Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Lessingham. Mainpiece: A Tragedy altered from Dryden [Aureng-Zebe] by Mr W. Addington, never performed before. Afterpiece: Not acted these 4 years. [See 16 May 1770.] Charges #71 2s. Profit to Mrs Lessingham #38 7s. 6d., plus #92 12s. from tickets (Box 186; Pit 146; Gallery 242). Paid Cooper (printer) #36 2s.; Paid Mrs Witaker for a woman's white & silver flower'd suit #10 10s.; Paid John Doe for sticking black bills #6 6s. Receipts: #109 9s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: By Permission of the Right Hon. the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for Mrs Pinto, formerly Miss Brett [recte Brent]. Afterpiece: With an additional scene, written by the author of the farce [Isaac Jackman], never performed in London. The Doors to be opened at 5:00. To begin precisely at 6:30. Tickets to be had of Mrs Pinto at Mrs Golden's, milliner, Blackmoor-street, Clare-market

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Harlowe

Event Comment: 1st piece [1st time; PREL I, by George Colman, the elder]. "The ground-work was the apologies received from the great actors, who all preferred their suburban shades to the temperature of the Haymarket...The prompter enters to apologize to the audience and return the money, but his plea is rendered nugatory by certain oratorical and mimetic personages stationed in the pit and boxes, who not at first being recognized by the house as professional people, a great confusion was produced. When Mrs Webb arose to address the audience, the joke became apparent, and a prodigious interest was excited' (Boaden, Siddons, 1,208). [In 2nd piece the playbill lists Baddeley, but "Previous to the beginning of the Play, Palmer came forward...and acquainted [the audience] that Baddeley then lay speechless [as the result of a stroke], and Hitchcock, the prompter, would, with their permission, read Baddeley's Part" (London Chronicle, 31 May). The Doors to be opened at 6:00. To begin at 7:00 [same throughout season]. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Rice at the Theatre. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Public Advertiser, 6 July 1780: This Day is published The Manager in Distress (1s.)

Event Comment: Benefit Miss Hollyday. Receipts: money #30 10s.; tickets #85 18s

Event Comment: LLondon Evening Post, 1 Jan. 1737: Last Night the Beggar's Opera (about the Playing of which, as much Noise has been made, as about several of our Modern Treaties) was perform'd...to a crowded Audience; the House being full by Four. There was a prodigious uproar, with Clappin, Hissing, Catcalls, &c. Mrs Clive, who play'd the Part of Polly, when she came forward, address'd herself to the House, saying, Gentlemen, I am very sorry it should be thought I have in any Manner been the Occasion of the least Disturbance; and then cry'd in so moving a Manner, that even Butchers wept. The she told them, She was almost ready with the Part of Lucy, and at all Times shou'd be willing to play such Parts as the Town should direct, and desir's to know if they were willing she should go on with the Part of Polly; she behaving in so humble a Manner, the House approv'd of her Behavious by a general Clap. [For Occasional Prompter XI, see Daily Journal, 31 Dec.

Event Comment: Benefit Cibber. At the particular Desire of several Persons of Quality. Mainpiece: Written by George Duke of Buckingham. Afterpiece: With Additions, the Words and Musick by Mr Carey. 6:30 p.m. London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 6 June: Yesterday Morning died Mrs Hallam

Event Comment: Benefit for Woodward. The Whole Pit will be laid into the Boxes, where servants will be admitted to keep places, and upon the Stage, which will be formed into an Amphitheatre and divided into Boxes. The Pit doors will be opened for the Ladies to pass to their places there, without incommoding those in the Front Boxes. Box, Pit and Stage at 5s. Nothing under full price will be taken during the performance. Ladies send servants by 3 o'clock (Public Advertiser). [The Larpent MS 130 indicates the intended cast, and suggests Dizzy-and Mrs Dotterel-$Mrs Bennet.] Receipts: #320 ($Cross">Oliver; Ruffle-$Yates; and Mrs Dotterel-$Mrs Bennet.] Receipts: #320 ($Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Cresswick, Desse, Miss Sledge, and Madam Jansolin. Receipts: #32 2s. in cash. Charges #64 5s. Deficit to each #7 14s. 6d., covered by income from tickets: @Tickets Cresswick Box 45@Pit 89@Gallery 31@Value #27 14s.@Tickets Desse Box 157@Pit 54@Gallery 70@Value #19 12s.@Tickets Jansoleene Box 58@Pit 179@Gallery 125@Value #53 17s.@Total Box 278@Pit 486@Gallery 381@Value #180 10s. and money #32 2s.

