Event Comment: [By Samuel Madden.] Receipts: #114 2s. 6d. Probable attendance: boxes, 146 paid and 16 orders; stage, 2 paid; pit, 287 paid and 1 order; slips, 62 paid; first gallery, 209 paid and 3 orders; second gallery, 170 paid. Preface to 1729 edition: Yet, with all its Faults, I did not think this Piece deserv'd so severe Treatment, as to be peremptorily refused, after the most earnest and early Sollicitations, at the Old House for two Winters together; which however, I have the less Reason to complain of, since Mr Rich's great Civility, and the agreeable Action of most of his Company, have prevailed on all the unprejudiced Part of the Town, to have every Day a better Opinion of this Piece

Event Comment: FFlying Post, 1 March: On Thursday Night last, the Village Opera was play'd the Fifth Time, but met with a most unaccountable Reception; however, tis presumed not from any Pique against the Author, but the Resentment of the town upon some later Proceedings. No sooner did poor Colin appear upon the Stage, but his Arrival was usher'd in with a Serenade of Cat Calls, Penny-Trumpets, Clubs, Canes, Hoarse Voices, whistling in Keys, Hells, Fists; and Vollies of whole Oranges; however, the Players went on with uncommon intrepidity, and like the truly great Men, seem'd greater by opposition. The Audience call'd out for any other Play, Farce or Entertainment, but the Peasants seem'd too intent upon what they were about, to give Ear to them. This so exasperated the Spectators, that they mustered up all the Artillery they could possibly lay hold and made such an Uproar, during the whole intended Entertainment, that it was scarce possible to hear a word the Actors said. As every Player came upon the Stage, they call'd upon him by his real, not fictitious Name, and Swore not a Man of them would come to his Benefit. When Mrs T@@@ appeared, they call'd out for a Quartern of Gin, to chear up her Spirits. The Word Constable being first mentioned in the Gallery, it ran round the House like Wild-fire; and immediately the general Cry was, No Constable, no Constable. At the Conclusion of the Play, a Fellow came upon the Stage, to put out the Lights with his long Pole, but a Gentleman broke it in two, and another taking a Candle from one of the Sockets of the Sconces, his Example was immediately followed by several others, who soon clear'd them of their Lights; when a new kind of Shower compos'd of Candles fell think as Hail on the Stage

Event Comment: FFog's, 19 July: We hear that Mr Miller having left performing as usual, at Windmill Hill, Mr Spencer intends to Entertain the Town with an antient Catalogue of Plays, which will begin on Monday next

Event Comment: At the particular Desire of several Persons of Quality from the other End of the Town

Event Comment: [T$The Prince of Wales present.] Daily Journal, 29 Jan.: The Tragedy of Timoleon has been received with very great Applause by the Town, notwithstanding the Endeavours of a certain Person (who can give a Preference to none but his own Performances) to depreciate it

Event Comment: At the particular Desire of several Persons of Quality. Daily Journal, 21 Nov.: It is generally reported about Town, that Interest is making for a new Patent relating to the Goverment of...Drury-lane, exclusive of Mr Booth; but this wants Confirmation: Mr Booth, by all Reports, is much advanced in his Recovery

Event Comment: Third piece: an entire New Act [introduced into Tom Thumb, By T. Cooke]. Daily Journal, 30 Nov.: Whereas it hath been advertised, that an entire New Act, called, The Battle of the Poets, is introduced into the Tragedy of Tom Thumb; This is to assure the Town, that I have never seen this additional Act, nor in any ways concerned therein. Henry Fielding

Event Comment: The Article in the Daily Advertiser of Wednesday last, which mentions Mr Odell's intending to decline concerning himself any longer with the management of Goodman's-fields Playhouse, is a false and scandalous Libel

Event Comment: There being a great Demand for the Welch Opera, we are obliged to advertise the Town, that it being now made into a whole Night's Entertainment, intituled, The Grub-Street Opera, now in Rehearsal, it cannot possibly be performed any longer with this Play

Event Comment: DDaily Post, 5 June: We were partly misinform'd as to the Reception of the two Pieces play'd on Thursday Night...We are assured the Comedy call'd The Old Debauchees, did meet with universal Applause; but The Covent Garden Tragedy will be Acted no more, both the Author and the Actors being unwilling to continue any Piece contrary to the Opinion of the Town

