Event Comment: HHopkins Diary: This morning a printed paper was handed about requesting the lovers of theatrical Performances to meet this evening at the theatre to insist upon the doors not being opened till five o'clock.--As soon as the curtain was up, they called for Mr Garrick, and would not suffer the play to begin. Mr King went on and told the audience, "that he was desired by the managers to tell them the doors for the future should not be opened till Five," A great Clap,--He added, "that the managers was always willing to oblige the publick in everything that was in their power; but they thought that on very full nights it would be attended with some inconvenience." They would not hear of any alteration,--he then told them, "the doors should always for the future be opened at five, unless the public applyed to have it altered." All then was quiet and the play began. Mr Weston, whose name was in the Bills for Jerry, was taken suddenly ill, and Mr W. Palmer went on for it without an apology.--called out, "Mr Holland, what is the reason we have not Mr Weston according to your publication in the Bills?" They then were told he was taken suddenly ill--"then pray make an apology for him" they said.--Another gentleman called out "Don't answer him, Mr Holland, you do him too much honor by deigning to answer him."--then all was quiet, and the play went on

Event Comment: Paid Three days Salary at #80 12s. 3d. per diem--#241 16s. 9d. Paid Mrs W. Barry (half salary) 17s. 6d. [Mr Carver (presumably Robert Carver the scene painter) received, according to the treasurer's book, one pound daily throughout the season. This payment is listed separately each Saturday, and will not be mentioned hereafter.] Paid Lampmen #2; Bill-stickers #3 12s.; Handbills 8s.; Candlemen #1 8s.; Carpenters #7 5s. 2d.; Taylors #16 11s. 10d.; Mantua Maker #3 12s.; Stevens (Porter) 18s.; Supers & Kettle Drum #3 4s. (Treasurer's Book). [As these were constant weekly items in the Treasurer's Book their averages and season totals will be given in the following table, after which no further itemization will be made.] Receipts: #197 9s. (Treasurer's Book). Item Weekly Average Season Total@Lampmen #3 4s. #115 4s.@Bill Stickers #2 14s. #97 4s.@Handbills 12s. #21 12s.@ Candlemen #8 #288@ Carpenters #5 #180@ Tailor #6 #216@Mantua Maker #2 #72@ Stevens (porter) 18s. #32 8s.

Event Comment: Bills for Every Man in his Humour were posted to day--but Mr G. being taken very ill the Play was oblig'd to be chang'd & fresh Bills put up about Twelve o'clock (Hopkins Diary). [Also, according to Winston MS 10 the afterpiece was to have been Miss in Her Teens. See 8 Nov.] Paid Tallow Chandler's 1st bill #63 8s. 4d.; Mr Evans one year on Wardrobe Acct #10 10s.; half year Land and Window Tax for St Martin's to Michelmas last #46 8s. 7d.; Rec'd Stopages #12 17s. (Treasurer's Book). [Cast listed on playbill for afterpiece: Fribble (with song in character)-Dodd; Flash-$Palmer; Loveit-$J. Aickin; Puff-$Moody; Jasper-$Ackman; Tag-$Mrs Love; Miss Biddy-$Miss Pope.] Receipts: #165 7s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: [Mainpiece seems, according to the Public Advertiser, to have had in it entertainments of dancing.] Benefit for Westminster New Lying-In-Hospital near Westminster Bridge (playbill). Charges #86 18s. 6d. Profit to Hospital #19 10s. 6d., plus #79 7s. from tickets (Box 172; Pit 161; Gallery 122) (Account Book). Receipts: #106 9s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: [The scenes are of the Stockwell Witchcraftv, according to Theatrical Review, II, 103. See 31 Jan. and 8 Feb.] Paid Patrick (tinman) #33 4s.; Paid Tinsdale (haberdasher) #3 5s. (Account Book). Receipts: #236 15s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: [This New Comedy (by Mrs Elizabeth Griffith) seems not to have been performed this night, according to the author's Preface to her Edition of 1772. Shuter had been unattentive and absent from many rehearsals]: At length though late [in the season] a day was appointed for the representation, and on that morning Mr Shuter appeared at rehearsal, pretty much in the same state as before, and confessed himself incapable of performing his part, that night. Upon which the play was oblig'd to be further postponed, and handbills were sent about at noon, to advertise town of the disappointment....A further final day was afterwards determined on, but the audience being out of humour at their former disappointment, called Mr Shuter to account for it, on his first appearance; which threw him into such confusion, that he was not able to get the better of it, throughtout the whole performance...in the hurry of his spirits the actor not only forgot his part, the deficiency of which he endeavoured to supply with his own dialect, but also seemed to lose all idea of the character he was to perform; and made the Governor appear in a light which the author never intended: that of a mean, ridiculous buffoon. [Mrs Griffith concluded her preface by relating how her friends stood by the piece, but two or three in the gallery, when it was given out again objected and threw an apple at the chandeliers, which so perturbed the management that the play was withdrawn. She therefore published it by subscription, prefixing the names of about 440 subscribers, persons of the first quality, including James Boswell, Edmund Burke, Col. Burgoyne, the Duke of Devonshire, David Garrick, Mrs Montague, William Richardson, and a host of writers, players, and people of fashion. This list provides a pretty good roster of those who filled the boxes and part of the pit of both theatres at the time.] Paid Younger #2 2s. for the license for A Wife in the Right (Account Book). Receipts: #218 12s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Gardner and R. Smith. Mrs Gardner's Indisposition preventing her from performing this evening, she hopes she shall be excused by her friends. [She was to have played Catherine in Afterpiece according to advance notice of 4 May.] Charges #64 10s. Deficit to each benefiticiary #15 6s. 6d., cover'd by income from tickets: Gardner, #61 1s. (Box 118; Pit 101; Gallery 164); Smith, #64 19s. (Box 35; Pit 264; Gallery 166). Paid half year's Land Tax for the Theatre due Lady day last, #61 5s.; paid ditto for window lights, #6 10s. 6d.; Paid ditto for House in Bow Passage #2 3s. 9d. and for its window lights 15s. Receipts: #33 17s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: The Characters [of the mainpiece] New Dressed according to the habits of the times. [At foot of the bill first appears the customary notice: Places for the Boxes to be taken only of Mr Sarjant at the Stage Door. The Doors to be opened at 5 o'clock. To begin at 6 o'clock. Vivant Rex & Regina."] Paid Church & Militia tax for theatre #8 15s. and for House in Bow Passage 6s. 3d. (Account Book). Receipts: #232 14s. 6d

