Event Comment: Benefit for Quick. "Quick, in July 1777, played Richard III at Bristol" (Anthony Pasquin [pseud. for John Williams], Poems [1789], II, 244). "Most people expected from Quick a comic representation of Richard the Third--but strange to tell he was earnest in the attempt, and succeeded tolerably. The audience, however, were not disposed to be very serious, and named him 'Little Dicky'" (Public Advertiser, 8 Apr.). [Address by Robert Merry (European Magazine, Apr. 1790, p. 307.] Gazetteer, 1 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Quick, Broad-court, Bow-street. Receipts: #430 17s. 6d. (265.5.6; 4.15.0; tickets: 160.17.0)

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill assigns Richard to Holman, but "Holman being indisposed, Murray assumed the arduous part of Richard this evening. (Monthly Mirror, Oct. 1797, p. 238).] Afterpiece: Not acted these 2 years. Account-Book: Paid Music #9 1s. 8d.; Properties #12 8s.; Kettle Drum 5s.; Chorus Singers #1 10s.; Wardrobe #6 10s. 3d.; Supernumeraries #3 11s.; Sloper [master carpenter] for Scenemen #40 13s. 4d.; Phillips and Creswell #4 4s.; Lupino #2 14s. 6d.; Hollogan #2. Receipts: #286 17s. (282.15; 4.2)

Event Comment: Benefit Cibber. Not Acted these Three Years. At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. Mainpiece: With the Famous Battle of Bosworth Fieldv, between him and the Earl of Richmond, afterwards King Henry the Seventh. Written Originally by Shakespear, who in the true and lively Character of Richard, has shewn his most Masterly Strokes of Nature

Event Comment: MMr Garrick did Richard (Cross). This day is publish'd, Dedicated to the Right Honorable John, Earl of Orrery, Sejanus a Tragedy, as it was intended for the stage, with a Preface; wherein the Manager's reasons for refusing it are set forth. By Mr Gentleman. Printed for R. Manby and H. S. Cox on Ludgate Hill. [Garrick turned it down and Gentleman accepted his judgment without animosity.] Receipts: #210 (Cross)

Event Comment: Suppos'd Garrick's Benefit (Cross). This day publish'd at 1s. Every Man in his Humour, a Comedy written by Ben Johnson [sic] with alterations and additions, as it was perform'd at Drury Lane (General Advertiser). [Inspector No 298 comments on a blemish in the performance of Richard III, where the character of the Lord Mayor has Buffoonry in the handling." Taswell frequently acts it thus, but perhaps is not to blame, the decision as to the manner of the part probably having been made by the Manager (Daily Advertiser and Literary Gazette, 13 Feb.)] Receipts: #210 (Cross)

Event Comment: MMr Garrick Richard. The Play dress'd in the habits of the times (Cross Diary)

Event Comment: MMr King--Richard 3d as you might expect (Hopkins Diary). Benefit for Mrs King

Event Comment: Ladies send servants by 5 to keep Places and prevent Confusion. Doors will be opened at half after five o'clock. To begin at half after 6 o'clock (playbill). Mr G. Voice and Spirits was never finer he never wanted Spirit or Voice thro' the whole part and Convinced the Audience that those Amazing powers he has always possess'd are now as brilliant as ever. Never was a part play'd with greater Propriety nor an Audience more lavish of their Applause (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly.] [A full column letter for the Morning Chronicle this date from Theatricus to Garrick protested the fact that his announced benefit for the Theatrical Fund on the 30th of May would be all sold out to the highest bidders for tickets; that a nobleman offering ten Guineas for four box seats would get them in preference to the tradesmen who offered only a pound, the stated price of the tickets. Since charity was the cause this writer suggested that Garrick give a second benefit night to the Fund, with the hopes (1) that the Fund would be thereby vastly increased, and (2) that opportunity might be given for twice as many People to see a Garrick final performance. It was, perhaps, in response to this public request that Garrick gave a second Benefit night for the Fund on 10 June. The Morning Post, 29 May, noted: "The concourse of servants assembled yesterday morning at seven o'clock, at Drury Lane Stage Door, to take places for the approaching benefit, in which it is said Mr Garrick will again play Richard III , was astonishing, amounting to many hundreds, three fourths of which were not able to Succeed in their embassies' (Hampden, Journal).] Receipts: #307 3s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: [For Henderson as King Richard see hay, 7 Aug. 1777.] Afterpiece: The Music composed by Dibdin. With New Scenes and Dresses. Books of the Songs, &c. to be had at the Theatre. [The text erroneously assigns: Gillian-$Mrs Wrighten; Floretta-$Miss Walpole, but see Public Advertiser, 8 Oct., which in a review, gives the correct assignment; see also 6 Oct. 1778.] Receipts: #260 7s. (241.14; 17.17; 0.16)

Event Comment: [Kemble's 1st appearance as King Richard was at Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin, 26 Apr. 1782.] Receipts: #130 10s. 6d. (99/15/0; 29/5/6; 0/10/0; tickets not come in: 1/0/0)

Event Comment: [Litchfield, who is identified in European Magazine, Jan. 1794, p. 50, had made his 1st appearance on the stage at Richmond, 7 Sept. 1793, billed as "A Young Gentleman" (Charles Mathews, Memoirs, 1838-39, I, 70, and Thespian Magazine, Supp. 1793, p. 401). Not. Dram. states that "A person under the name of Litchfield but as I am informed in reality a Mr Holland Nephew to Mr Holland formerly of Drury Lane appeared 1st time at the HM in Richard III." But Holland was at this time acting at Bath, and did not appear in London until 31 Oct. 1796, at Drury Lane.]

Event Comment: Benefit for Marten, Anderson, R. Smith. Receipts: #27 2s. plus income from tickets: Marten #83 7s. (Box 59; Pit 326; Gallery 197); Anderson #64 3s. (Box 14; Pit 343; Gallery 92); Richard Smith #50 3s. (Box 13; Pit 206; Gallery 160) (Account Book). Charges: #63 (Account Book)

Event Comment: [This was, officially, Smith's last appearance on the stage, but see dl, 18 May 1798.] Receipts: #201 6s. 6d. (171.3.0; 29.15.0; 0.8.6)

Event Comment: Paid Charlotte Lane for altering and mending a pair of black velvet breeches for Mr Wm. Smith, 1s. 6d.; For making a scarlet camblet frock, 8s.; for sewing silk, twist, buckram & stays, 4s. 6d.; for a velvet fall down collar, 3s. 6d.; 17 plain gilt buttons at 3d.-4s. 3d.; (MS list in Davies, Life of Garrick, II, 322)