Event Comment: We hear that the Lodgings at Hampstead are filling every Day; and that a Company of Comedians from London are repairing and beautifying the Playhouse near the Wells, to entertain that Town with a Set of good Plays, Singing, Dancing, and other Theatrical Performances, all the Summer, and have provided a good Band of Musick, and intend to perform...Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.-Daily Post, 6 June

Event Comment: The new Oratorio. [Music by William DeFesch. Text by William Huggins.] The printed Books of the Opera may be had at the Theatre only, price 1s. The Composer humbly hopes the Disappointment the Town met with by its being postpon'd, will be in no means inputed to him, it being occasioned by such an Accident as any one might unfortunately fall under, that of the Misconduct and pretended Sickness of Cecilia Young, who had ingaged for the Part of Judith. Pit and Boxes 5s. Gallery 2s. 6d. Upper Gallery 1s. 6d

Event Comment: A New Tragedy. [By Lewis Theobald.] Preface, edition of 1735: But such was its Fate then, that, appearing in a Season when the Weather was warm, and the Town in a political Ferment, it was prais'd and forsaken. Receipts: #47 6s

Event Comment: At the Desire of several Persons of Distinction. Written by Shakespear. Daily Post, 17 Oct.: We hear some Passages in . . . The Livery-Rake ... not being approved by the Audience, the Company ... will not perform it again till proper Alterations are made by the Author; they being desirous to avoid forcing any Entertainment on the Town

Event Comment: At the particular Desire of several Persons of Distinction. Mainpiece: Alter'd from Shakespear by the late Mr Betterton. [For essays on the stage, see Universal Spectator, 8 Dec, and Weekly Miscellany, 8 Dec]

Event Comment: A new Comedy. [By William Popple.] All the Characters new drest. Preface to edition of 1734: A Report having been maliciously raised, and industriously spread all over the Town, that the Play was a Party Play, and supported by the Court, and therefore to be opposed, Numbers of Persons came into the House with an Intent ... to damn it at all Events. . . . However, the Play having had a fair Hearing, went off with infinitely more Applause than Blame

Event Comment: Mainpiece: In it The Pleasures of the Town. With great Additions. Afterpiece: a new Farce of two Acts. [By Henry Fielding.]

Event Comment: Benefit Author of Chrononhotonthologos. Note, the Author gives out no Tickets (a few Boxes excepted) depending intirely upon the Courtesy of the Town. Egmont, Diary, II, 40: After dinner I went to the Haymarket playhouse, where among other representations I saw the strong man show one of his feats. Two chairs were placed on the stage at such a distance as that laying himself along, his head and a small part of his shoulders rested on one, and his feet on the other, so that his body and legs were suspended in the air. Then six grown men (two of whom I observed to be remarkably tall) go up, and stood perpendicular upon his body, two on his chest, two on his body, and two on his legs. He bore them all a quarter of a minute, and bending his body downward till it almost touched the ground between the chairs, with a surprising spring and force raised his body with all that weight upon it, not only level as he lay at first, but higher in the air. The mob of the gallery not satisfied with this, hissed, whereupon he refused to show any other of his tricks

Event Comment: Daily Advertiser, 29 April: [See 22 April] They are this Evening to Act the Fatal Extravagance, and the Devil to Pay, as may be seen by their Bills, which I observe they have printed on blue Paper, on purpose to be more conspicuous. I am well assur'd if the curious Part of the Town were once to see them perform, they would need no other Invitation to frequent their House, but to be advertis'd of the Plays, and Days, on which they were to Act

Event Comment: Daily Advertiser, 20 May: A mad Company of Comedians having lately taken the Hay-market Theatre, propose to convert it into a Mad-house, and humbly hope the Town will be as mad as themselves, and come frequently to see their mad Performances. which will be madly exhibited, two or three Times a Week, during the Summer Season

Event Comment: Benefit the Servants. N.B. As the Summer Season has prov'd very unsuccessful, the Servants humbly hope that in Consideration of it the Town will favour them this Night

Event Comment: As this Entertainment has been frequently perform'd at another Theatre [CG] (but notwithstanding has been equally Expensive as if entirely New) to oblige the Town, it will, for the future, be perform'd At Common Prices