Event Comment: We hear that Mr Handel will play a Concerto on the organ in Alexander's Feast, Wednesday next at Covent Garden Theatre

Event Comment: As a principal performer was taken ill after the play last night, the New tragedy is oblig'd to be deferred till Thursday. [Printed: The British Theatre, containing Lives of the British Dramatic poets with an account of all their plays. Also The Present state of the Stage, in Great Britain and Ireland, and the theatrical characters of the principal Performers in both kingdoms.] Receipts: #130 (Cross)

Event Comment: The Lord Chamberlain to the Manager of the Theatre in Covent Garden...These are strictly to charge and command you not to act any Plays, Oratorios, or any other Theatrical Performance in Passion Week for the Future on any Pretence whatsoever (Deutsch, Handel, p. 740, from Public Record Office: L.C. 5@162, pp. 2 ff.). [Deutsch cites similar ones for dl, king's and hay.

Event Comment: Benefit for Shuter and Miss Haughton. Tickets at stage door. [For criticism of Shuter and Miss Haughton, see Genest, IV, p. 363, from The Present State of the Stage in Great Britain and Ireland, 1753. Nineteen of the Fifty-five pages of this pamphlet defend the stage on classicial authority and moral grounds from attacks by the religious bigots, and present an ideal picture of a manager, laying under some contribution, it would seem, the character of a manager presented ten years earlier (1743) in Queries to be Answered. The author especially likes the moral of Tate's alteration of Lear. The remaining pages give a paragraph or two of criticism to the leading actors and actresses in some of their most affecting parts (sixteen pages to Drury Lane Performers, all of whom appear in the author's eye to be either "Excellent" or "Very Good.") The remaining space is devoted to the performers at Covent Garden and at the Theatre Royal in Dublin. All those spoken of fare well in the hands of this bound-to-be pleased critic. Shuter is here commended for ability to play an Old Man convincingly though he was but 22 years old, and to play at all considering his lack of education. He possesses a great fund of drollery, and bids fair to be as great in low comedy as it is possible for man to conceive.' Miss Haughton described as an actress of promise. Seems never to have got the better of a lisp, and a Newcastle manner of pronouncing the letter 'r.'] Receipts: #290 (Cross)

Event Comment: Towards a fund for ye Support of a publick Charity-(ye Lock Hospl.). King Lear & Duke & no Duke given out for Wed., 23 & bills put up, but not play'd on account of Mr Havard's illness, at 12 at noon, bills were dispers'd saying--the Play of King Lear, design'd for to Night is oblig'd to be defer'd on Account of Mr Havard's sudden illness. N.B--It was a very hot day (Cross). Tickets to be had at the following Coffee Houses: The St James, in St James's St.; The Mount, in Grosvenor St.; George's the upper end of the Haymarket; the Bedford and Tom's in Covent Garden; Garraway's in Cornhill; and at the Stage Door of the Theatre. Tickets deliver'd out for 16 April will be taken. [Cross lists no Receipts.

Event Comment: Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be taken at the stage door of the theatre. [Customary notice repeated for each bill this season.

Event Comment: SShuter play'd the Miser for his 1st appearance at this theatre. Great Applause (Cross)

Event Comment: At Phillips's Great Theatrical Booth, facing the Great Til'd Booth, Bowling Green, To begin at Twelve noon during the time of the Fair. Boxes 2s. 6d. Pit 1s. 6d. Upper seats 6d. [For security Phillips has erected no Gallery. Presumably the Patent Theatres were demanding more rigid enforcement of the Licensing Act as indicated in the notice from the Daily Advertiser 18 Sept.: Whereas the Fair called Lady Fair...in the Borough of Southwark...any person or persons..who person..(who ) shall act and exhibit any Droll or Shew (after 20 Sept.) shall be prosecuted and punished according to Law.'

Event Comment: MMrs Cowper did Sylvia, for her first appearance here (she came from Bath, Richmond &c.)-Toll. Afterpiece as originally perform'd (Cross) [i.e., without the burlesque scenes of The Fair (see 6 Nov. 1752).] This piece [Harlequin Ranger] was now acted as originally written. It is surprising that Mr Garrick should be the first to introduce Pantomime Entertainments (this season) especially as his own universal talents are seconded by a good company of performers. We suppose he does it to gratify the taste of the town; but such Smithfield exhibitions should certainly be banish'd from all regular theatres; and as Mr Woodward is an excellent comedian, it would be more eligible in him if he chuses to wear the motley dress any more to appear in the character of a speaking Harlequin, after the manner of the Italian Comedy; and indeed it is not a little surprising that nothing of this kind has yet been admitted upon our stage (Gentleman's Magazine, Oct., p. 493, from Grays' Inn Journal, 13 Oct. 1753.). Receipts: #120 (Cross)

