Event Comment: LLondon Post: We hear that the French Players will (barring Accidents) open at the Little theatre in the Haymarket next Saturday. 'Tis added that the Italian Company of Comic Strolers will exhibit the Week after next; but as they have lost three of their ablest performers, the Connoisseurs are in great Pain about those who are to supply their Places. Possibly some Foreigners may think, that the worst Dramatic Offals are good enough for the vitiated Palates of the E-sh No-y and Gen-ry. 'Tis further expected, that the Company of Gallo-English Players, who made the Town laugh so heartily last Winter, are preparing to entertain them this. Why all these unnatural Fooleries?...and for what Y-ke are we preparing? [Schedule of Nights on which the Turkish Dancer Caratha rented the Haymarket in the fall of 1749: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 13, 16, 22, 23, November; 3 December. See Winston MS Calendar of the Haymarket, Harvard Theatre Collection.

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Hoper. The Second Night. Mrs Hoper's Prologue to the Town, By a Friend: @Tonight a Female author heads the stage@Warm'd by the grand productions of the age;@To shine among the modern Bards aspires,@As the Moon glisters midst the lesser fires:@Pants to be rank'd with Sapho, Phillips, Behn@And prove that women write as well as Men.@Bold in the drama's cause, attacks the fashion@Where Novelty appears the reigning passion,@With drooping spirits draws the Tragic Queen@Like your fine ladies troubled with the spleen:@Nor trusts her meaning to the strolling Elf@But represents the character herself.@ [Suggests her friends reproved her for turning player, but she thought it more honorable than going into debt.] @The Stage is innocent and brings no shame@Unless the players are themselves to blame@'Twas meant as Virtue's School;--Tis no disgrace@To act a virtuous part, in any Place.@ [Closes with appeal to audience to be charitable to "this firstling of her quill, to support her generously with applause. See Daily Advertiser.

Event Comment: By Desire. It was talk'd about Town Mr Garrick wou'd be call'd upon this Night, to answer to some things concerning Monday last, but no such thing happen'd (Cross). Receipts: #180 (Cross); #164 6s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: BBarry's Occasional Prologue printed in the General Advertiser.@ When Vice or Folly over-runs a State@Weak Politicians lay the blame on Fate.@When Rulers useful subjects cease to prize,@'And damn for arts that caus'd themselves to rise:'@When jealousies and fears possess the throne,@And kings allow no merit--but their own,@Can it be strange that men for flight prepare,@And strive to raise a Colony elsewhere?@This custom has prevail'd in every Age,@And has been sometime practis'd on the Stage.@ For--Entre Nous--these Managers of Merit,@Who fearless arm,--"and take the Field with Spirit,"@Have curb'd as Monarchs with their haughty Mien,@And Herod--have out Heroded--within (Pointing to the Green Room)@O! they can torture twenty-thousand ways:@Make bouncing Bajazet retreat from Bayes.@The Ladies too with every power to charm@Whose face and fire an anchorite might warm@Have felt the fury of the Tyrant's arm.@By selfish arts expell'd our ancient Seat,@In search of Candour--and in search of Meat,@We, from your favour, hope for this retreat.@If Shakespear's passion, or if Johnson's art@Can fire the Fancy, or can warm the heart,@That task be ours;--But if you damn their scenes@And heroes must give way to Harlequins,@We too, can have recourse to mime and dance,@Nay, there I think, we have the better chance,@And should the Town grow weary of the Mute,@Why--we'll produce a Child upon the flute.@But be the food as 'twill, 'tis you that treat!@Long have they feasted--permit us now to eat!

