Event Comment: In II The Grand Triumphal Entry of Alexander into Babylonv. In IV a Grand Banquetv. [Macartney was from the Theatre Royal, Dublin.] Receipts: #222 18s. (218.2; 4.16)

Event Comment: [Extra night] By Grant from the Proprietors, a Free Night; Benefit for Lacy, formerly of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. [Address by John Taylor (Poems, I, 68).] Receipts: #97 3s. (53.15.6; 40.16.6; 1.10.0; odd money: 1.1.0; tickets: none listed) (charge: free)

Event Comment: His Royal Highness the Duke present. Mainpiece: By Terence. Afterpiece: Imitated from the Phormio by Moliere, and translated into English by Mr Otway, with some Alterations; acted by the younger King's Scholars

Event Comment: By Command of his Royal Highness the Duke, and her Royal Highness the Princess Caroline

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By particular desire. [Afterpiece call'd Merlin in the Treasurer's Account Book, but listed as Royal Chace; or, Harlequin Skeleton in the General Advertiser.] Receipts: #58 10s. 6d

Event Comment: Miss Younge being ill Mrs Lessingham was borrow'd from Covent Garden to play Imogen (Hopkins Diary). Benefit for Dibdin. Paid extra bassoons & flute 3 nights in Christmas Tale (7th March incl.) #7 4s.; Tallow chandler's 7th Bill #20 13s. Heroine of the Cave Music Bill #2 3s. 9d.; Ditto Prompter's Bill #1 5s.; Housekeeper's Bill #3 6s. 5d. Properties #1 2s. 8d.; St George's Hospital subs. 1 year #10 10s.; Mr J. French's draft #23 19s. 9d.; Mr Everard's Note to Egerton #5 3s. 4d.; Chorus 2 nights (this incl.) #3 11s. (Treasurer's Book). The Comedy of Twelfth Night, which was to have been performed this Evening, is oblig'd to be changed, on account of the Indisposition of Miss Younge; Therefore Mr Dibdin humbly hopes that his friends will accept of Cymbeline in its stead. Tickets deliver'd for Twelfth Night will be taken. Receipts: #184 9s. Charges #68 15s. 6d. Profit to Dibdin: #115 14s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Johnstone. 2nd piece [1st time; M. INT 1]. 3rd piece [1st time; F 2, by Walley Chamberlain Oulton. In it the playbill assigns Jack Hopeful to Fawcett, but text (George Cawthorn, 1798) has note: The part of Jack Hopeful, intended for Mr Fawcett, was, on account of that gentleman's severe indisposition, obligingly read by Mr Knight, who afterwards performed it (see 17 May)]. Times, 20 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Johnstone, No. 19, Piazza, Covent-garden. Receipts: #440 13s. (192.13.0; 4.0.6; tickets: 243.19.6)

Event Comment: Written by Shakespear. Play to begin at 6 o'clock. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Mr Hobson at the Stage-Door of the Theatre. As the Admittance of Persons behind the Scenes has occasioned a general Complaint on Account of the frequent Interruptions in the Performance, tis hop'd Gentlemen won't be offended, that no Money will be taken there for the future. [This notice appears on succeeding bills for the season and will hence not be repeated. See note on public objection to nonadmittance behind scenes 22 Feb. 1748.] Receipts: #150 (Cross); #I26 12s. (Clay MS). Nichols Literary Anecdotes, II, 319-20: There is one part of theatrical conduct which ought unquestionably to be recorded to Mr Garrick's honour, since the cause of virtue and morality and the formation of public manners are very considerably dependent upon it, and that is the zeal with which he ever aimed to banish from the stage all those plays which carry with them an immoral tendency, and to prune from those which do not absolutely on the whole promote the interests of vice such scenes of licentiousness and libertinism as a redundency of wit and too great liveliness of imagination have induced some of our comic writers to indulge themselves in, and to which the sympathetic disposition of an age of gallantry and intrigue had given a sanction. The purity of the English stage was certainly much more fully establish'd during the administration of this theatrical minister than it had ever been during preceding managements; for, what the publick taste had itself to some measure begun, he, by keeping that taste within its proper channel, and feeding it with a pure and untainted stream, seems to have completed; and to have endeavoured as much as possible to adhere to the promise made in the prologue which was spoken at the first opening of that theatre under his direction, @Bade scenic virtue form the rising age@And truth diffuse her radiance from the stage.

