Event Comment: Music composed by Dr Arne. Pit and Boxes will be laid together at Half a Guinea, and no person to be admitted without Tickets, which may be had at Dr Arne's in the Piazza next the Church, Covent Garden, and of Varney at the Stage Door of the Theatre. First Gallery 5s. Upper Gallery 3s. 6d. [Information concerning this Oratorio appeared in the Public Advertiser, 23 Feb.. "on Saturday last the New Oratorio called Judith, composed by Dr Arne, to be at Drury Lane on Friday, was rehearsed at the House of a Lady of Quality, where was present a numerous Assembly of the First Distinction, who honoured it with the highest approbation. We are assured that in the Sacred Oratorio, Sg Tenducci has obtained Permission from his Plaintiff, to sing the part which Signora Eberhardi was so obliged as to understudy for him, in Case he could not obtain such Indulgence."

Event Comment: Benefit for Sg and Signora Paganini. A new Comic Opera. Purely Comic without any serious part in it. To begin at Six, Vivat Rex

Event Comment: To begin at half past six. [A note on Sat. 31 Oct. in The Public Advertiser indicates that Signora Mattei was having trouble getting enough subscriptions.

Event Comment: Benefit for Signora Frasi. At the Great Room, Dean St. Tickets half a Guinea; Gallery 5s. Tickets delivered for 25 March will be taken. To begin at 6:30 p.m

Event Comment: A new Comic Opera, music by several celebrated Composers. With new Cloaths, new Decorations, and new Dances. Pit and Boxes put together, and no Persons to be admitted without Tickets, which will be delivered that Day, at half a Guinea each. Gallery 5s. By Their Majesties Command no Persons whatsoever to be admitted behind the Scenes, nor into the Orchestra. Gallery, Pit and Boxes will be opened at Five; To begin at 6:30. [Prices, terms of admission, and time repeated in subsequent bills.] Subscription Money to be paid to Andrew Drummond and Co. Bankers, or to Mr Crawford, Treasurer, for Silver t ickets. Signor Giardini the principal serious singer has arrived, and serious opera will begin as soon as possible (Public Advertiser). [Signora Mattei was again the promoter of Operas this season; Crawford the Treasurer.

Event Comment: A new Opera, The Music entirely new, excepting in the three favorite Airs of Signora Mingotti

Event Comment: Benefit for Signora Scotti

Event Comment: [Deferred from Saturday because of Indisposition of Signora Spagnolla.

Event Comment: Benefit Signora Radicati

Event Comment: Sga Campolini and Sg Guglielmi are extremely sorry that the New Dances intended to be performed this night are prevented on account of the indisposition of Sga Radicatti. The Poetry, taken from an old Book, is altered and adapted to the present Taste by Bottarelli; Music by Piccini. Benefit for Signora Campolini and Guglielmi. Scene Painters and Machinists-Bigari and Conti

Event Comment: By Command of Their Majesties. Tickets and places to be taken of Mr Johnston at the Stage Door of the Theatre at Half a Guinea. Pit 5s. First Gallery 3s. 6d. Second Gallery 2s. Doors to be opened at Five o'clock. To begin at Half past Six. Theatrical Review (London, 1772), appendix, pp. 207-8: The Oratorios performed at this House were conducted by Messrs. Stanley and Smith, for their own emolument; the Managers of the theatre having had no Share of the profit arising from these performances, nor any advantage, except a premium for the use of the house. Mr Stanley's musical abilities are well known. Mr Smith, was, if we are not mistaken, a pupil of the celebrated Mr Handel's; and, we believe, that Gentleman left Mr Smith the greatest part of his music, if not his whole library; so that Mr Smith may with great propriety claim the right of succeeding Mr Handel in the exhibition and conduct of his Oratorios, which he has undertaken (in conjunction with Mr Stanley) every since Mr Handel's death. Their band was composed of some of the most capital performers in this kingdom, and was led by Mr Ximenes. The vocal performers (exclusive of Chorus singers) were Mr Norris, well known to all lovers of Music, for his taste and delicacy of execution. Mr Parry (a Bass voice) from the Cathedral Church of Salisbury. This gentleman, though very young, has an extensive compass, and a great power of voice, and acquits himself with considerable reputation. Mrs Weichsel and Mrs Scott, of whom it would be superfluous and unnecessary to say anything, since their abilities are generally known. And lastly Signora Grassi, a performer of great merit. Theatrical Review, 6 March: This is Mr Dryden's celebrated Ode on St Cecelia's Day, and not an Oratorio, but performed as such...It contains many beauties and such as are worthy of Mr Handel's genius...Being much shorter than the usual length of oratorios, Mr Handel's celebrated Coronation Anthems were added in order to make the evening's entertainment of a proper length. Also a Solo on the Violincello by Mr Janson...lately arrived from Paris, said to have been a pupil of Mr Duport's but, though his taste and excution is very astonishing, we cannot give him the preference of his master. [See 13 April 1773.Charge seems to have been #28 per night plus expenses for oil, candles &c.