Event Comment: Benefit for ye Author (no more Noise) (Cross). Tickets as of 5 Feb. Tickets deliver'd out for the third and sixth Nights will be taken. Receipts: #140 (Cross). Gentleman's Magazine, Feb. 1751, pp. 77-78, concerning Gil Blas: To animadvert upon a piece which is almost universally condemned is unneccessary, and to defend this is impossible. There is not one elegant expression or moral sentiment in the dialogue; nor indeed one character in the drama, from which either could be expected. It is however, to be wished that the Town, which opposed this play with so much zeal, would exclude from the theatre every other in which there is not more merit; for partiality and prejudice will be suspected in the treatment of new plays, while such pieces as the London Cuckolds, and the City Wives Confederacy, are suffered to waste time and debauch the morals of society....Upon the whole the Author appears to have intended rather entertainment than instruction, and to have disgusted the Pit by adapting his comedy to the taste of the Galleries....Perhaps the ill success of this comedy is chiefly the effect of the author's having so widely mistaken the character of Gil Blas whom he has degraded from a man of sense, discernment, true humor, and great knowledge of mankind...to an impertinent silly, conceited coxcomb, a mere Lying Valet, with all the affectation of a Fop, and all the insolence of a coward. [Thomas Gray wrote to Horace Walpole 3 March 1751, "Gil Blas is the Lying Valet in five acts. The fine lady has half-a-dozen good lines dispersed in it."

Event Comment: Benefit for ye Author, tho' not put so in the Bills (Cross). To the Publick: As Mr Arne originally composed the Music in the Masque of Alfred, and the town may probably on that account imagine the Music, as now perform'd, to he all his production, he is advised by his friends to inform the publick that but two of his songs are in that performance, viz.: the first song beginning O Peace thou fairest child of Heaven; and the Ode in Honour of Great Britain, beginning, When Britain first at Heaven's Command, with the chorus, Rule Britannia, Rule the Waves, &c. which songs he submitted to be mix'd with the productions of others, to oblige the author of the poem. Tho. Aug. Arne (General Advertiser)

Event Comment: The Play of Othello, which was performed last night at Drury Lane theatre, by some gentlemen and ladies to the most numerous and polite Audience that could be assembled, went off throughout with great approbation and applause (General Advertiser). [See A Satirical Dialogue between a Sea Captain and his friend in Town: Humble submitted to the Gentlemen who deformed the Play of Othello on Th-rs-y M- the 7th....To which is added a Prologue and Epilogue much more suitable to the occasion than their own. (London [n.d.], BM 11,795, K 31, 8pp): @'Good manners oblig'd them sometimes to applaud@Tho' they little deserv'd it...'@ The author laments the fact that the expenditure (#1,500) was not put out to charitable purposes, rather than for such entertainment.] This day is publish'd at 1s. 6d., beautifully printed, Alfred, a Masque, acting at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, by Mr Mallet. Printed for A. Miller, opposite Catherine St in the Strand, where may be had Alfred, a Masque, represented before their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales at Cliefden, on the first of August 1740. Written by Mr Thomson and Mr Mallet

Event Comment: Benefit for Berry. Tickets at Popes Perke maker Russell St., and at the Stage Door. Tickets deliver'd out for 26 March will be taken. At Punch's Theatre in James St., near the Haymarket, this, and every Evening this week, the Town will be entertained with Yeates's inimitable dexterity of Hand; likewise by Mr Punch's Company of performers will be exhibited the play of Jane Shore. To conclude with a New Grand Machine, representing the Temple of the Sunv, at Mexico, in North America, which has given universal satisfaction to the Nobility and Gentry (General Advertiser). Receipts: #212 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for a Tradesman under Confinement. [This benefit had first been advertised on Monday 11 Nov. Tickets were to be had at seven Coffee Houses, at Mr Watkins' Optician, at Charing Cross, Mrs Crokett's, Harberdasher at the Seven Stars, Ludgate St., and at the stage door. On the day of the benefit one Philantropos contributed a letter in support of it which was printed in the first column of the General Advertiser. The Tradesman was a bookseller who was "the immediate instrument of ushering into the world some of the most valuable books that have been publish'd for these 30 years." But he had paid more attention to the advancement of letters than "to the lucrative views that attend the trade in general," so, in the eyes of Philantropos deserved the support of the town at this benefit.] The death of Mr Cooke mentioned in the Papers is a mistake, he being in a fair way of recovery (General Advertiser)

Event Comment: Benefit for Hallam at the New Wells, Lemon St. A Concert...by a set of Mr Hallam's Friends. Boxes 3s. Pit and Galleries 2s. 6 p.m. As the Wells have been shut up all the past Summer, and are now open'd only upon this occasion, Mr Hallam hopes the Town will be so indulgent, as to honour him with their Company, and the Favour will always be gratefully acknowledged

