Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Billington. Mainpiece: 1st time at this Theatre [1st performed at Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin, 3 Jan. 1784]. The Music by Gluck [whose opera this actually was, with additions by] Handel, Bach, Sacchini, Reeve, and Mazzinghi. With an entire new Overture composed by Gyrowetz. In II Weichsel will accompany an obligato song on the violin. Dances by Byrne and Mlle St.Amand. With new Scenery, Dresses, and Decorations. Afterpiece: Not acted these 2 years [acted 27 May 1791]. Morning Herald, 9 Feb.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Billington, No. 53, Poland-street. Receipts: #371 15s. (257.18.6; 8.15.6; tickets: 105.1.0) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: [The play is opened by Mrs Beverley and Charlotte, and when Mrs Siddons came on she was hissed because of a widespread report that she had refused to act for Brereton's benefit in Dublin. "A considerable period of time was lost; it might be forty minutes before the play began . . . We could perceive that the lady supported herself with a great degree of firmness under this very aweful trial--a trial which, in great measure, determined her future fame--perhaps her residence in this metropolis" (Town and Country Magazine, Oct. 1784, p. 510). "The Breretons have used her shockingly--Mrs B. was mean enough to sneak off the stage and leave her to stand the insults of a malicious party tho' she knew the whole disturbance was on her account and that her husband had at least been obliged to contradict the reports that concern'd him" (Betsy Sheridan, Journal, 1960, p. 32). Mrs Siddons explained to the audience that the stories circulated against her were "calumnies." She had, in fact, on 19 Aug., acted Jane Shore in Dublin for Brereton's benefit (Dublin Public Register, 19 Aug. 1784). "Though Mrs Siddons delivered this address with her usual judgment and articulation, and it was received with reiterated bursts of applause, yet she was so agitated when off the stage as to be very near fainting, and continued for some time much flurried" (Public Advertiser, 6 Oct.).] Receipts: #304 5s. (291/13; 12/11; 0/1)

Event Comment: Benefit Griffith, from the Theatre Royal in Dublin. By Command of his Royal Highness the Duke

Event Comment: We hear that the Lord Chamberlain has refus'd granting a License to the seceding players to act in the Theatre in the Haymarket. (Daily Advertiser) To the Author of the London Daily Post, Sir: As I have engag'd myself for this winter to perform in Dublin, by an Invitation of Several Persons of Distinction in Ireland, I think it my duty before I leave London, by your paper, to return my sincere and hearty thanks to the Town for the many favours I have receiv'd during the Time of my Performing in Publick, which I hope they will Candidly accept from their most of Oblig'd, humble Servants, Thomas Lowe

Event Comment: Tickets deliver'd out by Mr Davis will be taken. [Bransby doubled in Oxford and Tyrrel. The General Advertiser quoted a long Epilogue on the Birthday of his Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland Written by the Farmer (who had taken over the role of Swift's Drapier) and spoken by Garrick in Dublin. It also quoted the following long puff for Ray's Benefit to come]: Sir, As long acquaintance best entitles us to friendly good natured offices, and as no more proper time can be found to confer them than when the person is in the Decline of life, give me leave to recommend (thro' your means) Mr Ray of Drury Lane Theatre, the oldest actor now belonging to that House, to the Favour of the Town, at his ensuing Benefit next Saturday. A person who once agreeably entertained the Public, should always feel the warmth of their Indulgence, tho' the Infirmities of Old age may have render'd him less pleasing than formerly. This Application is therefore meant to those friends of his, whom Distance of time, and change of Situation may have made it impossible any other way to acquaint them, that The Merchant of Venice is to be acted for his Benefit on Saturday next; therefore 'tis hoped they will be so kind as to send for his Tickets to Mr Hobson, in the Playhouse Passage, or to Mr Ray's lodgings, the second Door in Queen's Court, Great Queen St., Lincoln's Inn Fields, and the Favour will ever be greatly acknowledged by him

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Elmy. Tickets and Places of Mrs Elmy at the corner of Tavistock St. next Southampton St., Covent Garden; and of Hobson at the stage door. Being the last time of acting till the Holidays. Cash, #92 12s.; tickets, #56 8s.; total, #149 (Clay MS page reproduced in Oct. 1926 issue of Connoisseur, p. 93). A few days ago arriv'd in Town Mr Sheridan, Manager of the Theatre Royal in Dublin, and we hear as his stay is to be but short, he intends to perform only once, for the benefit of the poor sufferers by the late Fire (General Advertiser). [The fire happened the 25th in "Exchange alley (London) and in the space of 10 hours consumed a great number of houses occupied by persons in middling circumstances and with large families." Subscriptions were raised and distributed by a committee of ten bankers. See General Advertiser.] Receipts: #160 (Cross); house charges, #63 (Powel)

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: FFoote read part of his The Minor on 9 Nov. 1759 in a course of Comic Lectures and left for Dublin on 10 Nov. (Theatrical Duplicity or, A Genuine Narrative of the Conduct of David Garrick, Esq. to Joseph Reed on his Tragedy of Dido. MS in Harvard Theatre Collection)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted this season. Full Prices. [Sparked by Victor's publication of his History of the Theatres of London and Dublin, 1730 to the Present, a series of articles on the Rise and Progress of the English Stage appeared in the Gentleman's Magazine for May (p. 214 ff); June (p. 264 ff); and July (p. 297).

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Elmy. Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Afterpiece: Taken from Mrs Centlivre's Sequel to the Busy Body. [Afterpiece is Woodward's adaptation (Crow St. Theatre, Dublin 1760) pruned to three acts (Biographia Dramatica).

