Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. The great concourse of people at this theatre before the usual time of opening the doors, having been so great as to overpower the persons who were placed to receive the tickets; and as many were forced into the Theatre without an opportunity of paying for their admittance, Mr Giardini is under the greatest concern lest offence should be taken by those not being able to get in, who had sent for tickets to this office. He has given orders that those tickets shall be admitted tomorrow, as the opera of Siroe (by particular desire) is to be performed (Public Advertiser, 23 Jan.). [Pickpockets, including one former soldier, took three diamond earrings, and one hair-ornament set with brilliants, from members of the audience on this night (Daily Advertiser). Found, a new Silver Sword in the Opera House Lobby on S. 21 Jan.; the Owner, by describing the Sword-Knot, may, on applying to the Orange-Woman at the House, have it restored (Daily Advertiser, 24 Jan.).] Lost on going to the Opera a Brilliant Diamond Cross composed of nine brilliants, by Lord Conyngham. Reward of 10 Guineas for Return (Public Advertiser, 23 Jan.)

Event Comment: To prevent mistakes, those Ladies who have taken places, are desired to send their servants by Three o'clock. Books of the Opera to be sold at the Theatre

Event Comment: Benefit for Moody and Griffith, acted only once these three years. Tickets deliver'd for the Committee, Romeo and Juliet, and A Play will be admitted

Event Comment: Benefit for Davis, Hallam, Mrs Dyer. None admitted behind Scenes. Afterpiece: Not acted these three years. [See 2 May 1763.

Event Comment: Benefit for Wignell, Stoppelaer. None Admitted behind Scenes. Mainpiece: Not acted these three years. [See 31 Dec. 1760.

Event Comment: A new Comedy in three acts. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. To begin at 7 p.m. [Notice repeated.

Event Comment: Benefit for Holland. Part of Pit laid into Boxes. Afterpiece: Not acted these three years. [See 8 Oct. 1763.

Event Comment: A new Comic Opera. The Music composed by several celebrated Composers. All Boxes put together, and no Persons admitted without Tickets, which will be delivered this Day at the Office at Half a Guinea each; First Gallery 5s. Second Gallery 3s. By His Majesties Command no Person whatsoever to be admitted behind the Scenes or into the Orchestra. 6:30 p.m. Vivant Rex et Regina. [Repeated in all bills.] [A pasticchio similar to La Schiava (The Humorists). See Nicoll, III, 361. Advertisement for the company of performers at the Opera had been given in the Public Advertiser three months earlier, 6 August: 'Drummond, Vincent and Gordon,Proprietors and Managers of the Opera at the King's Theatre in the Haymarket beg leave to announce that they have engaged the best Company that could be got in Italy...and are expected in London this month. The company are as follows: Serious-the celebrated Guarducci, first man; Signora Aunuciati, first woman; Savoi, second man; Miss Young, second woman; Grassi, Signora Piatti, third woman. Comic-Lovattini, first man, tenor; Signora Zamperini, first woman; Savoi, first man, serious; Miss Young, first woman; Signor Moriggi (the old man) bass; Signora Piatti, second woman; Zamperini second man; Signora Gibbetti [Gibelli in the Gazetteer] third woman."

Event Comment: VViscomica to the Printer of the Public Advertiser: As burlettas have been laid aside some years, and they are a species of entertainment I am particularly fond of, as there is vivacity in the music, and great humour and satire in the performance, I was much pleased with the thoughts of being as well entertained as I had heretofore been; and more so when I found I could gain admittance to so good a place for hearing, for the trifling sum of three shillings; a place in which I never dared to shew my face before, not being on a footing with the riotous company that used to be admitted there, to attend their several masters' call; a nuisance, from which I rejoice the managers have at length, after so many hints and solcitations, found out a method to deliver their audience. I remember to have seen a darkish way down a flight of steps to a dismal winding staircase, which I was told led to the footman's gallery, and, supposing that the road I was to take on this occasion, was very agreeably undeceived by being shewn up about halfway to the five shilling gallery, and by a turn through an arch introduced to a new and convenient staircase leading to this region of the gods, where I was surprised to find myself arrived before I thought I was half-way up. The managers have indeed made this place very neat and commodious, by rendering the descent much less steep, lowering and matting the benches, painting and lighting the whole place; so that I found myself as much at my ease there, as in any other part of the house, and much better situated than I had expected; likewise, by their following Mr Garrick's example, in removing the pendant lustres, and lighting after the foreign manner, you have a full view of the whole stage; by which the magnificance appears greatly increased. The performance was beyond my expectations, as I think the performers excel any in their way which have appeared in this country; but I need not expatiates upon a subject the town in general have been, or I dare say will be, as good judges of as yours, &c

