Event Comment: Mainpiece: Never Acted before, By the Author of...Hurlothrumbo [Samuel Johnson]. The Musick and Epilogue compos'd by Lord Flame [Johnson]. John Byrom, 1 Feb.: They [two Londoners] said the first night Johnson was for fighting with somebody in the pit.-Byrom, Private Journals and Literary Remains, XI, 88

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr Havard. With a new Ode (written by Havard & set by Dr Boyce) to ye memory of Shakespear (Cross). Ode deliver'd gratis at the Theatre. Receipts: #265 (Cross)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: The Music composed principally by Storace, with a few pieces selected from Anfossi, Bianchi, and Guglielmi. "But for the excellent acting of Falmer, [THE ENGLISHMAN IN PARIS] would now scarcely be tolerated" (Thespian Magazine, June 1794, p. 225). Powell: Pirates rehearsed at 11 (Sedgwick one scene; Bardeauleau, Boyce, Horsfall). Receipts: #337 3s. (277/3/6; 57/3/0; 2/16/6)

Event Comment: [By Samuel Madden.] Receipts: #114 2s. 6d. Probable attendance: boxes, 146 paid and 16 orders; stage, 2 paid; pit, 287 paid and 1 order; slips, 62 paid; first gallery, 209 paid and 3 orders; second gallery, 170 paid. Preface to 1729 edition: Yet, with all its Faults, I did not think this Piece deserv'd so severe Treatment, as to be peremptorily refused, after the most earnest and early Sollicitations, at the Old House for two Winters together; which however, I have the less Reason to complain of, since Mr Rich's great Civility, and the agreeable Action of most of his Company, have prevailed on all the unprejudiced Part of the Town, to have every Day a better Opinion of this Piece

Event Comment: [Music by Handel. Translation by Samuel Humphreys.] Wherein the Cloaths and Scenes are all entirely New. Colman's Opera Register: But did not draw much Company

Event Comment: Benefit for the Author Tickets to be had as 9 and 14 Feb. [The Gentleman's Magazine this month gave a nine-column article to the Plan and Specimens of Irene a Tragedy by Mr Samuel Johnsin acted at Drury Lane from 6-20 February inclusive." In it plot was first retold, then excerpts from speeches were given which illustrated the beautiful expression of the moral values contained in the play: "To instance every moral which is inculcated in this performance, would be to transcribe the whole; but, however difficult I shall select a few." No comments are made upon the stage presentation, all is presented upon the basis of examination of the text. William Shenstone thought not much of it as a play. See Letter to Lady Luxborough 22 March.] Receipts: #110 (Cross); house charges, #63 (Powel)

Event Comment: Benefit for Macklin. Afterpiece: A Comedy in 2 acts written by Foote, with Prologue and Epilogue by him. Miss Macklin did Calista and a part in the farce,-all went well (Cross). A Comedy in answer to the French Farce A Frenchman in London, with a Dialogue Prologue, spoken by Macklin & his wife. Epilogue spoken by Miss Macklin. All by Foote. Part of Pit laid into the boxes, with an amphitheatre on stage, all at 5s. Full Prices (Winston MS 8). The Englishman at Paris has been better recev'd that I expected. Garrick, &c., &c....say kinder things of it than modesty will permit me to repeat. Upon the whole it was damnably acted, Macklin miserably imperfect in the words and in the character (a stain to Comedy). You might have seen what I meant,--an English Buck, by the power of dulness instantaneously transformed into an Irish chairman. Miss Roach, accompany'd by some frippery French woman occupy'd, to the no small scandal of the whole house, the Prince's box, whilst the duchess of Bedford &c., &c. were oblig'd to take up with seats upon the stage. The piece will be printed the 25th instant, which I will enclose to you (Samuel Foote to Mr Delaval, MS in Folger Shakespeare Library, written either 24 March, or, perhaps more likely, 24 April, since Foote states later in the letter he is leaving for foreign parts the first of May)