Event Comment: Benefit for Weller, Chapman, Mrs Burden, Miss Sledge. Tickets deliver'd by Redman, Dibdin, Miss Helm, Mrs Viviez, Miss Dawes, and Widow Dupre will be taken. [Ticket distribution from Account Book:] @Names Box Pit Gallery Value 1!2 Value@Weller 19 59 80 #21 12s. #10 16s.@Redman 2 41 44 #11 1s. #5 10s. 6d.@Chapman 51 177 87 #48 #24@Dibdin 5 24 40 #8 17s. #4 8s. 6d.@Mrs Burden 20 30 56 #15 2s. #7 11s.@Miss Sledge 6 56 72 #17 2s. #8 11s.@Miss Helm 4 27 25 #7 11s. #3 15s. 6d.@Mrs Viviez 8 53 144 #24 7s. #12 3s. 6d.@Miss Dawes 14 30 56 #13 12s. #6 16s.@Mrs Dupre 5 44 42 #12 1s. #6 6d.@Total 134 541 646 #179 5s. #89 12s. 6d.@ Receipts: #22 15s. 6d. plus half value of tickets #89 12s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: This tragedy was wrote by Mr Dow,--went off but So, so.--some hisses thro' the play, and at the end also when given out.--The scenery and dresses was very fine, was well adapted, and had applause.--Miss Younge played very bad, and much disliked--Mr Holland and Mr Aickin played well (Hopkins Diary). New Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations. [The Prologue is Larpent MS 289. It follows in content the suggestions of the Prologue to the Orphan of China ten seasons earlier:@"Too much the Greek and Roman chiefs engage@The Muse's care--they languish on our stage;@The modern bard struck with the vast applause@Of ancient masters, like the painter draws@From models only.--Can such copies charm@The Heart, or like the glow of Nature warm?@To fill the scene, tonight our author brings@Originals at least, --Warriours and Kings,@Heroes who like their Gems, unpolish'd shine,@The mighty fathers of the Tartar line,@Greater than those whom classic pages boast,@If those are greatest who have conquored most."@ An account of the plot of the mainpiece is in Lloyd's Evening Post, 16-19 Dec. Concludes: The play is said to have been written by Mr Dow, who lately favored the public with an accurate History of the Hindoos. The decorations and dresses were very magnificent. The performers who were the most distinguished by the audience were Mr Holland, Miss Younge, Mr Aickin, and Mr Jefferson. Mr Holland spoke the Prologue and Mrs Abington the Epilogue the latter of which furnished infinite entertainment, from the spirit and humour of that admirable actress. A Two column resume of the play appears in the Public Advertiser, 19 Dec.

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs W. Barry, Mrs Jeffries

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Bulkley. Charges #69 1s. 6d. Profit to Mrs Bulkley #78 13s., plus #100 3s. from tickets (BoX 241; Pit 200; Gallery 99) (Account Book). Receipts: #147 14s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece by Command. Mrs Jefferson made her first appearance upon this Stage in Miss Grantham a Small figure not Handsome no Spirit & not at all like the Character. Some applause (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly in wording.] Masque of Alfred oblig'd to be deferr'd till Saturday next. Paid Mr Nicoll for lines #10 (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #230 14s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Younge. Last time of performing till Easter. Mainpiece: Not acted these 5 years. [See 9 Nov. 1768.] Afterpiece: Never acted here (playbill). Part of pit laid into boxes. Ladies and Gentlemen requested to come early. Rec'd stopages #2 12s. 6d.; short charge for new farce on 8 March #10 10s.; Paid 4 days salary list #348 14s. 8d.; Mr King's extra salary #2; Mr S. Barry on note #100; Mr Cook's 4 boys 4 nights (the 7th incl.) #6 Mr J. French on acct #10 10s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #282 19s. 6d. Charges #64 17s. Profit to Miss Younge: #218 2s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 2 years. Afterpiece: With Alterations and Additions; to conclude with a grand View of Greenwich Hospital, designed by DeLoutherbourg. [This was included in all subsequent performances. Miss Farren was from the hay. And see cg, 23 Sept.] Receipts: #190 4s. [161.6; 28.14; 0.4)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr and Mrs Marriot