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill assigns Ferdinand to Johnstone, but "The sudden illness of Johnstone gave much dissatisfaction, though Cubitt did all in his power to supply his place" (Town and Country Magazine, Sept. 1785, p. 451). William Palmer was from the Norwich theatre; Meadows from the HAY.] The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30 [see 14 Nov.]. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Brandon, at the Stage-Door. [No playbill this season lists the various prices of admission; they were probably, as usual: Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s.] The Alterations and Improvements in the Theatre this Season are made by Richards, and executed under his Superintendance by Catton and others. [Public Advertiser, 22 Sept., notes that these improvements consisted of the enlargement of the boxes, in which "the seats are formed into recesses which communicate with the other boxes"; all the pillars, "even those of iron in the back boxes [being] capped, cased, fluted and gilt"; the front of the boxes and galleries being newly painted a "warm lilac"; the back of the boxes being wainscotted and painted crimson.] Paid Charewomen for cleaning Theatre #13 0s. 6d. Receipts: #214 2s. 6d. (210/10/0; 3/12/6)

Event Comment: Gentlemen are particularly entreated to observe that in consequence of the displeasure expressed by the Subscribers, as well as the Public, at the frequent interruption of the business of the Representation, by the pressure of people on the Stage, the Company will hereafter be admitted behind the Scenes, before and after the Opera, and during the intervals between the Opera and Ballets only; but while the Curtain is up, Gentlemen are earnestly entreated to withdraw from the Stage; otherwise the request of the Nobility and Gentry, in conformity also to the public opinion, of shutting entirely the doors between the audience part of the Theatre and the Stage, must at last be compiled with. Those persons entitled to Admissions previous to the year 1789, who may not have an opportunity of sending their Securities to be registered before the opening of the Theatre, are requested to produce them at the Door, as they pass. The Public are entreated to observe that Ladies dressed in Bonnets, and Gentlemen in Boots, cannot be admitted into the Pit of the Opera. Pit 10s. 6d. Gallery 5s. No Money to be returned. The Doors to be opened at 6:30. To begin at 7:30 [same throughout opera season]. The Nobility are entreated to give direction to their Servants to set down and take up at the Theatre with the Horse's head toward Pall Mall. On account of the abuses practised in the names of the Subscribers, it is become necessary to require the production of the Subscription Ticket at the Doors and the Boxes. At the Chair-door in Market-Lane, Subscribers only will be admitted. "Braham sustained his part so well that we trust he will give us an example that shall induce us to chace from an English stage the degrading and distusting form of a Castrato" (Morning Chronicle, 28 Nov.). [The playbill omits Rovedino, but his performance is reviewed in True Briton, 28 Nov. The only other male part in the opera is that of Sandro. And see 14 Feb. 1797.

Event Comment: Benefit D'Urfey. By His Royal Highness's Command

Event Comment: By Command of his Royal Highness the Duke, and their Highnesses the Princesses Caroline, Mary, and Louisa. Mainpiece: Written by the late Mr Congreve. [The Duke, Princesses Caroline, Mary, and Louisa present.]

Event Comment: By Their Majesties' Command. [Their Majesties and the rest of the Royal Family present.]

Event Comment: Benefit for Leoni. [Master Braham's 1st appearance was at this theatre on 21 Apr. 1787 (also on the night of Leoni's benefit), when he sang two songs.] Public Advertiser, 17 May: Tickets to be had of Leoni, No. 1, Well Close-square. Receipts: #123 17s. 6d. (89.14.6; 3.13.0; tickets: 30.10.0)

Event Comment: No Money to be returned. Books of the Performance to be had at the Theatre. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Fosbrook, at the Theatre. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. 2nd Gallery 1s. The Doors to be opened a 5:30. To begin at 6:30 [same throughout oratorio season]. [Master Clement was from the Imperial Opera House, Vienna.