Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Smith. Paid one year's Watch Rate, St Martin's to 14 Feb. last #10 13s.; Chorus 2 nights (this incl.) #5 1s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #217 19s.6d. Charges: #70 9s. Profits to Mrs Smith: #147 10s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Smith. Mainpiece: Not acted these 16 years. Part of Pit will be laid into the Boxes. Tragedy by Samuel Pordage. Charges #64 12s. Profit to Smith #62 19s. 6d., plus #110 from tickets (Box 380; Pit 68; Gallery 48) Receipts: #127 11s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Bannister. Mainpiece: By Desire. Rec'd stopages #12 7s. Paid salary list #566 6s.; J. French on acct #5 5s. (Treasurer's Book). Mrs Smith's Benefit for 2 May advertised as Cymbeline and a new Comic Opera (in 2 Acts) call'd the Wish. The Music entirely new, the principal characters by Vernon, Bannister, Davies, Mrs Wrighten and Mrs Smith. With a New Occasional Prologue spoken by King. [But this was changed on 27 April.] Receipts: #212 1s. Charges: #66 3s. Profits to Bannister #145 18s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: The Provoked Husband and Rival Candidates was given out for Tuesday. On Sunday Morning Mrs Yates sent word she was ill and could not play--sent to Miss Younge, and she sent word that she was ill in bed--King sent word he had a sore Throat, and could not play--so that we could do no Play but the Committee and Rival Candidates. On Monday the Managers met, but nothing was settled. At twelve o'clock Mrs Baddeley sent word she had a sore Throat, and could not play in the Riv[al] Can[didates] (Hopkins Diary). The Hypocrite and The Christmas Tale are obliged to be deferred. "[Smith] has a good figure, is gentlemanlike, and decent in everything he undertakes. When we allow that, we have said all; he wants both feeling to be affected, and powers to convey his feelings, if he had them. In fine, in spite of all the partiality of his friends, or the ignorant prejudices of those who never judge but at second hand, his performance of Richard was little more than a strong union of judgement and industry, unaided by nature. He should woo genteel Comedy oftener; and not that coy sister of hers, who certainly holds Smith at the point of her lance" (London Magazine, Oct. 1776, p. 511). Receipts: #186 18s. 6d

Event Comment: Benefit for Lewis, Dancer & J. Smith. Tickets to be had of Lewis at the Europa; of Smith at the Ship, Seven Houses

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. Prologue by David Garrick. Epilogue by George Colman elder (London Chronicle, 9 May). Text 1st published (unauthorized), Dublin, 1780]: With New Scenes and Dresses. "No modern theatrical piece ever met with a fuller success, nor deserved it more... The performers deserve every sort of commendation for their spirited exertion in supporting the respective characters, especially Smith, King and the incomparable Mrs Abington" (Gazetteer, 9 May). "To my great astonishment there were more parts performed admirably in The School for Scandal than I almost ever saw in any play. Mrs Abington was equal to the first of her profession, Yates (the husband), Parsons, Miss Pope, and Palmer, all shone. It seemed a marvellous resurrection of the stage. Indeed, the play had as much merit as the actors. I have seen no comedy that comes near it since The Provoked Husband" (Walpole [13 July 1777], X, 82). Receipts: #224 10s. (215.12.0; 8.14.6; 0.3.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Smith. Mainpiece: Not acted these 4 years [acted 31 Mar. 1777]. Public Advertiser, 2 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Smith at his house, Beaufort Buildings, Strand. Receipts: #243 17s. 6d. (129.3.0; 18.17.6; 2.9.0; tickets: 93.8.0) (charge: #74 15s. 6d.)

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. See also 15 and 23 Dec. 1662. Pepys, Diary: There being the famous new play acted the first time to-day, which is called The Adventures of Five Hours, at the Duke's house, being, they say, made or translated by Colonel Tuke, I did long to see it; and so made my wife to get her ready, though we were forced to send for a smith, to break open her trunk...and though early, were forced to sit almost out of sight, at the end of one of the lower forms, so full was the house. And the play, in one word, is the best, for the variety and the most excellent continuance of the plot to the very end, that ever I saw, or think ever shall, and all possible, not only to be done in the time, but in most other respects very admittable, and without one word of ribaldry; and the house, by its frequent plaudits, did show their sufficient approbation. Evelyn, Diary: I went to see Sir S: Tuke (my kinsmans) Comedy acted at the Dukes Theater, which so universaly tooke as it was acted for some weekes every day, & was belived would be worth the Comedians 4 or 5000 pounds: Indeede the plot was incomparable but the language stiffe & formall. Downes (pp 22-23): Wrote by the Earl of Bristol, and Sir Samuel Tuke: This Play being Cloath'd so Excellently Fine in proper Habits, and Acted so justly well....It took Successively 13 Days together, no other Play Intervening. Lady Anglesey to her husband, 10 Jan. 1663: Lord Bristol has made a play which is much commended (CSPD 1663-64, p. 8)

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. Pepys, Diary: To the Duke of York's playhouse; but there Betterton not being yet well, we would not stay, though since I hear that Smith do act his part in The Villaine, which was then acted, as well or better than he, which I do not believe

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. Jean Chappuzeau, Le Theatre Francois (Paris, 1675), states that he saw a revival of this play in 1668. Pepys, Diary: Sent my wife and Deb. to see Mustapha acted...and so to the Duke of York's playhouse, and there saw the last act for nothing. Where I never saw such good acting of any creature as Smith's part of Zanger; and I do also, though it was excellently acted by [...], do yet want Betterton mightily

Event Comment: Benefit Smith. Written by Beaumont and Fletcher

Event Comment: Benefit for Smith. Part of Pit laid into Boxes

Event Comment: Benefit for Smith

Event Comment: Benefit for Bennett, Reed, R. Smith. No Building on Stage. [The usual notice about fraudulent tickets.

Event Comment: Benefit for Smith. It is the last time of performing (Daily Advertiser)

Event Comment: A Tragedy [by Edmond Smith] revived. Never acted there before

Event Comment: Benefit for Henry Smith. Concert divided into five parts. To begin at 6:30 p.m. Boxes 4s. Pit 2s. 6d. Gallery 1s. 6d

Event Comment: Benefit for Redman, R. Smith, Mrs Griffiths and Miss Ferguson. Tickets delivered out by Hurst, Paddick, Miss Cokayne &c. will be taken

Event Comment: Benefit for Smith

Event Comment: Benefit for Marten, Anderson, and R. Smith. Tickets sold at the Door will not be admitted. [Receipts: missing for rest of season.

Event Comment: Benefit for Smith. Mainpiece: Not acted in 3 years. [See 29 March 1757.

Event Comment: Benefit for Marten, Anderson, R. Smith. Tickets sold at the Doors will not be admitted

Event Comment: Benefit for Wilford, Ross (Pit Doorkeepers); Mislebrook, Dimmock, and Trott (Lobby Doorkeepers). Tickets deliver'd out by Morgan, Elliot, Derby, Toten, J. Smith, Slater, Barnes, will be taken

Event Comment: Benefit for Smith. Part of Pit will be laid into Boxes. Tickets sold at the Door will not be admitted. The Charges include House charge: #63, plus Wax Candles #1 5s. plus Extra Guards #1 5s. 6d., plus a French Horn and 2 Side drums 7s. Receipts: #83 4s. 6d. plus #174 7s. from tickets (Box 382; Pit 447; Gallery 118) (Account Book). Charges: #65 17s. 6d. (Account Book)