Event Comment: No Money to be returned. Boxes 6s. 2nd Price 3s. Pit 3s. 6d. 2nd Price 2s. Gallery 2s. 2nd Price 1s. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Fosbrook, at the Theatre. The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30 [see 14 Nov.]. The Avenues to the Boxes, Pit and Gallery are all at the Front of the Theatre in the Hay-Market, and the Door in Market-Lane is for Chairs only. "The short time since it had been determined to occupy this theatre had not been sufficient to enable the workmen to perfect what was intended so soon as was expected; nor could they be got out in time for opening the doors in the afternoon: this delay, and the difficulty of finding the way to different parts of the house [see 24 and 27 Sept.], caused some disgust" (Universal Magazine, Sept. 1791, p. 220). 1st piece [1st time; M. PREL 1, James Cobb; music by Storace (Kemble Mem.). Larpent MS 918; not published]. Receipts: #472 8s. 6d. (451.7.6; 20.6.0; 0.15.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 5 years [acted 16 Jan. 1789]. Afterpiece [1st time at a public theatre (1st acted at Lord Barrymore's private theatre at Wargrave, 13 Apr. 1791); P 2, by Carlo Antonio Delpini. Not published]: With entire new Music, Scenery, Machinery, Dresses, and Decorations. The Music composed by Baumgarten. The Scenes painted by Richards, Hodgins, Pugh, Walmsley, and other assistants. Books of the Songs [W. Woodfall, 1791] to be had at the Theatre. Nothing under Full Price will be taken. "The Piece was last night very incorrectly exhibited...The scenes of the destruction of the cottage by fire, the view of Strawberry-hill, and Blue Beard's infernal palace...are worthy of commendation. The last scene was not grand enough: the wings were by no means in unison" (Public Advertiser, 22 Dec.). Receipts: #279 13s. (249.19; 29.14)

Event Comment: Separate printed notice accompanying this playbill: The Publick is most respectfully informed that the Accident which happened last night in the Pit-Passage of the Theatre arose entirely from the eagerness of the croud; and not from any defect in the customary mode of admission. It has been erroneously stated in some of the Morning Prints that the Staircase gave way; it is evident that this statement is groundless, from the circumstance of opening the Theatre this Evening, which would have been impracticable: as there could not possibly be time to repair or build a staircase. The Theatre is in the most perfect state of security; and however the accident of last night is to be deplored, it cannot, in the slightest degree, be imputed to any cause, but the irregularity and pressure of the persons assembled at the doors. To prevent, however, all possibility of such an event occurring again; a Bar will be fixed at the head of the Stairs, and a servant appointed to attend, that persons may not press down them in crouds, but be regularly and gradually admitted, with safety and convenience

Event Comment: Advance broadside of 7 Apr.: The performance of Plays, in this Theatre, is unavoidably postponed on account of the extent of the Preparations for compleating the Scenery and Machinery in a Style suitable to the Theatre. But at the Request of Numbers of Ladies and Gentlemen, who have hitherto been disappointed of Places, there will be this Week Four Performances of Grand Selections of Music and Oratorios . . . After Saturday the Theatre will close till Compleat for Dramatic Representations. Receipts: #525 12s. 6d. (515/12/6; tickets: 2/2/0; 7/18/0)

Event Comment: A new Comic Opera; the music entirely by Paisiello [performed at the Pantheon, 14 May 1791, as La Molinarella]. Bianchi and Martini [i.e. Martin y Soler] are both engaged as composers to this Theatre, and will each preside at the harpsichord the three first nights of every new Opera of their composition. Pit 10s. 6d. Gallery 5s. No Money to be returned. The Doors to be opened at 6:30. To begin at 7:30 [see 30 Apr. 1795]. The Nobility are intreated to give directions to their servants to set down and take up at the Theatre, with horses' heads towards Pall Mall. On account of abuses practised in the names of the Subscribers it is become necessary to require the production of the Subscription Tickets both at the doors and the Boxes, At the Chair-door in Market-lane Subscribers only will be admitted. "The Pantomime is too much in the gaudy stile of Italy, and even in this respect the ballet-master is not well seconded by the machinist; the decorations were unfinished, and the scenes clumsily shifted...We were sorry to find that the new and superb room, which the proprietor was encouraged to build, and Which was opened in its unfinished state last year, is now entirely shut up, through the cabal of some few of the subscribers who refuse a miserable guinea for its illumination. The inconvenience of getting away from the Theatre will consequently be severely felt by the Beau Monde" (Morning Chronicle, 8 Dec.)

