Event Comment: Benefit for Mattocks (playbill). Charges #65 2s. [Profit to Mattocks #52 14s. plus #36 8s. from tickets (Box 83; Pit 83; Gallery 32).] (Account Book). Receipts: #117 16s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mattocks. Last time of performing till the Holidays. [See additions in bills for 5 April.] Charges #72 16s. Profit to Mattocks #108 17s. 6d., plus #37 1s. from tickets (Box 135; Pit 22). Receipts: #181 13s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mattocks. Mainpiece: Written by Thomson. Not acted these 7 years. Receipts: #224 0s. 6d. (163.16.6; tickets: 60.4.0) (charge: #66 6s.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Wells. Mainpiece [1st time: C 5, by Simon. Prologue by John Henniker (Town and Country Magazine, June 1791, p. 281). Larpent MS 906; not published; synopsis of plot in Morning Post, 11 May]. "Scarcely [any] performer in the piece thought it worth while to charge their memories with words, that they would wish afterwards, if they had, to forget as fast as possible...The imitations were some tolerably true, and a few excellent. Siddons and Storace were outrageous caricatures. Mrs Wells once came infinitely nearer the former. She is now deficient in tone and emphasis--all is shiver and sob. Mrs Crawford, Mrs Jordan and Mrs Abington were worthy her talents in the mimetic art" (Oracle, 11 May). Public Advertiser, 27 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Wells, No. 12, Weymouth-street, Portland-place. Receipts: #313 3s. (148.15; 8.7; tickets: 156.1)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Hannah Cowley.] Miss Younge had a song [Wake, thou son of dullness] composed by Michael Arne. Authors of Prologue and Epilogue unknown]: New Scenes and Dresses. Account-Book, 16 June: Paid Mrs Cowley for suspending the publication of the Belle's Stratagem #100. Public Advertiser, 1 Apr. 1782: In a few Days will be published The Belle's Stratagem. A spurious Copy having been published in Ireland [in 1781] make[s] it necessary to observe that the above is the genuine Comedy, as performed at Covent Garden Theatre. Ibid., 9 Apr. 1782: This Day is published The Belle's Stratagem (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #213 19s. (212.15.6; 1.3.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [by Oliver Goldsmith]: Never Perform'd Before. [Quick, mentioned by Genest, does not appear on the playbill. The Edition of 1768 casts Mrs White as Landlady, and Cushing as Butler. It does not include Morris or Morgan, but adds Post@Boy-Quick; Bailiff-R. Smith; Dubardieu-Holtom. (See 1 Feb.) The Theatrical Monitor, No XI (6 Feb.), reviews the mainpiece in a lukewarm, judicial manner.] Receipts: #227 4s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A New Comedy [by Richard Cumberland] never performed. [Genest, V, 282, reports that Garrick was in the House this night and was agreeably surprised at the complimentary reference to him in the Epilogue: Who but has seen the celebrated strife Where Reynolds calls the Canvass into life: And, 'twixt the Tragic, and the Comic Muse, Courted of both, and dubious where to chuse, Th'immortal Actor stands?' A long retelling of the plot appeared in the Freeholder's Magazine for Dec., concluding: This comedy was received with great applause by the Audience. It is said to be written by Mr Cumberland, who has already oblig'd the Public with a musical piece, called the Summer's Tale. The Performers, particularly Mr Smith, Mr Woodward, Mr Yates, Mrs Green, Mrs Bulkley, and Mrs Yates, did great justice to their characters. The Prologue was spoken by Mr Smith, and the Epilogue, which alluded to the celebrated picture of Sir Joshua Reynolds, where Comedy and Tragedy are contending for Mr Garrick, by Mrs Yates." Receipts: #215 18s

Event Comment: The Duenna [advertised on playbill of 10 Oct.] is obliged to be deferred on Account of Mrs Billington's Indisposition. Receipts: #126 16s. 6d. (124.8.6; 2.8.0)

Event Comment: The Two Misers is unavoidably oblig'd to be deferr'd. Books of the Entertainment [The Two Misers?] to be had at the theatre. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. No persons admitted behind the scenes, nor any money returned after the curtain is up. Places for the Boxes to be taken, of Mr Sarjant (only) at the Stage Door. The Doors to be opened at Half after Five o'clock. To Begin exactly at Half after Six. Vivant Rex and Regina. (Customary footnote for succeeding Playbills. It will not be repeated here. The Westminster Magazine, September, p. 459, indicates a Prelude was also given this opening night, consisting of several of the actors comparing notes on their various successes, casts of parts, droll accidents, which they had experienced during their different summer excursions. Mattocks, Dunstall, Lee Lewes, Miss Barsanti, and Hull participated. The reviewer reported the content of their reminiscences, but disliked the jumbled nature of the Prelude. Another account in the Morning Post, 21 September.] Note: For performance at hay 20 September, see Season of 1774-1775, p. 1905

Event Comment: New Comedy Never Perform'd. [Attributed to Mrs Griffith. For Contemporary account see Gentleman's Magazine, January 1766, p 19.

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Thompson

Event Comment: Music by Fisher. The whole to conclude with a Capital Scene by Servandoni. Books of the Songs, Chorusses &c. [of the afterpiece] to be had at the Theatre. [Customary note on all succeeding bills advertising the Sylphs this season. Mrs Williams was probably Mrs Willems.