Event Comment: Benefit for Signora Sirmen

Event Comment: Benefit Sig & Signora Guglielmi. Music by Guglielmi

Event Comment: Benefit for Lovattini. Signora Guglielmi not being ready with her part in La Buona Figliuola as proposed for the evening Lovattini is oblig'd to have Le Pazzie which he humbly hopes will be acceptable

Event Comment: Benefit for Signora Guidi

Event Comment: Mr G very fine-Voice clear to the last great Applause. House (Hopkins Diary). Ladies and Gentlemen requested to come early to prevent confusion. Rec'd Stopages #6 5s. 6d.; from Mr Clutterbuck #100; Paid salary list #494 18s. 6d.; Mrs Abington's cloaths acct #2; Mr S. French #1 10s.; Signora Vidini, 1 day in full of this season 16s. 8d. Receipts: #268 8s. 6d. (Treasurer#s Book)

Event Comment: Paid Watson and Mortimer (Boxkeepers) for the use of that office #10 and #15 respectively [this amount duly returned to the treasury on 11 June 1776]; J. Stevens (porter) 18s.; Mr Garrick's draft in favor of Signora Paccini #25 (Treasurer's Book). [J. Stevens, the porter's salary was a constant of 18s. per week for the season, ammounting to #33 6s. in all. No further mention of this item will be made.] Receipts: #243 16s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: A New Comic Opera. Music By Gazaniga, a Neopolitan Master. Benefit for Signora Sestini

Event Comment: Benefit for Signora Davies Inglesina. Public Advertiser, 25 Feb.: Tickets to be had of Sga Davies at her House, No. 1, St. Alban's street, Pall-mall

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 6 years [not acted since 28 Apr. 1773]. With new Scenes [by French and Carver (text)] and Dresses. [In the Vocal Parts the playbill lists Sga Prudom, but "at the end of the second act, Smith came forward and apologized for the absence of Signora Prudom, and begged that Mrs Wrighten might be permitted to take her part . . . Mrs Wrighten was received with applause" (London Chronicle, 20 Oct.). Sga Romanzini was from the Royal Circus.] Receipts: #123 8s. 6d. (92/15/0; 29/11/0; 1/2/6)

Event Comment: [Following the 2nd piece the playbill lists The Scotch Ghost, but "The Public is most respectfully informed that in consequence of the very sudden and violent indisposition of Signora Bossi DelCaro it is not in her power to have the honour of appearing before them this Evening, and there being no other person who can supply her place, The Scotch Ghost...is unavoidably obliged to be omitted" (printed slip attached to Kemble playbill).] Receipts: #188 7s. (127.14; 59.18; 0.15)

Event Comment: The news of the death of Henrietta-Maria, the Queen Mother, reached London ca. 3 Sept. 1669. There may well have been an order forbidding playing, although it is not extant; but an order, L. C. 5@12, p. 251 (in Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 322) directs the two companies to act again on Monday, 18 Oct. 1669. Probably the theatres were closed for approximately six weeks

Event Comment: The King's Company. This performance is on the L. C. list, 5@141, p. 359. See also Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 346. There is no certainty that this performance is the premiere, but as the play was licensed for printing on 9 Jan. 1676@7, this performance may well be the first one. Downes (Roscius Anglicanus, pp.9-10) lists the same cast except for the ommission of Letice. It is not certain which Mrs Knight played Letice. Possibly it was Frances Maria Knight (see Wilson, All the King's Ladies, where she is tentatively listed for that role), but the presence of Mrs Ursula Knight on an undated L. C. list, 3@24, with the date of her swearing into the company given as 12 March 1676@7, it is quite likely that she played this role. (I owe this reference to Ursula Knight to Professor John Harold Wilson.) John Dennis: And when upon the first representations of the Plain Dealer, the Town, as The Authour has often told me, appeard Doubtful what Judgment to Form of it; the foremention'd gentlemen [The Duke of Buckingham, Earl of Rochester, Earl of Dorset, Earl of Mulgrave, Savil, Buckly, Sir John Denham, Waller] by their loud aprobation of it, gave it both a sudden and a lasting reputation (Defense and Defects of Dramatick Poetry, 1725, in The Works of John Dennis, ed. Hooker, II, 277)

Event Comment: By Command of his Royal Highness the Duke, their Highnesses the Princess Amelia, the Princess Caroline, the Princess Louisa, and the Princess Maria. Mainpiece: Written by Mr Voltaire