Event Comment: [Mainpiece in place of The Force of Ridicule; afterpiece of Richard Coeur de Lion, both advertised on playbill of 28 Nov.] "The new Comedy last night was deferred upon the pretext of Miss Farren's illness...The Manager sent after Mrs Siddons, who was found at Covent-Garden Theatre, seeing Abroad and at Home. Brandon, however, ordered her a chair, and she kindly performed Isabella. Wroughton read the Father" (Oracle, 30 Nov.). "For near an hour the audience waited patiently...At half past seven Palmer addressed the audience" He said that Miss Farren was ill, that to those who preferred to leave the theatre their money would be returned, and that instead of the new play Mrs Siddons would act Isabella, "as soon as the dresses could be prepared for that purpose. This address was by no means favourably received, and hundreds of persons immediately left the house. A few minutes after eight, the Curtain drew up to the tragedy, which was well performed, and much applauded by the few who remained to witness it" (Morning Herald, 30 Nov.). "November 30. Miss Farren last night refused to appear in a new Play at Drury Lane which made much confusion in the House. The cause assigned was indisposition but that was not believed by the audience; and the fact Lysons says is, that as she cannot obtain payment from the Theatre, she resolutely told them she wd. not appear unless her demands were paid...Such is the unprincipled conduct of Sheridan" (Diary of Joseph Farington, 1922, I, 174). [On 1 Dec. Morning Herald prints a letter from Miss Farren, from Green-street, Grosvenor-square. saying that she really was ill. The editor of the paper adds a note in which he affirms his positive knowledge that rumours about a dispute as to Miss Farren's unpaid salary were without foundation.] Receipts: #134 2s. (82.2; 50.18; 1.2)

Event Comment: [This was Miss Farren's last appearance on the stage.] "On the conclusion of the play Wroughton came forward, and, instead of uttering the usual lines [i.e. giving out the play for the next night], delivered the following Address before the curtain dropped, all the Performers remaining on the Stage, and Miss Farren herself in a state apparently of much agitation. [Here follows the address (which is not listed on the playbill).] After Wroughton had delivered these lines, Miss Farren advanced and curtsied repeatedly" (True Briton, 10 Apr.). The address "was written by Sheridan during the performance of the comedy" (Morning Herald, 12 Apr.). "[Miss Farren's] figure is considerably above the middle height, and is of that slight texture which allows and requires the use of full and flowing drapery, an advantage of which she well knows how to avail herself...She possesses ease, vivacity, spirit and humour, and her performances are so little injured by effort, that we have often experienced a delusion of the senses, and imagined, what in a theatre it is so difficult imagine, the scene of action to be identified, and Miss Farren really the character she was only attempting to sustain" (Monthly Mirror, Apr. 1797, pp. 236-37). Account-Book: Renters, Free, Orders and Private Boxes at School for Scandal #199 9s. [The tally is also entered of 3,656 spectators in the theatre.] Receipts: #728 14s. 6d. (654.18.0; 70.7.0; 3.9.6; being the largest amount taken at this theatre, on a night not devoted to a benefit, between 1794 (when it was opened) and 1800)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Trevor [who had 1st appeared at this theatre, as a chorus singer, on 16 Jan. 1800]. "A settled, preconcerted plan was evidently laid to injure the lady who came forward in double capacity, not merely as a candidate for public favour, but in the responsible situation of a performer taking a benefit...The moment the lady made her appearance on the boards, before she even opened her mouth, before a single note furnished an opportunished an opportunity of appreciating her abilities, opposition began to manifest itself in all the various forms which malice on such occcsions is wont to resort to. The Hisses grew louder and louder,...the theatre absolutely assumed the appearance of a riot, rather than that of a civilized company, assembled for the purpose of amusement" (Dramatic Censor, II, 212-13). Morning Chronicle, 19 May: Tickets to be had of Mrs Trevor, sister to Mr Kelly of Drury-lane Theatre, No. 31, Bedford-street, Covent Garden. Receipts: #268 12s. (124.13; 4.8; tickets: 139.11)

