Event Comment: MMr Vernon-Macheath, 1st time; Mr Parsons-Filch, Mrs Parsons-Mrs Peachum (Cross Diary). Mr William Parsons came with Mr James Love from Edinburg, and Made his first appearance on the stage in London this evening; He died of an asthma on Tues. 3 February in the severe winter of 1795, and was buried in the churchyard of Lea-Church near Blackheath in Kent; he was in his 60th year (Macmillan [Hopkins MS Notes]). Afterpiece: Not acted these 2 years. [See 19 Oct. 1759.

Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. King and Queen (Cross Diary)

Event Comment: [T+The Occasional Prologue is Larpent MS 214 wherein Woodward crosses the stage sneakingly, "Behold the Prodigal return'd quite tame..." and apologizes for his recent venture in Ireland.

Event Comment: MMr Jackson did Oroonoko for the first time (Cross Diary)

Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. King & Queen (Cross Diary)

Event Comment: Both pieces By Command of their Majesties. King & Queen (Cross Diary)

Event Comment: At the Request of several Scotch Nobility, as benefit for Mr Gibson, who perform'd Donald MacGregor in The Orators 38 Days...will be performed a Concert of Music...after which, &c. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Tickets to be had of Mr Gibson, next Door to the Golden Star in Lower Cross St., near Hatton Gardens...He will make it his chief care to conduct the whole with Regularity. To begin at 6:30 p.m

Event Comment: KKing & Queen (Cross Diary)

Event Comment: The good sense of the audience condemned this piece to oblivion, after, we think, two representations (Biographia Dramatica). [Contrived by Guerini (Nicoll, Eighteenth Century Drama, p. 355). Victor says Guerini played Pantaloon (History of Theatre, III, 48.] Sunday 2 January, Mr Pritchard Died (Cross Diary)

Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. King & Queen (Cross Diary)

Event Comment: Benefit for the Author. A fire in the Strand hurt the house (Cross Diary)

Event Comment: Nothing under Full Price will be taken. Benefit for the author of the Alterations [in mainpiece]. A Riot to demand admittance at 1!2 price after 3rd act, all times except at the run of New Pantomime, wch. not agreed to, the Mob broke Chandeliers, &c. No Play (Cross Diary). [Fuller account in Victor, History of the Theatres, III, 46 ff., he being the beneficiary that night. Elvira publish'd at 1s. 6d. (Winston MS 9). See account of riot in Gentlemen's Magazine (p. 31). See Comment 5 Feb.

Event Comment: Benefit For the Author. A Riot to demand the same [half-price after third act] agreed to (Cross Diary). [Advertised for Drury Lane that particulars will be published in a few days on the charge of innovation in prices which last night prevented the play being heard.] When Holland appeared for the Prologue-hiss'd. Garrick appeared and agreed to take half-price at the end of the third act to all performances except the first [Winter] of a New Pantomime (Winston MS 9)

Event Comment: Benefit for Author (Cross Diary)

Event Comment: Benefit for Author (Cross Diary)

Event Comment: Benefit for Vincent. Tickets deliver'd by Mrs Cross, Mrs Bradshaw, Miss Rogers, and others will be taken. No Building, &c

Event Comment: [The Winston entry appears to be an insert accompanied by the following note: N.B. by the Bills it appears there was no performance on Thurs. Mr Woodrg Bills say on Fri King Lear. J. W."] No Performance. Thanksgiving (Cross Diary)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Simson. No building on Stage. Mr Blakes died (Cross Diary)

Event Comment: Benefit for Receivers (Cross Diary). Smith, Watson, Cridland, Dalton (playbill)

Event Comment: Benefit for Weston and Mrs Daly. Tickets to be had of Mrs Daly at Mr Allen's in Great Suffolk St., near the Haymarket; and of Mr Weston, in Monmouth Court, Hedge Lane, Charing Cross

Event Comment: MMrs Love play'd Mrs Peachum very bad. Her fit seem'd a very Aukward Imitation of Mrs Pritchard in the Jealous Wife (Hopkins). Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. No money received at the Stage Door. None returned after the curtain is up. Play to begin exactly at 6 o'clock. Places may be had of Mr Johnston at the Stage Door. Vivat Rex et Regina. [Customary notice, which will not be repeated here, Sept. 15 David Garrick & his Lady set out for Italy from his house in Southampton St. Covent Garden (Winston MS 9). Winston also refers to a Sept. 9 Letter from T. Davies, cg, to the poet Charles Churchill begging he would not introduce so unimportant a person as himself in his Smithfield Rosciad.] Receipts: #248 9s. (Cross Diary)

Event Comment: MMr Baddeley-Polonius, first time (Cross Diary). Receipts: #194 17s. 6d. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: MMiss Cheney made her first appearance this Night, in Miss Prue, a Pretty Figure, play'd with Spirit, very Aukward, & Speaks too much at the top of her Voice (Hopkins). Miss Prue by a young Gentlewoman. Great Applause (Cross Diary). This night Miss Cheney made her first appearance on the stage in the character of Miss Prue--play'd with spirit,--a very pretty, genteel Figure, but very raw and aukward--got great applause. Think there is materials in her composition with care and application to make an actress.--Mr Yates in the speech where he says 'the more she cries, the less she'll p--' happened to speak the words a little too plain, and was justly hissed by the Audience--his song was encored,--he sung it again,--a Hiss and a Clap when he went off (Hopkins Diary--MacMillan). Receipts: #187 16s. 6d. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: MMiss Williams made her first appearance this Night in Polly. Spoke some of the part tolerably well, wants power in her singing (Hopkins). Polly by Miss Williams. Great Applause (Cross Diary). Miss Williams made her first appearance this night in Polly--a Lady, I think, that has but few requisites for the stage--a very indifferent voice spoke some of the part tolerable,--some few hisses (Hopkins Diary--MacMillan). Receipts: #256 9s. 6d. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Beaumont and Fletcher, reviv'd. Afterpiece: Not acted these three years. [See 8 Aug. 1761.] Mr Powell made his first appearance this Night in Philaster. His Reception was very great, he play'd the part amazingly well, & Seems to have Requisites to make a very Capital Performer. N.B. Covent Garden Theater begun to play every Night (Hopkins). Philaster by Mr Powell. Prodigious applause (Cross Diary). This play [Philaster] was wrote by Beaumont and Fletcher, and is now altered by Mr Colman. Mr Powell, a young gentleman clerk to Sir Robert Ladbrook, made his first appearance in the character of Philaster.--A greater reception was never shown to anybody,--he was so very much frightened, he could not speak for some time, and, when he did, the tears ran fast down his cheeks,--but he soon recovered himself, and went through the part with a great deal of nature and feeling,--Continued claps and huzza of bravo! &c. &c. Upon the whole I think him possessed of every requisite necessary to make him an ornament to the stage.--N.B. Mr D. Garrick instructed him in this part--when I see him in another shall be able to judge better of his capabilities.--Miss Pope appeared this Night in the character of Maria in the Citizen,--by endeavoring to be very fine she overdid it,--and it was plain to see she wanted her master. N.B.--Covent Garden began to play of our nights--the first time they ever begin first since Mr Garrick was manager (Hopkins Diary--MacMillan). Receipts: #258 11s. 6d. (MacMillan)