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted this season. Afterpiece: A New Pantomime (2 scenes excepted). Paid one Year's assurance at the Royal Exchange for #3000 to 15 Dec. 1767, #6. Paid Duke of Bedford's half year's ground rent for theatre due Mich. last #50 minus half year's land tax of #8 6s. 8d.; total #41 13s. 4d. Paid ditto for the New Buildings adjoining the theatre #15 minus half year's land tax of #2 10s. Total #12 10s. (Account Book). [The newness of the pantomime seems, according to the Larpent MS 259, to have consisted in three new songs.] Receipts: #191 7s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: A New Comic Opera never perform'd before. Music by Niccolo Piccini. Intended to be performed only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. By Mr Toms from La Buona Figliuola (Biographia Dramatica). [N.B.: The license for this opera was obtained just the day before, yet it must have been in rehearsal for about three weeks.] Receipts: #221 18s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: New Scenes, Dresses, Machinery and other Decorations. Book of the Entertainment to be had at 1s. 6d. at Theatre. A Dramatic Romance by David Garrick, Music composed by Michael Arne. Gave King's Footmen and Chairmen #4 4s.; Queen's ditto; Dukes of York and Gloucester ditto (Treasurer's Book). [A memorandum dated 22 August 1766 (Folger Library, Garrick Album, 520 MS, Cage) explains that Michael Arne was to compose the Music for Cymon, and as compensation shall be intitled to and receive one third part of the profits of the three first nights which the author shall take for his own Benefits." Zachariah Stephens was witness. See 15 Jan. 1767.] Receipts: #196 5s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: A Tragedy for Warm Weather. Written after the manner of the Worst, as well as the Best of the English Poets, containing amongst a Variety of Particulars, curious, entertaining, and pathetic, the Rebellion of the Journeymen Taylors on the Score of Wages, etc. Neville MS Diary: Half past Six went to ye Haymarket Theatre but could not get into ye Pit or first Gallery, so stood on ye last row of the shilling Gallery, tho' I could see little, to see how ye Taylors, a new tragedy for warm weather, would go off, being the first night of its performance. 3rd Act hiss'd-ye Gods in ye shilling Gallery called for ye Builder's Prologue-hissed off ye part of ye Old Maid twice and Davies who came to make an excuse. The Gentlemen, many of whom were there, cried No Prologue" but to no purpose. At last Foote said if he knew their demands he would be ready to comply with them. The noise ceasing, after some time he was told the Builder's Prologue was desired. He said he had done all in his power to get the performers, having seen them. After some time he came and informed them he had got the performers together, and if the House would be pleased to accept of ye Prologue in our dresses as we are you shall have it." This was followed by great clapping which shows the Genius of our English mobility ever generous after victory. Left ye House after ye Farce began. [Flints were journeymen tailors who refused to comply with the masters' terms and the regulations of the magistrate, in contradistinction to those who submitted and were in derision stiled Dungs. The term dates from 1764-OED. An extract from the Occasional Prologue (the Builder's Prologue) in prose on the opening of the Theatre Royal in the Haymarket, by Foote published in the London Magazine July 1767, p. 351. Foote, Scaffold, and Prompter are the three participants. Foote tells Scaffold he will be paid by the audience. Scaffold notes that the audience must in that case be pleased at all times. Foote promises no long processions [will] crowd my narrow scenes." He assumes that any of the reforms he plans will but echo the public voice. The Prompter then calls the actors on.

Event Comment: Went into the Pit to see Garrick do Abel Drugger. Read three acts of the play. Subtle, Face and Dapper are well played by Burton, Palmer and Dodd. Love and Mrs Pritchard excellent as usual. Mrs Love did Tag in Miss in her Teens (Neville MS Diary)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted for three years. [See 24 Jan. 1766.