Event Comment: Paid Tallow Chandler's 4th Bill #41 6s. 5d.; Spermacetti Candles, #132 18s. Mr Tomlinson for Men's cloaths #11 11s.; Mr J. French on acct #20; Miss Hopkins, 15 nights (19th Dec. incl.) #3 15s. (Treasurer's Book). [The sixth edition of Wm. Law's Absolute Unlawfulness of Stage Representations was published this year (1st. edn. 1726) This day was published the Preliminary Number of the Westminster Magazine, which, monthly, included a section called The English Theatre, which observed generally on the state of the Stage, and commented specifically on new plays. Its view of the stage in general was not as sanguine as had been that of the writer for the Town and Country Magazine (1 April 1772). "We are of opinion, that the English Theatre is now in its decline. Whether it is that the stores of Dramatic Subjects or of Dramatic Genius are exhausted, is not immediately obvious; but there is a fault somewhere....We have seen the Morning star of Wit--the Noon too is past; we have now arriv'd at its evening...There is in Arts, as in Empires, a progress which leads to Refinement; and this refinement leads to Ruin." According to the writer the meridian glory of the English stage was during the reign of Queen Anne. Reviewer damns the Irish Widow, refuses to discuss the Gamesters (revived), damns the Rose and praises the Garrick alteration of Hamlet. This year also appeard Granny's Prediction, a 53-page pamphlet attack on Mrs Barry, condemning her on moral grounds (polygamy) and on aesthetic grounds, commenting on each of her characters. By a spiteful female relative Elizabeth Franchetti.] Receipts: #142 10s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Author's Night. Charges #64 10S. Profit to author #47 16s. (Account Book). [Yet according to note in Account Book for 11 March 1773 the managers gave Mr O'Hara the clear receipts of this night: #112 6s.] Receipts: #112 6s

Event Comment: Eleventh and Last time of performing Mainpiece this season. Afterpiece: By Particular Desire. Othello and The Irish Widow, to have been performed this evening for Mr Barry's Benefit, oblig'd to be deferr'd till further notice (playbill). Mr Barry being Ill his Benefit which was to have been this Night is oblig'd to be deferr'd (Hopkins Diary). [So, according to Hopkins, the profits went to the house.] Receipts: #171 19s. 6d. To the Public Advertiser: Sir, I spent an agreeable evening lately with a Country Friend at the Primitive Puppet Show, and was not displeased at the ridicule pointed at the dull, spiritless stuff, which composes modern Sentimental Comedy. I was entertained too with the manner in which some of the Actors were taken off; But I cannot think mimicry worthy to furnish an Evening Entertainment for a Polite British Audience, or suited to the happy ridicule and pointed wit of Aristophanes. The old Roman comedy, as it was called, was designed for nobler purposes: it was directed to improve the head and mend the heart. The keen manly satire of that Comedy was pointed at Upstart, Braggart, Vice, and to expose the dangerous unfeeling craft of innocent Villainy, or to use the words of Mr Pope--Brand the bold front of shameless, guilty man. Such was, and such ought to be, the salutary Direction of Wit, and Satire by exhibiting characters in their genuine colours, when the mask, which disguises and conceals them from the eyes of the Weak the Credulous, and the Ignorant, is drawn off. The words of Horace are--Detrabere et pellam, mitidus qua quisque per ora Cederet, introrsum turpis. Yours, Dramaticus. Poetry for the Public Advertiser. Epigram on the New Tragedy Alonzo. @No wonder that each female voice@Resounds Alonzo's praise;@A sure foundation of Applause,@The crafty Author lays.@ @Against the Virtue of his Wife@A Husband, if he's wise@According to the Gallant HOME,@Should not believe his eyes.