Event Comment: During the short time of Bartholomew Fair, which begins this Day, Mrs Midnight from the Haymarket, will entertain the Town with her Jubilee Concert, after the Venetian Manner at the Large Room, Swan Yard, West Smithfield. Mrs Midnight humbly entreats the Nobility and Gentry not to encore any of her Performers on account of the Shortness of the Fair. The Room to be illuminated with Wax Lights. A Flag will be hoisted, during the Fair, over the Passage leading to my Room. To begin each Day at 12 Noon. Prices 3s., 2s., 1s. Mrs Midnight Entertains, gratis, with La Je Ne Sca Quoi

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: JJuliet is now the talk of ye Town, & tho' there are critics, in general meets with approbation (Cross)

Event Comment: At Phillips's Great Theatrical Booth, Bowling Green. To begin each day at 12 Noon. Boxes 2s. 6d. Pit 1s. 6d. Gallery 1s. Upper Gallery 6d. During the time of the Fair the Town will be entertain'd with an excellent droll, The Distress'd Merchant...Mr Phillips has been at great Expense in getting proper Machinery, Habits, and Decorations

Event Comment: [MMrs Midnight will entertain the Town with her Grand Carnival Concert. After the Concert, gratis, will be given...at Bence's Booth, upper end of Bowling Green. The Afterpiece: a Pantomime Burletta by the Company of Lilliputians. To begin at 12 Noon each day. To prevent mistaking the Booth, Mrs Midnight has thought proper to hoist English Colours. [Bill repeated each day.

Event Comment: At Cleopatra's Cataract between the several acts of her concert, will be pour'd upon the Town a cataract of Originals and Amazing Geniusses, brought by that antient Soverign from Anamamboo, Upper Egypt, and the renown'd Kingdom of Abyssinia. These being an entire new set of performers will exhibit that evening in a new manner sever strange and surprising Feats of an Egyptian Broomstick, the Ghosts, Witches, Imps, modern Saints, Ballad Singer, Conjuror, and Elizabeth Canning. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. To begin at 6 p.m. [A cryptic "puff" in the Daily Advertiser suggests that Mrs Midnight has abdicated in favour of Cleopatra, who will now take over the Haymarket.

Event Comment: This night (Sat. 27th) Mr Vernon, was hiss'd off: in the part of Palemon in ye Chaplet-the anger of the Audience proceeded from this-towards the end of last Season he married Miss Potier at the Savoy, without friends consent, & afterwards was drawn in to inform against Mr Grieston, the Parson, who was immediately seiz'd & thrown into Newgate; where he was remov'd to ye King's bench on account of his Sickness. where he now lies for his Tryal. He publish'd his Case, & beg'd the Charity of the Town to keep his Family from starving (Cross). Receipts: #140 (Cross)

Event Comment: Mon: 29 Sept. Mr Rich open'd wth ye Nonjuror. Mr Smith not coming to town, Mr Palmer, from Drury Lane, play'd Frankly wth great Applause (Cross). Jno. Rich paid to Charlotte Lane for the Theatre for Mr Sparks in Dr Wolfe for a superfine full trim'd black cloth coat and breeches, 14s. Sewing silk & twist 4s. 6d. Buckram stays 2s. 6d. Frilly sleeve lining, pockets, & interlining Cuffs 2s. 6d. Hair Cloth, wadding & Poll Davy 5s. Dimety lining, leather pockets, & silk garters 6s. 6d. 4 doz 2 Coat Death's Head Buttons at 14d.-4s. 11d. 12 breast ditto at 7d.-7s. 7d. 5 yds fine black shaloon at 2s. 2d.-10s. 10d. Making a Camblet Surtout Coat, 7s. 6d. Sewing silk, twist, buckram & stays, 4s. Velvet to line the collar, 1s. 17 Coat, 1 breast black basket buttons, 1s. 8d. (MS list Folger Library, Davies, Life of Garrick, Extra Illustrated, II, 322)