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Broadhurst. 3rd piece [1st time; M. ENT 1, author unknown. Larpent MS 910; not published]: Overture and Music entirely new, composed by Percy, with some airs from Andreozzi and Stevens. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Public Advertiser, 24 May: Tickets to be had of Miss Broadhust at Mr Percy's, No. 13, Tavistock-street, Bedford-square. Receipts: #202 9s. (52.5.6; 3.17.6; tickets: 146.6.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Whitfield and Mrs Ward. Afterpiece [1st time; F 2, by-Fernside, for whose authorship see Kemble Mem., based partly on Love's Cure; or, The Martial Maid, probably by Philip Massinger. Incidental music by Richard Suett]. Public Advertiser, 15 May: Tickets to be had of Whitfield, under the Great Piazza; of Mrs Ward; No. 6, York-street, Covent-Garden. Morning Herald, 12 June 1793: This day is published The Female Duellist (1s.). Receipts: #469 13s. 6d. (51.4.0; 33.9.0; 8.4.0; tickets: 376.16.6) (charge: #158 17s. 2d.)

Event Comment: [This was Mrs Webb's last appearance on the stage. She died on 24 Nov. 1793.) Receipts: #208 2s. (204/15; 3/7)

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill omits Trueman, but "Trueman play'd Trueman for Benson" (Powell).] Powell: Clandestine Marriage rehearsed at 10 (Lovewell's and Fanny's scenes; Miss Tidswell one scene). Receipts: #147 11s. (88/0/0; 55/7/6; 4/3/6)

Event Comment: 1st piece [1st time; PREL I, by Thomas Holcroft, based on The Covent Garden Tragedy, by Henry Fielding. Larpent MS 1039; not published; synopsis of plot in Morning Herald, 16 Sept.]. "The two Queens are represented by Munden and Fawcett, who are dressed up fantastically, wearing as Crowns Models of the two Theatres" (Morning Chronicle, 16 Sept.). Covent-Garden was crowned with a triangular representation of the Piazza; Drury-Lane with her own Theatre, surmounted by Apollo" (Morning Herald, 16 Sept.). [This was Burton's 1st appearance in London; he was from the Norwich theatre. Miss Cornelys was from the Dublin theatre.] No Money to be returned. Boxes 6s. Second Price 3s. Pit 3s. 6d. Second Price 2s. Gallery 2s. Second Price 1s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Brandon at the Office in Hart-street. The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30 [see 30 Oct.]. Receipts: #305 1s. 6d. (296.10.6; 8.11.0)

Event Comment: [as Miss Mahon Mrs Second has sung in the cg oratorios in 1789 and 1790.] Receipts: #189 5s. (187.5.6; 1.19.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for R. Palmer, Russell & Dowton. 1st piece [1st time; B 1, by Edward Henry Iliff. The title-page has "by Edmund Spenser, Ynger." On his copy, now in Huntington Library, J. P. Kemble has written, "Iliffe [sic] is the real Name of the Authour"; he has made a similar notation on the playbill]: Founded on the 17th Number of The Spectator. 3rd piece [1st time; MF 1. Larpent MS 1219; not published. The characters are all taken from previous plays by John O'Keeffe, as follows: Sadboy (The Young Quaker); Signor Arionelli and Bowkitt (The Son-in-Law); Motley (The Dead Alive); Tully (The London Hermit); Lingo and Cowslip (The Agreeable Surprise); Ephraim Smooth (Wild Oats); Nipperkin (Sprigs of Laurel); Jemmy Jumps and Betty Blackberry (The Farmer); Mrs Casey (Fontainbleau)]: Written by Mr O'Keeffe. Times, 4 June: Tickets to be had of R. Palmer, No. 2, Queen's-row, Pimlico; of Russell, No. 19, Martlet-court, Bow-street; of Dowton, No. 5, Strand-lane, Surry-street, Strand. Receipts: #413 11s. 6d. (76.17.6; 37.7.0; 1.0.0 tickets: 298.7.0) (charge: #215 10s. 5d.)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A New Comic Opera. The Music by Hooke, [text attributed to Thomas Bridges. Prologue spoken in the character of Flora by Mrs Gardner. At the conclusion Dido hangs herself in her own garters. She is cut down and gives her hand to Iarbas.