Event Comment: The death of the Duke of Gloucester on this day apparently closed the theatres for a short time. Andrew Newport, writing on 15 Sept. 1660 to Sir Richard Leveson, stated: The court is in deep mourning and will continue so for 6 weeks (Sutherland MSS., HMC, 5th Report, Appendix, 1876, p. 156), but it is not until 27 Sept. 1660 that Rugg reported: playes are for present forbiden because of the death of the Duke of Gloucester (BM Add. Mss. 10116, folio 90v). The theatres may have opened on Monday 8 Oct. 1660; certainly they were acting by 11 Oct. 1660

Event Comment: See Boswell, Restoration Court Theatre, pp. 56-57, for a stage which may have been used for the puppets, and also Speaight, English Puppet Theatre, p. 73. Pepys, Diary: To my Lord's again, thinking to speak with him, but he is at White Hall with the King, before whom the puppet plays I saw this summer at Covent-garden are acted this night

Event Comment: The King's Company. See 5 Feb. Pepys, Diary: [The Slighted Maid] being done, we took coach and to court, and there got good places, and saw The Wilde Gallant, performed by the King's house, but it was ill acted, and the play so poor a thing as I never saw in my life almost, and so little answering the name, that from beginning to end, I could not, nor can at this time, tell certainly which was the Wild Gallant. The King did not seem pleased at all, all the whole play, nor any body else, though Mr Clerke whome we met here did commend it to us....Now as my mind was but very ill satisfied with these two plays themselves, so was I in the midst of them sad to think of the spending so much money and venturing upon the breach of my vow, which I found myself sorry for, I bless God, though my nature would well be contented to follow the pleasure still. But I did make payment of my forfeiture presently, though I hope to save it back again by forbearing two plays at court for this one at the Theatre, or else to forbear that to the Theatre which I am to have at Easter. But it being my birthday and my day of liberty regained to me, and lastly, the last play that is likely to be acted at Court before Easter, because of the Lent coming in, I was the easier content to fling away so much money

Event Comment: The King's Company. This marks the opening of the new Theatre Royal in Bridges Street, Drury Lane, to which Killigrew moved his company from Vere Street. Downes erroneously gives the opening date as 8 April, a fact which led to the creation of the famous spurious playbill for Bridges Street, Thursday, 8 April 1663. See Montague Summers, The Restoration Theater (London, 1934), p. 15. Pepys, Diary: This day the new Theatre Royal begins to act with scenes the Humorous Lieutenant, but I have not time to see it, nor could stay to see my Lady Jemimah lately come to town, and who was here in the house. Downes (p. 3): Note, this Comedy was Acted Twelve Days Successively

Event Comment: The dangerous increase in the plague resulted in a proclamation closing the theatres. L. C. 5@138, p. 417 (in Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 299n): Whereas it is thought dangerous that soe greate resort of People should be permitted at yor Theatre in this tyme of Infection of the Plague These are therefore to require you that you forbeare Acting any more Playes vntill you shall receive further Order from mee

Event Comment: Henry Muddiman, 29 Nov. 1666: The Players have upon great proffers of disposing a large share to charitable uses prevailed to have liberty to act at Both Houses, which they begin this day (CSPD, Charles II, clxxcii, 6, in Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, p. 250). A manuscript prologue for the opening of the theatre in Bridges Street is in J. Payne Collier's MS Restoration Stage History, Part I, p. 106, in the Houghton Library, Harvard. The Diary of John Milward, Esq., ed. Caroline Robbins (Cambridge, 1938), p. 49: This day at my coming to the House [of Commons] it moved that plays might be tolerated and acted in the common theatres, and whether any members of the House of Commons should be admitted to go to acts of the playhouses, but it was not resolved

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. This is on an L. C. list in the Harvard Theatre Collection. See William vanLennep, Plays on the English Stage 1669-1672, Theatre Notebook, XVI (1961), 13