Event Comment: [For the King (Cross). With New Music, Scenes, Machines, Habits, and other Decorations. Compos'd by Mr Noverre. All our Dancers appear. A good deal of hissing & Clapping & some Cries of No french Dancers; a great clapping too-the Dance is fine-(Mr Delaistre is a good Dancer) (Cross). [See for details of preparation, importation of dancers, especially of M Delaistre, The Chevalier Noverre, Father of Modern Ballet, Deryck Lynham (London, 1950), pp. 26-40. See also advertisement in Public Advertiser: 'Mr Noverre, whose entertainments of Dancing have been celebrated in almost all the courts of Europe, exhibits this evening his Chinese Festival at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, in pursuance of a contract made above a year ago with the managers of the said theatre: The Insinuation that at this time, an extraordinary number of French dancers are engaged, is groundless, there being at Drury Lane at present as few of that nation, as any other theatre now has, or perhaps ever had. Mr Noverre and his brothers are Swiss, of a protestant family in the Canton of Berne, his wife and her sisters Germans; there are above sixty performers concerned in the entertainment; more than forty of which are English, assisted only be a few French (five men and four women) to complete the Ballet as usual. As the intention of the Managers on this occasion is to give Variety to Entertainments of the town, it is not doubted it will meet with public approbation.'] Receipts: #210 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Cibber. To begin at 6:30 p.m. Pursuant to Act of Parliament. At the Desire of several Persons of Quality for the Benefit of Mr Cibber At the New Theatre in the Haymarket, on Wednesday next, the 14th instant, will be perform'd a Concert of Musick, the Particulars whereof will be express'd in the Bills of the Day. After which (by partiuclar Desire) will be given a Dissertation in two Parts on Patentees, on Theatres, on Acting, Publick Diversions, and address'd to the Town, by Mr Cibber (Daily Advertiser, 8 & 10 Jan.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by Shakespear. Miss Pritchard did Juliet for the First time of her Acting & Met with uncommon Applause, tho' so frightened the first Act, we Scarce cou'd hear her (Cross). Miss Pritchard's was a most remarkable first appearance--the Particularity of the public for her mother--Garrick's patronage and tuition, her own beautiful face, which was fascinating to a degree, had all great attraction. Mrs Pritchard, as Lady Capulet, leading in her daughter as Juliet, the distress of the young lady, the good wishes and tenderness of the town, all combined made an affecting scene--but that partiality dwindled away in the early part of the season (Genest, IV, 474, from Tate Wilkinson). Receipts: #226 (Cross)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A pantomime. Boxes 2s. 6d. Pit or Gallery 1s. 6d. Benefit for W. Hallam. As I am refused the use of my own House, I hope the Town will indulge me with their Company at this. Sadler's Wells, Islington. Those who chuse Wine of Shrub may have it at 2s. a bottle

Event Comment: Benefit for Lowe. [See following "puff" from the Public Advertiser. "Sir: Perhaps there never was a period when the members of the stage were more respected than at present; and this favour consequently proceeds from the decency of their behaviour, and an emulative pride to please that public, whose generosity is an ample reward for their assiduity and perseverance; and when we consider the many qualifications, as well natural as acquired, requisite to constitute a player, surely the most rigid judge will be of opinion that the encouragement is not more than equal to the excellence. An actor must feel, that is, have the most refined idea of his part, to make an audience feel likewise; and adequate to the pleasures he enjoys in the applause of his approvers, will rise his degree of unhappiness, if by accident or sickness he is obstructed in the execution of his Genius; and should this happen at the era of his benefit, it must then be his misfortune to supplicate that interest which otherwise his merit would have commanded. "I was led to these reflections by accidentally perusing an advertisement prefix'd to a bill for the benefit of Mr Lowe; a performer too well known to need encomiums here; from whom the Town receive no inconsiderable Satisfaction at the theatre, and whose harmonious performance at our deservedly frequented summer scene of pleasure, has long obtained their highest approbation. We are told that a severe cold and Hoarseness have hindered his performing for some weeks past, and that he is now incapable of going abroad." Follows an elaborate plea for Lowe's friends to excuse his not calling on them, and for them to support his Benefit Night. Signed Veritas.