Event Comment: [B$Barry, as a new patentee for the Dublin Theatre, set out for Ireland 28 Sept. (Winston MS 9).] Receipts: #187 7s. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: Benefit for Theatrical Fund. Doors open at 5 o'clock. Play to begin at half past 6. Last night of season. Cash in the Galleries #88, from Mr Johnston #211 18s. Total #299 19s. Paid in sundries (Rent #8; Soldiers 14s.; Properties 2s.; Bill Stickers 18s.; Candles, Oyl, Lampmen #3 18s. 6d.; Printer #2 13s. 6d.; Total #16 5s. 6d.; Box tickets 680 #170). Ladies and Gentlemen who have taken tickets for the Pit and Boxes are requested to be early at the Theatre, to prevent their being incommoded in getting to their Place. [N.B. 27 June 1767 the Gentleman's Magazine reports that Sg Tenducci "renounced the errors of popery, and embraced the protestant religion in Dublin."] Receipts: #299 19s. (Treasurer's Book). Instead of going to dinner put The Suspicious Husband in my pocket and read Ranger's part at the Somerset Coffee House. Dressed and at half past 5 went into the Front Boxes at Drury Lane to see The Suspicious Husband for the Fund for the Relief of Decayed Actors, being the last time of performing this season. The Pit and Boxes were laid together. Mr Garrick spoke an occasional Prologue and played Ranger. Though in the back row I saw him very well by the help of my glass...Before the Dance Mr Garrick saying that he would not have been able to do it after, in the name of the company and managers thanked the public for the favors received this season. Mr @@ asked me to go to Vauxhall after ye Play, but I chose rather to see Daphne and Amintor ye characters as usual (Neville MS Diary)

Event Comment: Several of the songs dew-set by Mr Fisher. [The Tete-a-Tete in the Town and Country Magazine for this month (pp. 569-70) tells of Miss Catley's affair with Col. Lascelles. Her father a hackney coachman, her mother a washerwoman. She met Lascelles in Dublin where she was playing in Mossop's theatre, and condescended to live with him.

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Bulkley. Mainpiece: A New Comedy [by a Lady] never perform'd in this Kingdom. As performed with Universal Applause at the Theatre Royal in Dublin. [The Edition of 1774 lists the Irish Actors. The characters are: Mowbray, Sir Thomas O'Shaughnesy; Admiral Swivel; Leslie; Egerton; Capt. Egerton; Issacher; Donald M'Pherson; Strap; Elfrida Audley; Henrietta Egerton; Mrs Ornel; Mrs Issacher; Jenny, a Mantua Maker, a Maid; French servants and porters. Genest suggests a casting for ten of the characters.] Charges: #66 6s. 6d. Profit to Mrs Bulkley #33 17s., plus #93 13s. from tickets Box 232; Pit 177; Gallery 91). Paid Mrs Carne half year' salary due Lady day last #15. Paid half year's water rent due Xmas last #4. Receipts: #100 3s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: [Miss Walpole was from the Crow Street Theatre, Dublin.] Receipts: #178 19s. 6d. (146.17.0; 31.13.6; 0.9.0)

Event Comment: By Permission [of the Lord Chamberlain]. Benefit for Digges. The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30. Morning Post, 7 Oct.: Digges, far advanced in the autumn of his life, wanted that fire which is so indispensable to Macheath. His dress was beyond measure ridiculous, and his songs...discordant and tedious. [His 1st appearance as Macheath was at Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin, 10 Oct. 1752.

Event Comment: [Kirkpatrick is identified in Morning Chronicle, 8 Nov. He was from the Crow Street Theatre, Dublin.] Receipts: #132 11s. 6d. (129.19.0; 2.12.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 3 years [acted 6 May 1776]. With Accompaniments to the Airs composed by Thomas? Linley Sen?.. Public Advertiser, 10 Nov.: "Jenny Diver forgot her song...and continued inflexibly silent till a Wag behind the Scenes assumed her Voice, and sung the Song for her"; ibid, 15 Nov., identifies this wag as Bannister, who sang "in a feigned voice." [Webster was from the Crow Street Theatre, Dublin.] Receipts: #192 6s. 6d. (167.2.0; 24.16.0; 0.8.6)

Event Comment: [Bingham is identified by MS annotation on Kemble playbill.] Afterpiece [1st time; CO 2, by Miles Peter Andrews, based on Le Bucheron; ou, Les Trois Souhaits, by Jean Francois Guichard. Music by Francois Hippolyte Barthelemon]: With New Scenes, Dresses and Decorations. Books of the Songs, Chorusses, &c. to be had at the Theatre. Public Advertiser, 17 Mar, 1778: This Day is published the Songs in Belphegor (6d.). [Text 1st published in Dublin: For the Booksellers, 1788.] Receipts: #196 0s. 6d. (156.5.0; 38.13.6; 1.2.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Mattocks. [As afterpiece Genest, VI, 25, lists The Romp, "1st time," with partial cast. In an advance notice of Mrs Mattocks' benefit in Public Advertiser, 20 Mar., the farce advertised for 28 Mar. is The Romp, "1st time," with full cast; this appears to have been Genest's source. But in the same newspaper for 25, 26, 27 Mar. the farce advertised is Three Weeks after Marriage. The Romp was 1st acted at the Capel Street Theatre, Dublin, 23 Jan. 1771, and in London at the hay, 12 Nov. 1781. See also dl, 21 Nov. 1785.] Public Advertiser, 17 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Mattocks at her house in Covent Garden. Receipts: #160 9s. (101.19; tickets: 58.10) (charge: #64 10s.)