Event Comment: Mainpiece: A New Comedy [by Hugh Kelly, not printed] never performed. [It was performed but once. The Biographia Dramatica suggests failure was partly due to Woodward's misconception of the main character. The Westminster Magazine for Feb. damns the play, for developing two confusing and parallel plots, for the acting, and for the language.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Never performed before. New Scenes and Dresses. This Comedy is a first production of Mrs Cowley--It was receiv'd with very great Applause-Indeed the performers play'd very well and deserv'd it--the Prologue was written by the Author of the Play dull and Mr Gar. wrote a most Excellent Epilogue quite Local--which was received with uncommon Applause (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly. Mainpiece reviewed in the Westminster Magazine for Feb.: "As we have lately been much afflicted with the melancholy fate of theatrical authors, we have a pleasure more than common in the great sucess of this piece."] Receipts: #256 5s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: A few hisses at the End of the Farce (Hopkins Diary). [Public Advertiser: A correspondent, who was at Drury Lane Theatre Thursday evening, remarks that the Ridicule of the Head-Dresses in Mr Garrick's last Epilogue, and in his performance of Sir John Brute, has had its proper Effect; for the Ladies have lowered their Main Top-Gallant Sails from nine inches to twelve; so that they are not present above three quarters of a yard higher than they ought to be.] Paid salary list 4 days #416 4s. 4d.; Tallow chandler #35 9s. 9d.; Mr Parsons on note by order #25; Settre and Co., Mercers #9 6s. 10d. Receipts: #252 13s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: The Runaway published. Paid salary list #416 4s. 4d.; Thomson (smith) #4 14s. 6d.; Buzaglio (smith) #11 7s. 6d.; Jennings (glover) #10 4s. 6d.; Racket (taylor) #37 17s. 6d.; Mist (ironmonger) #18 19s.; Carter (scowerer) #12 16s. (Treasurer's Book). House (Hopkins Diary). Receipts: #248 1s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Bensley. Tickets deliver'd for The Siege of Damascus (for that night) will be taken. Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Paid 8 extra trumpets #3; Mr Cook's singing boys, 17 nights #25 10s. Receipts: #187 15s. 6d. Charges: #78 16s. 6d. Profits to Bensley: #99 19s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Lewis. Last Night of performing before the Holidays. [See first version of this afterpiece under title What We Must All Come To, 9 Jan. 1764. It was damned then but now met with success. A Comedy by Arthur Murphy. The reviewer for the Westminster Magazine for April stamped the afterpiece with his approval.

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: Benefit Mrs Newton and a lady who has not appeared upon the stage these seven years. By Permission

Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. Afterpiece: Not acted these 12 years

Event Comment: Prelude [1st time; PREL 1, by Arthur Murphy]. Mainpiece: Not acted these 3 years. Afterpiece: Not acted these 5 years [acted 21 Nov. 1772]. The Doors to be opened at 5:3O. To begin at 6:3O [see 11 Nov.]. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. 2nd Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Sarjant (only) at the Stage-door. No persons admitted behind the Scenes, nor any Money returned after the Curtain is drawn up. Receipts: #214 17s. 6d. (214.15.O; O.2.6.

Event Comment: Mr Baker made his first Appearance in Jerry Sneak--he is a tall, thin, awkward Figure, looked like a Pinmaker, is a very strong Copy of poor Weston, has some Requisites, may in Time be a tolerable Actor in low Comedy--pretty well received. [Note added by $J. P. Kemble: Mr Baker, I have heard, had at this Time just received an Inheritance of fifteen thousand Pounds, which he so quickly dissipated as to be reduced within five years after to the Condition of Coachman to a Bristol Diligence] (Hopkins Diary). Receipts: #181 2s

Event Comment: Benefit for Massey. Tickets to be had of Massey, the Bell and Dragon, near Princes stairs

Event Comment: Afterpiece: To conclude with a Grand Representation of a Regattav. [This was included in all subsequent performances.] Paid Supernumeraries #5 13s. 6d.; Billstickers #2 14s.; Music 1st week #25 7s. 6d.; Miss Younge's Cloathes #5. King being hoarse the Prelude [see 21 Sept.] was omitted--Miss Pope made her first Appearance these 2 years upon this stage in Miss Sterling--but coolly received (+Hopkins Diary). Receipts: #213 8s. 6d

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs West. Tickets to be had of West, at the Ship, near the Seven Houses, Rotherhithe. Mainpiece: In Act II the triumphal entry of Alexander into Babylonv; In Act IV the grand Banquet where Alexander kills his faithful soldier, old Clytus. [The playbill contains a lengthy synopsis of the plot of the mainpiece; it concludes by noting that "the many flowery passages with which this tragedy abounds does honour to the pen of its author, N. Lee, Esqr., and we may justly say with Mr Pope, 'Such plays alone shou'd please a British ear, as Cato's self had not disdain'd to hear.'"]

Event Comment: Paid Lampmen #3 18s.; Tailors #11 2s. 10d.; Mantua Makers #3 14s. 6d.; Carpenters #16 15s. 6d.; Printer [of playbills] #19 5s. 6d. The Hypocrite and Christmas Tale in three Acts was advertised for to-morrow. This Morning at Rehearsal Lacy came and told Sheridan that he could not be off from his Agreement with Mr Langford and Captain Thomson. Sheridan told him, if he did agree, that he would withdraw himself from the Management of the Theatre--accordingly at eight this Evening he sent me with a Letter to Lacy confirming what he told him, and ordered me to receive my orders from Mr L and that he withdrew the Christmas Tale, as he had altered, for a Farce, it was his Property. This put us all into confusion--Sent to Mrs Abington to know if she would play in the Hypocrite, as it was advertised--Her answer was, that she had made her Agreement with Sheridan only, and would play under no other Manager. About twelve at night we got Richard the third settled, and sent Bills accordingly (Hopkins Diary). [For further remarks concerning this situation see 15 Oct.] Receipts: #173 6s

Event Comment: [Afterpiece in 3 acts, altered from Garrick's original 5 acts by Richard Brinsley Sheridan.] The Music composed by Dibdin. With New Dresses. The Scenes, Machines, &c. invented by DeLoutherbourg. The Christmas Tale reduced to three Acts (by R. B. Sheridan esq.) was performed for the first time as a Farce--was received with very great Applause--it is too long, and must be shortened (Hopkins Diary). Public Advertiser, 22 Oct. 1776: This Day at Four o'Clock will be published A Christmas Tale (1s.) [For Baker see 28 Sept.] Receipts: #241 14s