Event Comment: Not Acted these Ten Years. As it was alter'd from Beaumont and Fletcher, by C. Cibber. Daily Journal, 5 Jan.: Last Night the Rival Fools...was violently hiss'd, upon which Mr Cibber, in a very civil manner, address'd himself to the Audience, and told'em, 'That they did not offer that Play as one of their most polite Entertainments, that they had been reflected on by the Town for not pushing forward their young Actors; that this Play had been revived for no other Purpose, that it was impossible for the old ones to last forever, and therefore he beg'd the Audience to be silent, and give those who were desirous of it the liberty of hearing.' This Speech was interupted by a thundering Clap, and produced a good effect for an Act, and then the hissing began again, and grew so violent towards the latter end, that they were obliged to give the Play out two or three times, and much ado had the ingenious Mr Penkethman to be heard at last. (See also Weekly Journal or Saturday's Post, 6 Jan.

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: Mainpiece: Alter'd from Beaumont and Fletcher, by Sir John Vanbrugh and Mr Dryden. Afterpiece: An English Opera, written by the late Mr Addison, and new set to Musick by Mr Arne, reserving two or three Favourite Songs, out of his former Opera

Event Comment: FFoote play'd Ben , Miss Macklin Miss Prue , Mrs Clive Mrs Frail . Foote cou'd not sing ye Song in Ben, so said two or three times, I can't do it & upon a little Hissing, said, Gentlemen I have no talents for singing-ye whole play Hum (Cross). [Opposed to Cross's summary of the effect of the performance appeared in Gray's Inn Journal the Murphy account (19 Jan.): The excellent Comedy of Love for Love has been revived here this week, the humorous and diverting Part of Ben, the sailor, was performed with great pleasantry by Mr Foote, who showed by his manner and his looks, that he had entered into the secret of the character, tho' twas visible at the same time, that his powers were greatly suppressed by his solicitude for his first appearance in a new character. It may be said of Miss Macklin, tho perhaps better qualified for spirited genteel comedy, that she acquitted herself with great applause in a part in which Mrs Clive has displayed so many inimitable strokes of humour."] Receipts: #160 (Cross)

Event Comment: TThe Provok'd Wife was in the Bills for this Night, but Mr Garrick finding himself ill in ye Morning Fresh bills for Ye Mercht were posted at one o'Clock-two or three hiss'd when the play began, but Mr Havard told 'em ye reason of the Change & all was over (Cross). Receipts: #185 15s. (Winston MS 8)

Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. [Sga Spagnolla had been ill and missed a number of performances. For singers and dancers see following letter.] Sir: I am one of those to whom an Oratorio or an Opera (whether Italian or English) gives exquisite delight; and am therefore glad that, as the town is now full, those entertainments will, very probably, be crowded; and thus amply repay the several managers, for the great risk they run, as to their property, as well as for the vast pains they take to amuse us; for the labour employed, on those occasions, is infinitely greater than is usually imagined. The Italian opera has suffered considerably, this season, by the inability of Sga Spagnoli to exert her musical talents, owing to a most severe cold; but as she has now recovered her voice, 'tis presumed that she will be a source of as great pleasure, among us, to persons of a musical ear, and who have a true taste for that species of dramas, as she was in her native country, where she was always heard with great applause. I myself find great charms in the entertainments, as now exhibiting at the King's Theatre: for, besides Sga Spagnoli's taste I do not perceive the least diminution in Sg Elisi's voice or action, both of which pleased us so much two or three years ago. Ciprandi appears to me a fine player as well as singer; and with regard to Sg Savoi, he is generally thought to have a pleasing voice. [Comments on competence of the Orchestra.] The principal dancers are likewise acknowledged to have considerable merit. The gracefulness and the ease of Sg Adriani are very pleasing, as is the elegant agility of Sga Fabris Monari....Sg Sodi has so often diverted us by his compositions as Ballet master that it were superfluous to bestow any encomiums on him in this place. [Long comment on agreeable performance of Sofonisba, Scenery, etc. A puff by Musidorus in Public Advertiser.