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Mattocks. By Desire of his Excellency the Ambassador [Yussuf Adijah Effendi] from the Sublime Porte. Morning Chronicle, 19 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Mattocks, No. 8, Great Russel-street, Covent Garden. Receipts: #362 15s. (226/13; 13/1 3; tickets: 122/9)

Event Comment: [Extra night] Benefit for the Fund, established for the Relief of those Performers who, through Infirmity, shall be obliged to retire from the Stage. The Theatrical Fund was established in 1765, under the auspices of the late Mr Beard and Mrs Rich; and received the sanction of Parliament in 1776. There are now, and have been for more than 20 years, several Annuitants supported by it, chiefly families and widows. Yet notwithstanding it has been so long set on foot, the interest arising from the Funded Capital has never been equal to defraying one half of the annual disbursements. The deficiencies have been continually supplied by progressive weekly contributions from the performers. When this is considered, it is respectfully presumed the generosity of a British Public will be exerted this night in favour of so liberal and beneficial an institution. Thomas Hull, Treasurer. Tickets to be had of Hull, Treasurer to the Institution, No. 7, Duke's-Court, near Dean's Yard, Westminster. Receipts: none listed

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Elizabeth Inchbald. Author of Prologue unknown]: With new Dresses, Scenery, &c. Morning Herald, 4 Apr. 1797: This Day is published Wives as they Were, and Maids as they Are (2s). "The Manager of Covent Garden Theatre gives Mrs Inchbald #500 for her new Comedy" (True Briton, 13 Mar.). Receipts: #302 13s. 6d. (295.9.0; 7.4.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Barry. Mainpiece: A Tragedy altered from Thomson [by Thomas Hull] never perform'd. Part of Pit laid into the Boxes. Servants who are to keep places are desired to be at the stage door by 4 o'clock, and those Ladies and Gentlemen who have taken seats in the Pit are requested to come early to prevent confusion in getting to their places. Epilogue by Sheridan. [This play had been refused a license on 26 March 1739, While Walpole was still Prime Minister, probably because of such speeches as: @Is there a cure on Humankind so fell@So pestilent, to Prince and People,@As the base servile vermin of a court;@Corrupt, Corrupting ministers and favourites?@How oft have such eat up the widow's morsel,@The Peasant's toil, the Merchant's far-sought gain,@And wantoned to the ruin of a nation!-Larpent MS, op. p. 65.@ Also the play equalizes Christianity and Mohammedanism before God, and gives a slight edge to the latter (Act IV, scene ii), suggesting the part politics play in Christian churches. An account of the alterations made for the present performance is given in the Westminster Magazine for March. The review concludes: The Play was got up altogether well, and reputedly acted, and is in its present state what the Ladies call "a very pretty tragedy."

Event Comment: [On 17 Apr. 1781 the playbill notes that Mrs Kennedy acted Carlos, it being "her 1st appearance in that character this season". This is perhaps a misprint for "2nd"; i.e. on 21 Sept. 1780 the Gazetteer reviews her performance as Carlos.] Receipts: #191 1s. 6d (190.12.6; 0.9.0)

Event Comment: Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. No Persons to be admitted behind the scenes, nor any money returned after the Curtain is Drawn up. Places for the boxes to be had (only) of Mr Sarjant at the Stage Door. The Doors to be opened at Five o'clock. To begin exactly at Six o'clock. Vivant Rex & Regina! [Customary note for each bill. Only significant changes will be further noted. The company was weakened by the loss of Woodward (see 23 Oct.) who accompanied Foote to Edinburgh, and of Mrs Bellamy who was not engaged. Miss Catley, however, returned from Ireland after an absence of 9 years. And Ross returned after four years.

Event Comment: [As mainpiece the playbill announces Douglas, but "Mrs Barry being suddenly taken ill yesterday Morning , The Busy Body ws substituted for Douglas...and allowing for the short Notice which the Performers had to prepare for the Representation, we must do them the Justice to say that they acquitted themselves extremely well" (Morning Chronicle, 16 Oct.).] Receipts: #234 5s. (233.4; 1.1)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mattocks

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Wells. Mainpiece [1st time; C 4, author unknown, not in Larpent MS; not published. Epilogue by Robert Merry (World, 30 Apr.). On 11 May acted as The Female Pursuit]: Taken from Moor's Gil Blas. Public Advertiser, 27 Apr.: Mrs Wells trusts the Public will have the Candour to excuse her not appearing in the Play, as the principal Woman's Character has many changes in it, and the Fatigue of going through various and numerous Imitations would render her incapable of undertaking it. Gazetteer, 9 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Wells, No. 12, Weymouth-street, Portland-place. Receipts: #301 14s. (166.2; 10.1; tickets: 125.11)

Event Comment: Benefit for the Author [of mainpiece, who is named in the Account-Book, but not on the playbill]. "A considerable tumult prevailed last night among the audience of this Theatre, on account of the unavoidable substitution of Miss Chapman and Mrs Harlowe for Mrs Esten and Mrs Wells (who are both indisposed). It was not that the audience objected to the former two, but because the names of Mrs Esten and Mrs Wells were printed in the bills usually sold about the Theatre, though not in those properly issued from the House. [Mrs Esten's name, however (but not Mrs Wells'), is listed in the "House" playbill for this night.] The audience were very violent, and the actors, after having nearly finished the first Act twice, were obliged to begin the Comedy a third time, before it was suffered quietly to proceed" (Morning Herald, 9 Feb.). "The fracas at Covent-garden Theatre on Wednesday evening was occasioned by the dexterity of certain Lottery Office keepers, who, in order to give notoriety to their shops, daily cause spurious Dramatis Personae of the theatres to be circulated; and on the reverse of these bills is conspicuously held forth the advantages of the public paying their cash into their gambling treasuries" (Morning Herald, 10 Feb.). Receipts: #191 17s. 6d. (187.2.6; 4.15.0; tickets: none listed)