Event Comment: The Fourth Day

Event Comment: [G$Genest, V, 140, notes that Bannister's name does not appear in the playbill; the Public Advertiser bill, which does not specify any parts, includes Bannister as well as Strange, Loveman, Keen, and Smith, for which there is no support in the 1767 edition.] Before six went into the Pit to see the new tragedy of The Countess of Salisbury performed for the first time. One cannot judge perfectly of a Play without reading it, but it was received with vast applause. The author being an Irishman, Weston spoke a Prologue in the character of an Hibernian (Neville MS Diary)

Event Comment: By Permission. Benefit for Mrs Dancer. A new Tragedy altered from Southerne's Oroonoko

Event Comment: MMr Bannister made his first appearance on this stage in Merlin with a new Song introduced.--He was received with applause, --is a tall figure, good voice and sings well (Hopkins MS Notes). [The grand procession of the orders of chivalry hereafter a regular feature of Cymon.

Event Comment: [Afterpiece: With alterations and additions. News arrived of the death in Monaco of His Royal Highness Edward Augustus, Duke of York, next brother to His Majesty. Hopkins MS Notes: About eleven o'clock orders came from the Lord Chamberlain that the House must be stopt performing on account of the death of the Duke of York. --Fresh bills were printed and posted about the House that there would be no play that night. Neville MS Diary: Procured No. 5289 of the General Evening Post which contains my letter concerning the St. James' Company of Comedians. Glad to hear that the Lothario of that Company, the Infamous York, is called to that Tribunal where there is no respect of persons. Canceled

Event Comment: Paid for Licensing The Oxonian in Town #2 2s. Paid for Licensing the New Prologue #1 1s. (Account Book). Receipts: #138 18s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: Never performed before. Written by Milton, the Music entirely New (playbill). Music by William Jackson (Wyndham, Annals of Covent Garden, I, 178). As condolence on Death of Duke of York (Genest, V, 186). Paid for licensing Lycidas #1 1s. (Account Book). Receipts: #251 11s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: [C$Colman published in the Public Advertiser this day extracts from the Oxonian in Town showing what favorable things were said of the Irish in it. He apparently did so to forstall a predicted riot by Irishmen who feared their nation was slandered because the scoundrels in the play were Irish. See E. R. Page, George Colman, The Elder (New York, 1935), p. 168. Monitor No V (21 Nov. 1767) includes a letter from Timothy Calfskin requesting refund of 4 shillings since his wife was frightened by the noise of the "wild Irish" and ran from the playhouse.] Receipts: #191 4s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A Comedy [by Wm Kenrick] never perform'd before. The characters New Dress'd. [Theatrical Monitor, No VIII (16 Dec. 1767) approved the mainpiece--"engages the mind, affects the passions, totally divested of indecency"--but thought Garrick's art of "puffing" was evident in his note at foot of playbills, "Those Ladies and Gentlemen, who have taken places for this day, are desired to send their servants by one o'clock, in order to ascertain the same, otherwise they cannot be secured," since the house, except the first night, had not been half full. N.B. This note appeared in an Advance Bill, but did not appear in the Bill of the Day.

Event Comment: A new serious opera. Music composed by several. The comic opera is obliged to be deferred on account of the Indisposition of Sga Guadagni

Event Comment: Benefit for Westminster New Lying in Hospital, near Westminster Bridge. N.B. Those Ladies and Gentlemen who have taken tickets, are desired to secure places immediately, of Mr Johnston at the Stage Door. [The Theatrical Monitor, No IX, asked this day for a public declaration of receipts and salary expenditures for the 1766-67 season from Garrick and Lacy. Not receiving it the war breaking out in January came to absorb his interest, and the estimate never appeared.] Receipts: #261 4s. 6d. (Winston MS 10)

Event Comment: Characters new Dress'd. Receipts: #244 17s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Characters New Dressed. [The Theatrical Monitor No X (30 Jan. 1768), gives a six-page review of the mainpiece under the usual Aristotelian topics: Fable, Characters, Moral, Sentiment, Diction, rather disapproving of the play on all of them. Praises the performers.

Event Comment: Sga Campolini and Sg Guglielmi are extremely sorry that the New Dances intended to be performed this night are prevented on account of the indisposition of Sga Radicatti. The Poetry, taken from an old Book, is altered and adapted to the present Taste by Bottarelli; Music by Piccini. Benefit for Signora Campolini and Guglielmi. Scene Painters and Machinists-Bigari and Conti

Event Comment: Benefit of the British Lying-In Hospital for Married Women in Brownlow St., By Special Licence of the Right Hon. the Lord Chamberlain...will be performed (for that night only) a new Comedy, never acted before...To avoid giving the least offence by too pressing a Solicitation, no Tickets have been sent to any of the Governours or Subscribers. But the Committee hope that this caution will induce every well-wisher to the useful Charity to exert their interest in its favors

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A new Opera of Two Acts [by Robert Dossie]. Music by Rush

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A new Burletta never performed before, composed by Mr Barthelemon. [Text by Ralph Schomberg.

Event Comment: This comic opera of two acts [Padlock] was written by Mr Bickerstaffe and is a very compleat, pretty piece,--the music very striking.--Mrs Dorman was hissed at first, but the piece went off very well, and much applauded (Hopkins Diary). New Scenes, Dresses, Music and other Decorations. Doors opened at half past 4. Play to begin exactly at 6 o'clock. [A three column retelling of the plot of the padlock appeared in Lloyd's Evening Post, for Oct. 5-7.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: An English Opera composed and directed by Dr Arne. In this opera two new performers appeared,--Mr Rathom who played Artaxerxes, a bad figure, extreamly aukward, and much hissed--the other Mrs Forbes, who played Arbaces, a small figure a good voice, was well received, and went decently through the part (Hopkins Diary)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Neville MS Diary: Saw Douglas by a Mr Brereton, being his 3rd appearance. He is a pretty figure, but wants lemon in his voice, as Mr Garrick calls it. Lady Randolph by Mrs Barry. The Entertainment was Queen Mab, with a new scene representing the late Masquerade at the Opera House, with all the extravagances and intrigue which it occasions. Was very much squeezed in the Pit. Wish I was settled in th country at a distance from these crowded diversions

Event Comment: Comedy from Moliere and Cibber. Hopkins Diary: This comedy [Hypocrite] is the Non Juror altered, and two new characters introduced,--went off very well,--some few hisses,--but the play will do.--The alterations are by Mr Bickerstaffe. [Full account of the mainpiece, but without critical observation, appeared in the Lloyd's Evening Post, Nov. 18-21.

Event Comment: A new comic opera. Music by Piccini

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: Afterpiece: Not acted these 6 years. [See 15 April 1762.] Receipts: #234 18s. (Account Book)