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: Mrs Abington continuing ill, The Maid of the Oaks oblig'd to be deferr'd. Soon after the Farce began off off--no, more, no more, was the General Cry with much hissing--Mr King went on Two or three times to know their pleasure but they would not hear him. They Call'd for Mr Garrick he attended--but they would not hear him for a long time tho' Attempted Several times to speak--at last Somebody said hear him! hear him!--Mr G. told them that he would wait their [sic] all Night with pleasUre if they requir'd it--hear him! again was bellow'd out--he told them he waited to know their pleasure--whether they would have the Blackamoor go on or if they would have any other Farce then a great Noise ensued; as soon as they were quiet Mr G. told them that his Theatrical Life would be very Short and he should be glad to end it in peace--A man in the Pit said if you have a mind to die in Peace don't let this Farce be play'd again Mr Garrick was on and off the Stage several times nothing would content them--at Length Mr King told them that the Author had taken the Copy from the Prompter and was gone away with it.--Soon after this they withdrew So ended this troublesome Affair (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble is considerably lengthened.] Paid Mr Rowland's bill for dinners #8 9s. 3d. Receipts: #284 18s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: Not acted these 5 years [not acted since 4 May 1782. Miss Raymond is identified by MS annotation on Kemble playbill; Diary, 6 Apr., states she had acted two or three nights at Bath]. Receipts: #244 11s. (227.10; 16.6; 0.15)

Event Comment: By Her Majesty's Command. Written by Shakespear. [Queen, Duke, and Princesses Amelia, Mary, and Louisa present.]

Event Comment: By Their Majesties' Command. [Their Majesties, Duke, Princesses Amelia, Caroline, Mary, Louisa present.] London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 20 Nov.: Mrs Porter perform'd the Part of Belvidera, without having either Stick or Cane to support her. Receipts: #168 12s. 6d

Event Comment: By Authority, for that night only. Benefit for a Widow and three small children in distress

Event Comment: At the late Theatre in gf. A concert of Vocal and Instrumental Musick, Divided into Two Parts. Prices 3s., 2s., 1s. N.B. Between the two Parts of the Concert will be presented a Comedy gratis by Persons for their Diversion. 6 p.m. [This concert formula is included in every notice during the season but will be silently omitted from the Calendar. The customary notice about time and prices will also be omitted unless there is some change.

Event Comment: Benefit for the Two Misses Scott. Pit and Boxes to be put together, 5s. Gallery 3s. To begin at half an hour after Six. No persons to be admitted but by printed tickets, which may be had of the two Misses Scott, at Mr Hind's, painter in Silver St., near Golden Square, and at the theatre where places may be taken. Several of the principal performers being engag'd for tomorrow night, the Misses Scott are oblig'd to take this night for their benefit, and humbly hope the Gentlemen and Ladies who intend them the honour of their company will excuse it, and the same tickets will be admitted. Note tickets deliver'd out for the Castle Tavern in Paternoster Row for the 14th of January will be taken

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A Pantomime Entertainment not acted these eight years. [See 20 Oct. 1768.] New Scenes, Dresses and other Decorations. Doors open at 5 o'clock. To begin exactly at 6 o'clock. Theatrical intelligence, Covent Garden: Mrs Hunter, lately returned from Ireland was very well receiv'd in Mrs Oakly, and to do her justice she played the part throughout better than it has been performed for some time at either house. The labourings of Mr Wroughton's jealousy in Oakly reminded us of the progressive workings of a fatt of small beer, when inflated with powerful yeast....Orpheus and Eurydice was reviv'd after the play-the dullest of all dull Pantomimes (Harlequin's Jacket excepted). The two additional scenes we were summoned by the bills to behold, are two of the late memorable regatta:-The first is a perspective of Ranelagh Gardensv to the water, illuminated with party-coloured lamps, which terminates with the temporary obelisk erected on that occasion:-Behind this we just catch the streamers of the barges and etc., supposed to be rowing up to the stairs, and landing their company, to martial music and under the discharge of cannon, imitated by the unnatural slamming of one of the Green Room doors. This scene, however, had a tolerable appearance, but being on too confined a scale, its intended effect must have been lost. The other represented the inside of as much of the Temple of Neptunev as was possible to give the spectators in a theatre:-we cannot extol it by any means as a perfect representation:-and to prevent it coming too near the original, Harlequin, Perot, Pantaloon, and etc. were made to lounge in the orchestra instead of its being occupied by a good band of music:-in short the whole pantomime went off rather flat. It is recommended to the managers here never to suffer the scene shifters to appear again in such garb as they did; old greasy plush waistcoats, with red-stocking sleeves!-such a habit may be in keeping with a blacksmaith's forge, but not for a theatre royal in the metropolis of a polished country (Folger News Clipping)