Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Clive. Mainpiece: Written by Colley Cibber. [The Old Maid for 8 May 1756 reviewed this performance of Lethe, or possibly the one with the same cast on 30 April. The reviewer was 'particularly diverted with Mrs Clive's Italian Song, in which this truly humorous actress parodys the Air of the Opera, and takes off the action, of the present favorite female at the Hay-Market, with such exquisite ridicule, that the most zealous partisans of both, I think, must have applauded the comic genius of Mrs Clive, however they might be displeased with this application of it." The reviewer is lukewarm in praise of the "New Character"..."What is there new in a Lord's having Gout, loving a bottle, pretending to taste, or being follow'd by a flatterer?"] Receipts: #210 (Cross)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. At half past 4 went into the Pit to see Garrick do Archer a 3rd time....It is not agreeable to see Packer make love--he is oblig'd to do Aimwell, Palmer being ill....Moody does Hob pretty well, but not so well as Yates. Hartry did not do Old Hob so well as Parsons (Neville MS Diary)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: Not acted these 6 years. [See 11 May 1772.] [Young gentleman identified by Hopkins MS Notes. Genest, V, 517, also calls attention to the fact that the text lists Douglas as Norval and Old Norval as Stranger (1757) or Prisoner (1768). Webster first named as Douglas on bill for 27 Feb. 1776. Review of Webster's acting appeared in the Westminster Magazine for Jan.: "His person is rather elegant; his voice is full and harmonious, his pronunciation distinct and correct, and his delivery graceful and unembarassed. Those are his excellencies, and considering it was his first performance, he seems to possess them in a degree far superior to the various candidates for theatrical fame which the managers of both houses have brought forward for some years past. On the other hand he is aukward, and in some parts unanimated. His arms are too long, or he flung them about in a very disgusting manner. He seemed to express the sense of his author much better than his own feelings. His voice though full, wants variety and modulation; not but on some occasions he managed it with infinite grace and judgement. But if this want of variety of tones and extent of voice, which is so indispensibly necessary to constitute a first rate actor, be not the effect of Nature, the Public may behold with less anxiety their decayed veterans giving nightly proofs of their increasing infirmities, and quick approaching theatrical dissolution."

Event Comment: Benefit for Dodd. N.B. Mr King still continuing lame with the Gout is incapable of performing both in Play and Farce. Mr Baddeley, therefore has kindly undertaken, at short notice, to perform the character of Old Groveby, and humbly hopes for the indulgence of the public. Paid Machin, Chorus, 9 nights #2 5s. Receipts: #131 10s. Charges: #70 7s. Profits to Dodd: #61 3s. (Treasurer's Book)