Event Comment: Afterpiece by Mr Foote (Cross). [Foote advertised that persons in the Author were fictitious, some having said his past friends were introduced. See Theatrical Review, 1757, and Public Advertiser this day: "Whereas it has been represented to the Managers of Drury Lane that Mr Foote in his new Farce call'd the Author, intends introducing the Character of a Gentleaan for whom he has the greatest esteem and regard, he thinks it incumbent upon him to assure the Public, that all the persons in that piece are fictitious and general. Samuel Foote."] Receipts: #200 (Cross)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. Last Time of performing it. Receipts: #153 14s. 6d. Barry's 113 of surplus came to #24 11s. 6d. Paid George Lambert (scene painter) 3 months' salary #25. The following additional Renters came in this night at 1 share each: Thomas Fludyer, John Calcraft, Charles Lanoe, and Samuel Berkeley. Richard Vincent Sr bought in at 2 shares (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Barry. Mainpiece: By Elijah Fenton (Genest, V, 269). By Samuel Pordage (MacMillan)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr and Mrs DuBellamy. Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Afterpiece [comedy by Samuel Foote]: never perform'd there

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: A new comedy (by Samuel Foote. This is A Trip to Calais reworked. See 4 and 18 Aug. 1775, Comment.

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; BURL 3]: Written by the Author of Midas [Kane O'Hara; music by Samuel Arnold]. Books of the Burletta to be had at the Theatre. Public Advertiser, 22 Aug.: This Afternoon, at Three, will be published April-Day (1s. 6d.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by George Colman elder, based on Le Barbier de Seville; ou, La Precaution Inutile, by Pierre Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais; music by Samuel Arnold and, by attribution, Pierre Alexandre Monsigny. Prologue by the author (Collection...of English Prologues and Epilogues, II, 209). Epilogue by David Garrick (Garrick's Poetical Works, II, 340). Larpent MS 436; not published; synopsis of plot in London Magazine, Sept. 1777, pp. 467-69]: With New Dresses and Scenes

Event Comment: Macbeth [announced on playbill of 17 Jan.] is obliged to be deferred on account of Mrs Hartley's Indisposition. [Afterpiece: Epilogue by Samuel Foote.] Receipts: #223 16s. 6d. (222.5.6; 1.11.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Wilkinson. Mainpiece: Not acted these 3 years. [Afterpiece: Prologue by Samuel Foote. For an account of Tea see Tate Wilkinson, The Wandering Patentee, 1795, 1, 282-90.] Receipts: #221 0s. 6d. (217.5.6; tickets: 3.15.0) (charge: #70)

Event Comment: Benefit for Bensley. Afterpiece [1st time; F 2, by Samuel Jackson Pratt. Not in Larpent MS; not published. Prologue printed in Westminster Magazine, Apr. 1778, p.218; author unknown]. Public Advertiser, 2 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Bensley, Charlotte-street, Bloomsbury. Receipts: #230 16s. 6d. (131.6.0; 25.4.0; 0.7.6; tickets: 73.19.0) (charge: #66 9s.)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; CO 2, by Charles Dibdin, based on La Bohemienne, by Charles Simon Favart. Music by Samuel Arnold]. Books of both Pieces to be had at the Theatre. Public Advertiser, 10 Aug. 1778: This Day is published The Gipsies (price not listed)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; T 5, by Samuel Jackson Pratt. Author of Prologue unknown. Epilogue attributed to the Hon. Richard Fitzpatrick (Crouch, 1, 125), and to Richard Brinsley Sheridan (I. A. Williams in The London Mercury, Aug. 1924, pp. 412-15)]: With New Scenes (see 29 Nov.), Dresses and Decorations. Public Advertiser, 12 Dec. 1781: This Day is published The Fair Circassian (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #149 19s. (126/19/0; 22/17/6; 0/2/6)