lamode Musician, 1698. According to the Post Boy, 17-19 March 1697@8, another song, Fair Amoret is gone Astray, had its words written by Congreve, and, according to the Post Boy, 29-31 March 1698, the music set by John Eccles. A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702), p. 20: Damn'd. Gildon, English Dramatick Poets, p. 173: I have little to say to this Play, for 'tis not fair to attack a Man that's down, tho' I do not think (considering what Plays have pleas'd) that this ought to have met with so severe a Fate

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. It is not certain that this play was given at this time, but Vanbrugh, writing on 25 Dec. 1699, states that Thomas Dogget, who had been acting in Norwich, was in London "last Week," and acted six times, presumably on 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 Dec. 1699. The Amorous Widow is a likely play for this week, as Barnaby Brittle was one of Dogget's best roles. In addition, the Inner Temple, which usually requested popular plays, selected it for its revels on 3 Feb. 1699@1700. Nearly all the individuals in the cast in the 1710 edition acted in London during this season, with two exceptions: Fieldhouse and Mrs Hunt. Their roles may have been played by them or by other performers if they were not in the company at this time. I owe the suggestion that this was the play in which Dogget appeared to Professor Lucyle Hook

Event Comment: [By Mrs Mary Davys.] Never Acted before. Preface: The first Night, in which lay all the Danger, was attended with only two single Hisses....The one was a Boy, and not worth taking Notice of, the other a Man who came prejudic'd. Receipts: #28 10s

Event Comment: At Reynolds' Booth. Second Piece: [By Charles Coffey.] The Beggar's Wedding acted until 8 p.m. Southwark Fair acted from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. The Humours of Harlequin added to each. [On Thursday 18 the performance was a benefit for Mrs Nokes.

Event Comment: Written by Mrs A. Behn. Benefit Mrs Seal

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Clive.--At the particular Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Mainpiece: Written by the late Mr Congreve. [The Stage] will be properly inclos'd, and form'd into Boxes, to prevent the Ladies taking Cold. [Tickets at Mrs Clive's House, Cecil Street, the Strand.

Event Comment: Benefit Anderson, Mrs LeBrun, Mrs Bland, Miss Ferguson. Tickets deliver'd out for Mrs Fawkes will be taken

Event Comment: This comedy was wrote by Mr Moor, & except ye part of Faddle meet with Universal Applause (ye Author's first play) (Cross). New Scenes and Cloaths (General Advertiser). This C. was written by Moore--it is a good play--it was acted 11 times successively--Garrick's peculiar qualifications and happy use of them, added amazing spirit to the piece, and gave more consequence to Young Belmont than can well be imagined--Macklin, who never had in voice, figure or features much capacity for the fop cast, yet struck out some things in Faddle, that have not been since equalled, particularly in marking the obsequious knave throughout--Barry in the fourth act supported his character with emphatic dignity and in the last with melting tenderness--the part of Rosetta was undoubtedly conceived for Mrs Woffington, and she did it particular justice--the elegance, the notions of love, and the vanity of admiration, which are united in Rosetta, were natural to Mrs Woffington, so that she had the advantage of looking and speaking in her own character--the softness and pathos, which distinguished Fidelia sat with much ease on Mrs Cibber (Dramatic Censor, II, 206). [For contemporary account of plot and discussion of the play, see Gentleman's Magazine Feb. 1748, pp. 51-54; March 1748, pp. 114-17; May 1748, pp. 207-9; June 1748, pp. 257-59. See also G. Stayley, An Answer to an unjust criticism on the Foundling, listed in Register of Books, Gentleman's Magazine, May 1748, p. 240; A Criticism of the Foundling, in a letter to the author, listed in Register of Books, Gentleman's Magazine, March 1748, p. 144. The Larpent MS indicates many revisions. The substitution of Rake for Whoremaster, &c. Some Suggestive passages marked for excision. "The Disapprobation, which the Character of Faddle met with the first Night, made it necessary for me to shorten it in almost every Scene" (Dedication to 1st Edition).] Receipts: #200 (Cross); #200 5s. (Powel)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Macklin. Mainpiece [by John Ford]: Reviv'd not acted these Hundred years. Afterpiece: A New Farce never acted before by Charles Macklin. Note: Tickets deliver'd out for 22 April will be taken. Tickets to be had of Mrs Macklin in Bow St., and of Hobson at the Stage door. Cross: The play lik'd--farce not. Receipts: #93 (Cross); house charges, #60 (Powel); cash, #80 19s. 6d.; tickets, #12 15s. (Clay MS)