Event Comment: Benefit for Jones, Walker, Mrs Simson and Mrs Cross. Paid tallow chandler's 9th Bill #34 12s. 9d. (Treasurer's Book). [The pantomime charges of #10 10s. were deducted by order of the managers according to a marginal note in the Treasurer's Book, so actual charges were only #64 4s.] Receipts: #175 14s. 6d. Charges: #74 14s. Profits to Jones, Walker, Mrs Simson and Mrs Cross: #100 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: [The plays, according to the Account Book were alter'd to Love in a Village and The Commissary.] Receipts: #106 6s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Weston. Tickets delivered for 7 April taken. It is agreed this day between Mrs Abington and Mr Garrick that the former shall be engag'd to him and Mr Lacy, Patentees of the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, for three years from this date, or three acting seasons, at the sum of twelve pounds a week, with a Benefit, and sixty pounds for cloaths--the above agreement to be put into Articles according to the usual form. s@ Frances Abington, D. Garrick for himself and Mr Lacy (Folger Library, Garrickiana 962 MS [Cage, p. 154).] Receipts: #205 14s. 6d. Charges: #66 5s. Profits to Weston: #139 9s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: [Bad weather may have postponed this according to a note on the bill for 17 Aug.

Event Comment: A drunken man and a livery servant were both very troublesome in the first gallery [according to an account in the Morning Chronicle, 11 Dec., which continued]: It is a very great insult to respectable citizens and gentlemen of moderate fortunes, who from principles of economy choose to sit in the first gallery, that they admit too men in liveries. Their prices of admission have been raised within these thirty years, and every art practised for interest of the managers; and in these times, when every necessary and convenience of life is considerably enhanced, it is a matter of prudence in persons of the middle rank of life to prefer the gallery to the pit. But this is no reason why livery servants should be allowed to place themselves by the wives and daughters of private gentlemen and reputable tradesmen, to whom they often behave with great insolence and indecency. [It is desirable] to know why a constable does not make his appearance in the back row of the first, as well as the second, gallery, being frequently as much wanted in the one as the other (John Hampden Diary, p. 122)

Event Comment: [The opera seems not to have been acted, according to note 14 Dec. "The managers of the opera are extremely concerned for the Disappointment of the house last night by Sg Lovatini's illness. As soon as they were apprised of it they took every precaution by posting bills, etc. and sent word to as many subscribers as time would permit."

Event Comment: Opera, music by Sacchini &c. [not performed, according to Public Advertiser, 8 Nov., because of illness of two singers, one being Sga Sestini. A Letter by William Lee in The Public Advertiser (7 Nov.) notes that beginning in 1772 he had served refreshments in a room which served also as a passage to the boxes; alterations made to enclose the passage were made in 1773; Lee was charged #60 a year for the room (with the fire and light at his own expense). Then Elizabeth Smith, who had had charge of concessions died. In 1774 Lee was charged #160 plus #80 for coals and light. Hence Lee lost #130 and was saved only by a benefit by the graciousness of the Nobility and Gentry.

Event Comment: [Concerning the character Epicoene the Public Advertiser, 24 Jan.: 'The performance of this character by an actor rather than an actress, according to the original intention of the author was received with particular marks of Approbation, and the comedy will be repeated (for the fifth time) on Saturday."] Receipts: #134 6s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Reinhold. Tickets delivered for An Opera will be taken. Books of the Entertainment [i.e., afterpiece] to be had at the theatre. Afterpiece: A Musical Entertainment by D. J. Piguenit. 8vo 1774, played this one night only (Biographia Dramatica). [It had been played as a Burletta at Marybone Gardens according to the Westminster Magazine for April, and though some of its music was good, the Burletta writer had taken great liberty with his original.

Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. Afterpiece: A Comedy of two Acts never performed. Dr Thomas Francklin. [According to the Biographia Dramatica, "This is a poor performance, founded on Destouches' L'Amour Use, and met with no success; being nearly condemned, nothwithstanding the King and Royal family were present. Foote told his friends, that, when he lighted the King, to his chair, his Majesty asked who the piece was written by: 'It was written (says the wicked Wit) by one of your Majesty's Chaplains; but it is dull enough to have been written by a Bishop.)'"]