Event Comment: The Travels of Cosmo the Third (Thursday 25 April 1669 NS; Thursday 15 April OS): After dinner, he recommenced his visits to the ladies; going towards evening to the King's Theatre, to hear the comedy, in his majesty's box. This theatre is nearly of a circular form, surrounded, in the inside, by boxes separated from each other, and divided into several rows of seats, for the greater accommodation of the ladies and gentlemen, who, in conformity with the freedom of the country, sit together indiscriminately; a large space being left on the ground-flobr for the rest of the audience. The scenery is very light, capable of a great many changes, and embellished with beautiful landscapes. Before the comedy begins, that the audience may not be tired with waiting, the most delightful symphonies are played; on which account many persons come early to enjoy this agreeable amusement. The comedies which are acted, are in prose; but their plots are confused, neither unity nor regularity being observed; the authors having in view, rather than any thing else, to describe accurately the passions of the mind, the virtues and the vices; and they succeed the better, the more the players themselves, who are excellent, assist them with action, and with the enunciation of their language, which is very adapted for the purpose, as being a variation, but very much confined and curtailed, of the Teutonic idiom; and enriched with many phrases and words of the most beautiful and expressive description, taken both from ancient and modern languages (London, 1821, pp. 190-91)

Event Comment: The King's Company. Pepys, Diary: To the King's house, and there saw The General revived--a good play, that pleases me well. The Travels of Cosmo the Third [4 May 1669 NS; 24 April 1699 OS]: [On 4 May and the two subsequent days His Highness received callers] and many of them remained to dine with his highness, who continued on each of these days his visits to the ladies, appearing at Hyde Park, at the comedies, sometimes at the king's theatre, sometimes at that of the duke's theatre (p. 195)

Event Comment: An order of the Lord Chamberlain (5@12, p. 202) dated 1 April 1671, states that the theatres are to be closed because of the death of the Duchess of York on 31 March 1671. See Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 322. It is uncertain how long the theatres were closed, but probably the closure extended for six weeks

Event Comment: Anthony Devolto, an operator of puppet shows, was forced to petition the King against paying a fee for running a theatre, and the King granted his petition. See CSPD, 1672; in Speaight, The History of the English Puppet Theatre, p. 76

Event Comment: The Diary of Robert Hooke, 1672-1678: at Scaramuches at york house. present: the King, Duke of York, Lord Ormond &c. (ed. H. W. Robinson and Walter Adams [London, 1935], p. 42). See slso Boswell, Restoration Court Stage, pp. 118-19, and John Harold Wilson, A Theatre in York House, Theatre Notebook, XVI (1962), 75-78

Event Comment: This work, printed in 1674, was performed, probably, at court by a French company. See M. Horn-Monval, French Troupes in England During the Restoration, Theatre Notebook, VII (1953), 82; and Edwin P. Grobe, S. Bre, French Librettist at the Court of Charles II, Theatre Notebook, IX (1954), 20-21

Event Comment: The King's Company. This performance is on the L. C. list, 5@141, p. 116. See also Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 345. There is no certainty that this is the premiere, but the frequency of performance of The Tempest during September-October-November would make November 1674 a suitable time for a burlesque of this sort. A small quarto, The Songs & Masque in the New Tempest (in the Huntington Library, 122925), without a title page, contains what are apparently the songs and concluding masque of the play. It may have been issued during the run of the play and sold at the theatre. It does not name any performers. Langbaine (English Dramatick Poets, p. 177): This Play was to draw the Town from the Duke's Theatre, who for a considerable time had frequented that admirable reviv'd Comedy call'd The Tempest

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. The Loyal Protestant, 20 May 1682: May 18. Yesterday his Excellency the Morocco Embassador was entertain'd at His Royal Highness's Theatre with a Play, called, Sir Timothy Treat all. [See also True Protestant Mercury, 17-20 May 1682; Luttrell, A Brief Relation, I, 187; Wilson, More Theatre Notes from the Newdigate Newsletters," p. 59.

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. True Protestant Mercury, 17-20 May 1682: On Thursday the Ambassador from the King of Bantam was entertained with a play called the Libertine Destroyed at the Duke's Theatre. [See also Luttrell, A Brief Relation, I, 187, and Wilson, More Theatre Notes from the Newdigate Newsletters, p. 59