Event Comment: At Bridges, Cross, Burton, and Vaughan's Great Theatrical Booth on the Bowling Green, Southwark, (with a company from the theatres) during the short time of the Fair will be presented an Historical Drama (lately acted in Bartholemew Fair with universal applause) the Northern Heroes with the Loves of Count Gillensternia, a Swedish General, and the fair Ellimira a Russian Princess, containing the most remarkable events of that time; and concluding with the memorable battle of Putlowav, and Charles's retreat into the Turkish dominionsv. Interspersed with a comic interlude, The Volunteers. Also the comical humours and amours of Corporal Garbage and Serjeant Slim, with Mrs Vanspriggen the Swedish Sutler's widow, the merry pranks of her foolish son Janny, and several other diverting incidents. As the Fair will be of so short continuance, we shall begin very early each day (General Advertiser). [See 24 Aug. 1748, bf]

Event Comment: Benefit for Desse, Oates, Elrington, Miss Ferguson, Miss Morrison. Tickets deliver'd out by Dupre, Mrs Bambridge, Miss Allen and a Family under Misfortune will be taken

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Clive. Mainpiece: Not acted in seven years [see 7 May 47]. Altered from Dryden by Colley Cibber, Esq. Part of Pit laid into boxes. Amphitheatre on Stage. Receipts: #220 (Cross)

Event Comment: FFoote play'd Ben , Miss Macklin Miss Prue , Mrs Clive Mrs Frail . Foote cou'd not sing ye Song in Ben, so said two or three times, I can't do it & upon a little Hissing, said, Gentlemen I have no talents for singing-ye whole play Hum (Cross). [Opposed to Cross's summary of the effect of the performance appeared in Gray's Inn Journal the Murphy account (19 Jan.): The excellent Comedy of Love for Love has been revived here this week, the humorous and diverting Part of Ben, the sailor, was performed with great pleasantry by Mr Foote, who showed by his manner and his looks, that he had entered into the secret of the character, tho' twas visible at the same time, that his powers were greatly suppressed by his solicitude for his first appearance in a new character. It may be said of Miss Macklin, tho perhaps better qualified for spirited genteel comedy, that she acquitted herself with great applause in a part in which Mrs Clive has displayed so many inimitable strokes of humour."] Receipts: #160 (Cross)

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 Dunstall and Mrs Dunstall. Mainpiece: Not acted these two years. [See 25 Jan. 1751.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: not acted 6 years. [See 21 April 1752.] Afterpiece: By Desire. Benefit for Mrs Hamilton. Receipts: #87 15s. 6d. Plus Tickets #167 13s. [box 229; pit 514; gallery 333). Charges #63 Mrs Pudsey entered as a New Renter for 1 share (Account Book)

Event Comment: Receipts: #41 13s. 6d. Paid J. Powell 6 nights Renters to instant: #72 6s.; Guards 6 nights #4 4s.; Mrs Rich 6 nights to instant #31 10s.; C. Rich ditto #6; J. Rich #20; Mr Gum for Scenemen #6 9s. 3d.; Performers 5 nights #185 11s. 6d.; Servants 6 nights #23 13s. [The expenditures for renters (100) at 2s. 4d. each per acting night, is a weekly constant. The amount for Mrs Rich of #5 5s. each acting night as well as that of #1 for C. Rich each acting night, is a constant. These will not be further recorded, nor will the nightly constant of 13s. for the guards, and 5s. 4d. nigthly for the barber.

Event Comment: MMiss Pope in Corrinna (fine) Mr Wilkinson, Mrs Amlet (sad) (Cross). Mainpiece: Not acted in 8 years [but see 3 Jan. 1753]. My mother and I were at Drury Lane to see The Confederacy and Harlequin Ranger, Mrs King, Watson and Miss Pitt sat in our Box, a new actress did Corrinne to perfection, see Schutz Jr, Mr Schutz, Dives and Pigot there (Hailey, 'The Brietzcke Diary," p. 360). Receipts: #100 (Cross)

Event Comment: Receipts: #138. The weekly bill for the scenemen doubled this week, #18 16s. Paid Meares as per bill #6 18s. 1d.; Paid Mrs Buck for 13 days salary as dresser at 1s. 6d. per day; 19s. 6d.; Paid Mr Buck for making 13 Tambourines for The Fair, #2 15s.; Paid Mrs Lucy Gwynn a bill for cleaning silks, &c., 17s

Event Comment: Benefit for Redman, Lewis, Dibdin. Hussey, Miss Cokayne. Mainpiece: Not acted these 5 years. [See 18 May 1757.] Tickets deliver'd by Rawlins, Dufour, and Mrs Gwinn, and others will be accepted

Event Comment: No building on Stage. Part of pit laid into boxes. Benefit for Mrs Clive. Mainpiece: Not acted these 20 years. Afterpiece: By Particular Desire. Receipts: #242 6s.; charges: #61 4s. (MacMillan).[Profit to Mrs Clive #181 2s.

Event Comment: IImogen for the first time by Mrs Yates. This Farce was the Comedy of Gilblas. Cut into Two Acts (Hopkins). Benefit for Mr Yates. No building on Stage. Receipts: #217 (MacMillan); charges: #64 4s. [Profit: #152 16s.