Event Comment: The Last New English Opera, Taken from Shakespeare's Midsummer-Night's Dream. The Music compos'd by Mr Smith. Nothing under full prices will be taken during the whole performance. [See Genest, IV, 407.] Receipts: #140 (Cross)

Event Comment: [For the King (Cross). With New Music, Scenes, Machines, Habits, and other Decorations. Compos'd by Mr Noverre. All our Dancers appear. A good deal of hissing & Clapping & some Cries of No french Dancers; a great clapping too-the Dance is fine-(Mr Delaistre is a good Dancer) (Cross). [See for details of preparation, importation of dancers, especially of M Delaistre, The Chevalier Noverre, Father of Modern Ballet, Deryck Lynham (London, 1950), pp. 26-40. See also advertisement in Public Advertiser: 'Mr Noverre, whose entertainments of Dancing have been celebrated in almost all the courts of Europe, exhibits this evening his Chinese Festival at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, in pursuance of a contract made above a year ago with the managers of the said theatre: The Insinuation that at this time, an extraordinary number of French dancers are engaged, is groundless, there being at Drury Lane at present as few of that nation, as any other theatre now has, or perhaps ever had. Mr Noverre and his brothers are Swiss, of a protestant family in the Canton of Berne, his wife and her sisters Germans; there are above sixty performers concerned in the entertainment; more than forty of which are English, assisted only be a few French (five men and four women) to complete the Ballet as usual. As the intention of the Managers on this occasion is to give Variety to Entertainments of the town, it is not doubted it will meet with public approbation.'] Receipts: #210 (Cross)

Event Comment: The tragedy of the Revenge is in rehearsal at Covent Garden in which the part of Zanga will be attempted by the Gentleman who appeared in the character of Osman in Zara, will be performed someday this week, as are also the plays of King Lear and Alexander the Great, revis'd and alter'd in which the parts of Lear and Alexander will be played by Barry

Event Comment: Mainpiece: At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. A few nights ago was buried under the Tower of St Bride's, Mr Benjamin Annable, the best Ringer that was ever known in the world. Till his time Ringing was only call'd an art, but from the strength of his great genius, he married it to the Mathematics and 'tis now a science. This man in figure and ringing was like a Newton in Philosophy, a Ratcliffe in Physic, a Hardwicke in Wisdom and Law, a Handel in Music, a Shakespeare in writing and a Garrick in acting. O Rare Ben! (Public Advertiser). Receipts: #170 (Cross)

Event Comment: Compos'd by Mr Smith--the Introduction, which was a Dialogue in Prose, between Mr Havard & Yates, Much hiss'd & dislik'd. The Opera had great Applause. Miss Young recover'd (Cross). The Opera never performed before with songs from Shakespear, Dryden, &c. The Music by Mr Smith. [The Bill lists no cast or actors. The cast has been retrieved by Hogan from the 1756 ed. plus the musical score published by J. Walsh. Note some parts were doubled. See "Shakespeare's Tempest at Drury Lane During Garrick's Management", G. W. Stone Jr, Shakespeare Quarterly, Winter 1956.] Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Event Comment: MMr Barbaut's Second Subscription Oratorio, taken from the First Book of Milton's Paradise Regained and set to music by Mr Charles Barbant in two parts with a solo upon the Violin by Signor Marella; a solo upon the German Flute by Mr Tacet; a Concerto on the Lute by Mr Servi?; a Hautboy concert by Mr Barbant; and an organ concerto ditto; and a Great Concerto with Clarinets, French Horns and Kettle-Drums, composed by Mr Barbant. Boxes and Pit put together at Half a Guinea each, Gallery 3s. Tickets to be had at Mr Barbant's, at Mr White's in Marshall St., Carnaby-Market; and at Mr Browne's Stationer [sic], facing the Opera House, Haymarket. To begin at half an Hour after six. N.B. the Books of the Oratorios stitched in Blue Paper at 1s. each are sold at Mrs Browne's [sic] in the Haymarket, and at the House on the night of the performance

Event Comment: A Concert of Music in which will be introduced a Musical Entertainment composed by Allen Ramsay. Benefit for a Family in Distress

Event Comment: Benefit for Bencraft and Mrs Lampe. Afterpiece: Perform'd but once these ten years [see 8 May 1755], a Burlesque Opera being a Sequel to the Dragon of Wantly, Music composed by the late Mr Lampe

Event Comment: Both pieces by Command of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. Mainpiece: A Comedy reviv'd (never acted there) by Beaumont and Fletcher

Event Comment: This day is publish'd at 1s. Amphitryon; or, The Two Sosias, a Comedy altered from Mr Dryden, as it is now perform'd at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane. With a New Interlude of Music, an Occasional Prologue, and some account of the Alterations. Printed for J. Payne, at Pope's Head in Paternoster Row. Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Event Comment: [Pantomime new by Woodward] Went off with great Applause. ye Cyclops Dance encored (Cross). New Habits, Scenes, and Decorations. Full Prices. As the performance greatly depends upon the Music and Machinery, no gentleman can possibly be admitted into the Orchestra or behind the Scenes. [This prohibition repeated in all subsequent performances, will not be further noted here.] N.B. The Play of the Revenge oblig'd to be deferred on account of Mossop's indisposition. Receipts: #210 (Cross)

Event Comment: With new Music compos'd by Sig Nicola Conforto, and new Dances. A new Scene painted by Mr Mitermayer. [Repeated in the bills.