Event Comment: Benefit for Condell, Potter and Eddis (playbill). [Account Book lists only Condell and Potter.] Charges #81 10s. Deficit to Condell and Potter #49 10s. 6d. covered by #97 10s. to Condell from tickets (Box 248; Pit 194; Gallery 64) and #73 14s. to Potter from Tickets (Box 159; Pit 157; Gallery 104). Paid Richard Richardson for the Purchase of the Fee Farm of three Houses on the West Side of Bow St. subject to 40s. a year payable to the Duke of Bedford...#1800. Receipts: #31 19s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: [Mainpiece: new comedy in three acts by Bickerstaffe; but Act I, ii, written by Foote. Afterpiece: new musical farce by Bickerstaffe; music by Dibdin and others. An alteration from Dryden's Don Sebastian.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A New Comedy of 3 Acts [by George Colman] never performed. [In the Shakespearean Pageant, with figures from seventeen of his plays, the chief effectiveness lay with the Musicians who ushered in each group with appropriate music: Martial Music-The Roman Characters of Coriolanus and Julius Caesar; Soft Music-Antony and Cleopatra; Grand Music, Old English Characters-King John, Richard III, Henry VIII: Magical Music, "above, about, underneath" for Prospero; Macbeth's Music; Fairy Music-Oberon and Titania; Solemn Music for Tragic Muse accompanied by Othello, Hamlet, the Ghost, Mad Ophelia and Lear with Cordelia; Dead March in Saul-Juliet's Bier with attendants; Allegro for the Comic Muse-Falstaff, Touchstone, Launcelot, Malvolio; Andante-Florizel and Perdita, Portia Antonio and Bassanio; Flourish-for Car drawn by the muses carrying Shakespeare's Bust; Final Song by Mrs Mattocks, "Sweetest Bard that Ever Sung, Nature's glory, Fancy's Child--." The Prelude is, in print, entirely favorable to Garrick's effort at Stratford. But it could be rendered in a mercilessly ironical manner if the three participating actors so chose. Mainpiece reviewed in the Freeholder's Magazine, Oct.] Receipts: #224 10s

Event Comment: The Third Day. By Particular Desire of several Persons of Distinction. The last time of Performance, as her Licence was extended only for Three Nights

Event Comment: Benefit for Wild, Miss Madden, Roffe, Ansell, and Miss Woolley. Tickets deliver'd by Symonds, Furkins, Hartle, Francis, Abbott, Walters, Miss Stede, the Widow Trott, the Widow Pullin, Mrs Hitchcock, Mrs Paddick, Mr Pilfold, Mr Doe, Claridge, and Reed will be taken. @ Tickets Box Pit Gallery Value 1!2 Value@ Wild 4 43 53 #12 15s. #6 7s. 6d.@ Miss Madden 41 17 29 #15 14s. #7 17s.@ Rose 23 55 35 #17 10s. #8 15s.@ Ansell 11 31 41 #11 10s. #5 15s.@ Wooley 3 28 56 #10 11s. #5 5s. 6d.@ Symonds 3 18 47 #8 3s. #4 1s. 6d.@ Furkins 9 9 9 #4 10s. #2 5s.@ Mrs Hartle 4 28 60 #11 4s. #5 12s.@ Francis .. 19 34 #6 5s. #3 2s. 6d.@ Abbott 12 60 53 #18 6s. 9 3s.@ Walters 3 44 106 #17 19s. #8 19s. 6d.@ Miss Stede 22 30 68 #16 6s. #8 8s.@ Miss Trott 17 10 10 #6 15s. #3 7s. 6d.@ Mrs Pullen 17 28 65 #14 19s. #7 9s. 6d.@ Mrs Hitchcock 29 42 16 #15 3s. #7 11s. 6d.@ Mrs Paddick .. 14 21 #4 4s. #2 2s@ Pilfold 27 200 67 #43 9s. #21 14s. 6d.@ Doe .. 18 39 #6 12s. #3 6s.@ Claridge 9 34 27 #10 1s. #5 0s. 6d.@ Reed .. .. .. .. .. .. ..@ Sharratt 1 8 10 #2 9s. #1 4s. 6d.@ Total 235 736 856 #254 15s. #127 7s. 6d.@ [A total of 1,817 seats given out in the three categories. Full capacity must have been nearly 2,250. No charges. House took half value of tickets.] Receipts: #13 2s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: This day Publish'd Price 6d. Three Old Women Weatherwise: an Interlude, as performed with great applause at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane. Printed for S. Bladon

Event Comment: Benefit for Barthelemon. A new Entertainment by Barthelemon. Admittance 3s. N.B . Tickets sold in the Fields in Great Marybone St., and at the doors (as they were at Mrs Barthelemon's night at the low rate of three tickets for a shilling) are forged and will not be admitted