Event Comment: MMacklin has built two magnificent Rooms, ground floor [one] for Coffee, the other a [meeting] Room (Winston MS 8). [The Tuner pub. at 1s. by Dr Hiffernan. Fifty-three pages touching on theatre in general but particularly on Boadicia. There is no plot in the play...Boadicia is a monster well deserving what she suffers; therefore is neither an object of Terror or Compassion: but of Detestation. Sh deserts us in the third act...Tender-hearted Venusia is introduc'd to be whined to death...There is scarce any sentiment throughout; no moral to be deduced...the Diction...favors more of the level, languid, and underepic, than of the vigorous marrowy, tragic style...Never was Author more oblig'd to Performers, they acted to the full amount of his meaning; the Matter often fail'd Mr Garrick's continued and vigorous exertion."] Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Event Comment: This day publish'd at 3s. Printed on Five sheets of superfine paper, Five Principal Scenes in Romeo and Juliet, designed, drawn, and engraved by Mr Ant. Walker. Printed and sold by John Tinney, at the Golden Lion in Fleet St. The drawing and Engraving of the three following Plays of Shakespeare are in great forwardness, and the scenes of each play will be sold at a time: 1 Henry IV, 2 Henry IV, Merry Wives. These plates will serve for Mr Pope's edition of Shakespeare in quarto, Sir Thomas Hanmer's edn. 6 Vol. quarto, or for any of the Folio editions. And may be framed and glazed for furniture. There will be a few sets neatly coloured for Gentlemen and Ladies who chuse them so (Public Advertiser). [A set of these prints is available in the Folger Shakespeare Library. The Five Principal Scenes were: The scene in Capulet's Housev where Romeo kisses Juliet 's hand; the Balcony Scenev ; the scene in which Friar Lawrence hurries the young couple off to be married; the Apothecary scenev ; and the death scenev . If, as may be, these scenes were taken from--as they were certainly stimulated by--the Barry-Nossiter production, they may present a good likness of Maria Isabella Nossiter, who so captivated London that season. If, also, they were taken from the theatre production, they give evidence that Barry used a balcony, not only a window.

Event Comment: Words as wrote by Congreve; musick-Philidor. Pit and Boxes 5s. Gallery 3s. The Theatre will be kept warm until the Company comes. To begin at 6:00 p.m

Event Comment: Benefit for Cibber. Mainpiece: Reviv'd. Tickets at the Stage Door of the Theatre

Event Comment: Box and Pit 10s. 6d. 1st Gallery 5s. Upper Gallery 3s. 6d. Pit and Boxes will be put together and no persons to be admitted without tickets, which will be delivered this day at the Office in the Theatre. Galleries opened at half an hour after Four. Pit and Boxes at Five. To begin at Half past Six

Event Comment: For one night only, being desired by several Persons of Quality. Benefit for Mr Arne. Done in the manner of an Oratorio. To begin at 6.30 p.m. Boxes half a guinea. Pit 5s. Gallery 3s. Upper Gallery 2s. Tickets to be had of Mr Arne near the Roe Buck in Bow St., Covent Garden, and of Mr Varney at the Stage Door where Places may be taken for the Boxes only. Published for 1s. this day Alfred the Great, a Drama for Music, as it is to be performed this evening at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane. Printed for A. Miller in the Strand

Event Comment: Benefit Decay'd and Antient Masons. The Brothers are desir'd to meet at the Day of Performance at the Five Bells Tavern in the Strand, at 4 p.m. Tickets to be had of Mr Lauder at the Theatre

Event Comment: Benefit for Sga Passerini. [From charges and countercharges published in great length in the Public Advertiser, it appears that Sga Frasi had earlier arranged to produce Samson at the King's on this night for her benefit. Learning that the subscribers to the opera season could enter on their own tickets on this night she decided to change nights to avoid any losses, only to find that her singers were engaged at one theatre or another on other nights. Meanwhile, Signor Passerini got permission to have this night scheduled at King's for his wife's benefit, and Sga Frasi lost out all around. Passerini asserted that the charge for renting the Great Room, Dean St. Soho was 5 guineas for a night.

Event Comment: Benefit for White, Treasurer. No building on stage. Particular care will be taken to prevent any tickets sold at the doors of the theatre being admitted

Event Comment: The Dances, Music, Dresses, Scenes and other Decorations entirely new. The House to be illuminated with Wax candles, and particular care taken to keep it cool. The Performance by Particular Desire. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. To begin at 7:00 p.m. Places for Boxes will be taken at the Theatre. [Prices, places, and opening time repeated.

Event Comment: By Particular Desire. The Dirge will be presented and given gratis at the Theatre

Event Comment: Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be had of Mr Varney at the Stage Door of the Theatre. No persons to be admitted behind the scenes, nor any money to be returned after the Curtain is drawn up. [Notice repeated throughout the season.] Receipts: #100 (Cross)

Event Comment: Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. To begin exactly at Six o'clock. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Mr Crudge at the Stage Door of the theatre. [Customary notice for succeeding bills.

Event Comment: On Saturday next will be publish'd in The Westminster Journal, (over and above the Essay as usual) No 1 of The Theatrical Kalander. In which not only will be kept an accurate register of all the plays, farces, and Entertainments exhibited as both Theatres Royal, but the respective merits of the performances, as well as performers, will be critically and impartially considered. To be continued weekly during the season. Note This is the first thing of its kind attempted in England, and it is humbly presumed, that it will have something still more than Novelty to recommend it (Public Advertiser). [See numbers 4 May 1754 and 17 Oct. 1755 of this magazine.