Event Comment: Performance of the Devil upon Two Sticks oblig'd to be changed to the Old Batchelor because of the Indisposition of Weston

Event Comment: The last time of performing these two pieces this season

Event Comment: N.B. The Indisposition of the two First Women Singers in the Comic Operas, is the Cause of performing the above Opera this evening

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted for two years. [See 29 Dec. 1767.

Event Comment: By Authority. Not acted these 40 years. Benefit Lalauze. By Particular Desire, two rows of the Pit will be rail'd in with the Boxes

Event Comment: Bills were put up for a Word to the Wise. As soon as the Curtain was drawn up a great hissing Mr Garrick went on the Stage Several Plays were propos'd to be done but Mr Kelly's Party would have none but a Word to the Wise & the other Party would not Consent, Mr Garrick offer'd to play himself but that would not satisfy them. at Length the House was dismiss'd about Nine O'Clock (Hopkins Diary). A Word to the Wise, Damn'd (Cross Diary). We stayed from 6 to past 10 in which time Garrick came out 6 or 7 times and talked to the audience, tho' often 5 or 6 minutes before he could be heard. Once he said the author was willing to withdraw his play, but then the party for Kelly [opposed by the Wilkesites] said he had no right to do so: they insisted on the play, the other that it should not be, etc.; the same about what play to be given out, one party calling for the new play and the other against it. When King came on, being called to speak the prologue, the hubbub forced him back, and one or two oranges struck him. The people came away in great numbers after ten and we amongst the rest, and had our money returned. Parson Horne [Horne Tooke] there but did not interfere, tho'at the bottom of it (John Baker, Diary, p. 189)

Event Comment: Oratorio not performed these two years. [Usual note about servants and books of the performance.] Charges: #35

Event Comment: Benefit for Fishar (ballet master) and Sga Manesiere. Charges #64 10s. Balance to the two dancers #19 7s. (#9 13s. 6d. apiece) plus Fishar #47 2s. from tickets (Box 54; Pit 130; Gallery 141); Sga Manesiere #26 19s. (Box 48; Pit 53; Gallery 70) (Account Book). Receipts: #83 17s

Event Comment: Benefit for Bannister. Afterpiece: In Two Acts by Foote

Event Comment: marly Benefit for Hook. Price 3s. Vocals in Concert by Mas. Cheney, Two Young Ladies who never appeared in public, and Mrs Barthelemon

Event Comment: Doors open by 5 o'clock. Play to begin at 6 o'clock. Winston MS 10: 7 Sept. Garrick has given two silver cups to be play'd for at cricket between Chertsey and Hampton. [The Town and Country Magazine for this month (from Theatre No XX) gives much about actors employed at both patent theatres, their relationships and articles of agreement.

Event Comment: Mr Davies from the Norwich Company a tolerable figure a bad voice & speaks tolerable may be useful pretty well receiv'd (Hopkins Diary). Ld Aimwoth, A Gentleman (Cross Diary). Mainpiece: Not played in two years. [See 27 April 1769.] Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. [Repeated.

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A Pantomine not acted these two years. [See 22 Sept. 1768.] Alterations to The Elopement (Cross Diary). [The Rejoicing Night Scene described in Town and Country Magazine (from Theatre No XXI) as representing Ludgate Street and St Paul's with Houses illuminated.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these two years. [See 31 Dec. 1768.] Afterpiece: A Musical Entertainment [by Isaac Bickerstaffe] never acted there. [Letter from Henry Woodward, Clement's Inn, says he fulfilled his seven years engagement and is now going to Scotland with Foote and next to the Hay Market. No direct application was made to re-engage him at Covent Garden or he was ready to meet it (Winston MS 10)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. Afterpiece: Not acted these two years. [See 19 Sept. 1768.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not Acted these two Years, the Interlude but once these 30 years. [See 4 May 1769.

Event Comment: Afterpiece: Not acted these two years. [See 7 April 1766.

Event Comment: great applause to the Play (Hopkins Diary). Mainpiece: A tragedy never before acted [by Mrs Celisia]. Prologue (by Whitehead)-Reddish; Epilogue (by Garrick)-Mrs Barry. New Scenes, Dresses and Decorations (Winston MS 10). [The Gentleman's Magazine for Feb. reviewed the mainpiece in great detail, concluding: "A combat between two knights in the days of chivalry and honour, not to determine whether a person accused is innocent or guilty, but whether a person under the infamy of acknowledged guilt shall suffer, is, as the Scotch peasant says emphatically of his pupil, a phenomenon. It is, however, but justice to Mrs Barry, to say, that in performing the part allotted her in this piece, she rises like perfection out of chaos, and therefore those who have not yet seen it represented should by no means be deterred by these strictures on the composition, supposing them to be just."

Event Comment: Oratorio, composed by Mr Arnold, not performed these two years

Event Comment: Benefit for Cautherly. Mainpiece: Not acted these 5 years. [See 10 Dec. 1762.] Afterpiece: Not acted these two years. [See 7 April 1769.

Event Comment: Benefit for Dibdin. Afterpiece: A new Burletta in two Acts by Bickerstaffe. [Adaptation of Pergolesi's La Serva Padrona.] Books of the Burletta to be had at the Theatre

Event Comment: This play is alter'd by Mr Cumberland was very well receiv'd Mr & Mrs Barry play'd very well Alcibiades was perform'd by Mr Crofts being his first appearance upon any Stage bad figure bad voice & Play'd bad (Hopkins Diary). New Scenes, Decorations &c. Mr Crofts-a stationer in the Temple (Winston MS 10). Theatrical Review, 4 Dec.: We think ourselves oblig'd to declare that this gentleman (Crofts), by no means answered the expectations we had formed, from the accounts we had heard of him.--His voice is not bad, though it is not much above the level of common conservation; --his deportment is aukward and void of grace to an extreme; and he labors under the disadvantage of having a face destitute of expression. His gestures are extremely ungraceful, and the whole of his execution is glaringly untutored, and misconceived. His persons is very ill formed, and therefore it makes greatly against him, especially as he is the representative of Alcibiades, who was the handsomest man in all Athens, and we never remember any one's attempting to set out as a capital performer with so few requisites for the support of such an undertaking as this gentleman appears to have. Paid Dr Nares & Mr Cooke's 8 boys in the Garter, 12 nights (30th ult. incl.) #36; Master Brown 7 nights (2nd inst. incl.) #2 12s 6d.; Licence for Timon, #2 2s. (Treasurer's Book). [Larpent MS 328 of Cumberland's Timon, is one of the earliest to include scenic descriptions: "A Hall in Timon's House. The Flat Scene represents stately Folding Doors. Scene two, the Back scene is hastily drawn back and discovers a magnificent Levee Room or Salon. &c."] Receipts: #243 1s. (Treasurer's Book)