Event Comment: Alter'd from the Italian with several new Additions. [By Dr Morell. Set by Handel. The words entirely adapted to the Music of Il Trionfo del Tempo, composed at Rome about 1707 (Biographia Dramatica).

Event Comment: By Cibber and Company. Consisting of a Variety of Entertainments, intermixed with Singing, Dancing, &c. The Scenes, Machines, Habits, and Decorations &c., all new. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gall. 2s. The Doors will be opened at Five; the Concert to begin at Six. To be continued (with Variations) on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, during the Summer season. Places for the Boxes to be had at the Theatre. The Performances depending very much on the Music, no Persons can be admitted into the Orchestra; and on account of the Variety of Scenery and Machinery, &c., that there may be no Interruptions in the Performances, 'tis hoped no Gentlemen will take it ill that they cannot possibly be admitted behind the Scenes. No money to be returned after the Curtain is drawn up; nor anything under the full Price to be taken during the Performance

Event Comment: Benefit of Settree. Tickets delivered by Mas. Settree and Miss Twist will be taken

Event Comment: At Bence's Room, Swan Tavern, West Smithfield. Boxes 2s. 6d. Pit 1s. 6d. Gallery 1s. Upper Gallery 6d. The scenes, cloaths, paintings and all other decorations are entirely new. The Room is made very Theatrical and commodious for the better reception of Gentlemen and Ladies and a good band of music is provided, consisting of Violins, Bassoons, Hautboys, &c. To begin each day at Twelve o'clock. [This note repeated on subsequent bills.

Event Comment: To the Public: An Impartial Account of Cibber's Impromptu, by a Spectator: @In a frolicsome humour I went t'other day@To see the Diversions collected by THE',@When seen -from Amazement I could not refrain@That such an odd Oglio should come in his brain;@That from Chaos, Confusion and Visible night@He could bring such a queer group of figures to light:@I went-with a critical spleen that disdained@This project -but found myself well entertained.@For the English there's ships; for the Scots a good song;@[what] He sought to provide for Hibernia was Wrong@When this I observ'd to aworthy dear Honey -@He reply'd -"Blurr and Houns? there's enough for your money.@But to state the affair without laughter or fun@All agreed -my shift was superior to none;@With new Scenes, new Machines, Music, Dancing and all,@To risk our Diversions THE' ventured a fall@And if his last trump should unluckily fail,@[Brain?] must lay a scheme to keep out of a jail.@A few trivial errors we ought to forgive@Pay to Merit reward and let Industry live,@For your Candor alone must determine his fate@For the sake of Old Coll', let Theophilus eat.@ His Benefit tomorrow, Wednesday, the 14th Instant, at the Theatre in The Haymarket

Event Comment: At Warner's Booth, Bowling Green. By a Company of Comedians from the Theatres. To begin each day at twelve o'clock and end at ten p.m. during the time of Southwark Fair. The Booth is made very Theatrical and Commodious for the reception of Gentlemen and Ladies, and a good band of music provided consisting of violins, Bassoons, Hautboys, &c. Mainpiece: a diverting droll. [This note repeated on subsequent bills.

Event Comment: As the performance greatly depends upon the Music and Machinery, No Gentlemen can possibly be admitted into the Orchestra or behind the Scenes. Venice Preserved is oblig'd to be deferr'd on account of Mossop's indisposition. Receipts: #100 (Cross)

Event Comment: This play is alter'd, that is all the Comedy is cut out, & is still 5 short Acts went off well-but heavy (Cross). Mainpiece: A Reviv'd Tragedy, alter'd from Southern. Receipts: #200 (Cross). [See Theatrical Review, 1757 and 1758, for comment: "The distress of the first three acts is exquisitely wrought, and withal naturally; but the Fourth seems to me to have little or no grounds, but in Isabella's diseased fancy, and romantic notion....As to the distress of the Fifth it is prodigious."

Event Comment: Receipts: #106 11s. Paid Barry one third of surplus above the #80 allow'd for charges: #8 17s. (Account Book). [House, after meeting Saturday's payroll, is #205 3s. 2d., in the red again.

Event Comment: A pasticcio, with libretto by G. A. Migliavacca; music by F. G. Bertoni, Handel, Davide Perez (Deutsch, Handel, p. 793). A New Opera, with new Decorations and Dances. It will be performed Tuesday and Zenobia on Saturdays (Public Advertiser)

Event Comment: Written by Mr Hume. Author of Douglas. Went off wth. great Applause (Cross). A New Tragedy. The Music composed by Dr Boyce. As this is the 1st night of representation, and much depends upon keeping the scenes clear, 'tis hoped no gentleman will be offended that he cannot be admitted upon the stage or into the orchestra. [See Theatrical Review, 1757 and Beginning of 1758 for contemporary comment on source, and at act-by-act progress of play. Judicial but appreciative. Finds some rant and bombast, as well as inconsistency, in Lysander 's characterization: "If...not...known that the author of Agis is the same to whom we are indebted for Douglas, one would not have suspected those two tragedies to have sprung from the same pen...Agis inspires us with admonition; Douglas speaks forcibly to our softer feelings. In Douglas he has shown himself perfect master of nature and the human heart: in Agis of contrivance in point of plot and incidents. What a masterpiece may not we expect from such talents when united in one tragedy!"] Receipts: #200 (Cross)