Event Comment: At the Little Theatre in James Street near the Haymarket. Doors to be opened at 5:00. To begin exactly at 6:00. Boxes 4s. Pit 2s. 6d. Gallery 1s. 6d. to the public. After several of our Lords and Masters, the Men, have with various success made wry faces for the amusement of the town; permit a woman to attempt the arduous task of laughing the men out of their follies; declaring, however, that while she attempts the ridicule of vices peculiar to the other sex, she will by no means spare the slightest foible of her own (Public Advertiser). The Theatre is fitted up in an elegant manner, and constant fires are kept to make the house agreeably warm (Gazetteer & New Daily Advertiser). [This Lecture continued to 6 March.

Event Comment: MMrs Bellamy thinks it her duty to inform the Public, that, as her name is in the Bills, (Though the Managers have sent her word she was not to play) she should think herself wanting of that Gratitude she owes the Public, if she did not let them know, she is ready to perform Cordelia. [Pasted in playbills of dl 1766-67 at 19 Jan. See Mrs Bellamy's Apology (1785) IV, 145-47, where she notes that although Miss Wilford made her entrance the audience forced her to withdraw and Mrs Bellamy acted the entire part.] Receipts: #221 3s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 3, by Sarah Gardner. Prologue by the author (London Chronicle, 11 Aug.). Larpent MS 435; not published; synopsis of plot in London Magazine, Aug. 1777, p. 433. For a description of the difficulties attending the reception of this play, from a recently discovered MS by Mrs Gardner, see Theatre Notebook, VII, 76-81]

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; P 2 (?), author unknown, based on the anonymous Harlequin's Jacket. MS not in Larpent; not published; synopsis of action in Public Advertiser, 4 Jan.]: With New Scenes, Dresses and Decorations. Half Price will be taken as usual. Receipts: #220 18s. (182/16/0; 37/19/6; 0/2/6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mme Rossi. Tickets, half a guinea each, to be had of Mme Rossi, No. 33, Pall-mall. 2nd ballet: With Grand Chorusses; the original Music by Matthew Locke is entirely preserved; the rest partly new [by Barthelemon], partly compiled from the most favourite Scotch Airs. "We cannot think last night's effort among the most successful . . . Lepicq and Rossi were the Macbeth and Lady--and considering the narrow boundaries of their art, which is tongue-tied, they discoursed 'with most miraculous organs.' Still, however, the whole of the material questions of the scene were agitated with all the disadvantages of contrast with comparative inefficience" (Public Advertiser, 18 Mar.)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; F 2, by James Cobb. Prologue by the author (see text)]. Public Advertiser, 22 Jan. 1787: This Evening be published The First Floor (1s.). Receipts: #227 (187.0; 39.4; 0.16)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Pope. Public Advertiser, 22 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Pope at her house in Half Moon-street, Piccadilly. Receipts: #306 12s. (190.13.6; 10.0.6; tickets: 105.18.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Paid Dunstall the Balance due of the Benefit for Theatrical Fund, the 20th Inst. #101 17s. 6d. (Account Book). Receipts: #198 17s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. Paid one year's Assurance on #5000 in the Royal Exchange Assurance Office to 31 March 1773, #12 10s. (Account Book). Receipts: #116 5s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Smith, Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. [The change in benefit piece from Cymbeline and the Wish remains unexplained. (See 22 and 27 April.) Larpent MS 387 is the Wish, scene a Sultan's Gardenv. Parts: Ammath; Nourjahad; Mandana; Zelia and Sanbeg. It seems never to have been performed.] Paid licenses for Bob Ton & Inflexible Captive, & Book #4 5s. 6d. Receipts: #119 1s. Charges: #67 12s. Profits to Mrs Smith: #51 9s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mrs Yates imperfect in Violante . House (Hopkins Diary). Paid half yrs. poor's rate #2 13s. 4d. Receipts: #260 7s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: The Scenery designed by De Loutherbourg, and executed under his direction. Paid Properties #6 1s. 5d. Receipts: #177 11s. 6d. (133/14/0; 43/17/6; 0/0)

Event Comment: This Night was to have been the Distress'd Mother For the Benefit of Mr & Mrs Hopkins & the Benefits being all Settled it was put off till the 24th (Hopkins). By Command of their Majesties. Receipts: #184 3s. 6d. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Mr Sarjant (only) at the Stage-Door. [Customary footnote for subsequent bills. Only significant variations will be noted further. The Westminster Magazine this month (p. 557) remarked upon Woodward's Prologue, "in part a parody on the celebrated speech of Cato in Addison's Tragedy....He informed the audience that they had assembled their Theatrical troops against the approaching winter; and that their leaders had met in council to consider the best method of supporting their campaign; but as their forces were numerous and strong, he hoped the town would not refuse them sufficient subsidies especially...as their Gods must aat, and without money could not even raise a Devil."] Receipts: #184 4s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Miss Robins made her first appearance upon the Stage in the part of the Country Girl an agreeable figure as a Woman & also in Breeches-she has a particular Cuddenish wa with her wch is not amiss in this Character, but I am afraid it will be a disadvantage to her in any other. Mr G. took great pains with her, & a long time in Training her before he brought her out he wrote & introduc'd a Song in the part and a New Prologue to introduce her & alter'd the Epilogue. all which & the Lady were very well receiv'd (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly in wording.] The Songs introduced in the Comedy [mainpiece] will be printed, and given at the doors of the Theatre. [The Westminster Magazine for December remarked of Miss Robbins' performance and reception, "The first was spirited and characteristic; the latter very favorable, and in our opinion deservedly so. She is no beauty but has strong expression. Her voice is pleasing, and her articulation was extremely distinct and proper."] Receipts: #149 16s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Dickinson, 1st gallery office-keeper. Afterpiece [F 2, by Edward Thompson, 1st acted at Richmond, 1 Aug. 1776; not published; Prologue probably by the author]: Never performed there. Public Advertiser, 17 May: Tickets to be had of Dickinson, No. 5, Wild-court, Wild-street, near Lincoln's Inn Fields. Receipts: #276 17s. (21.14; 7.10; 0.0; tickets: 247.13) (charge: #84)

Event Comment: Benefit for Booth. Afterpiece: Not acted these 7 years [acted 12 Nov. 1782. Rees is identified in Dram. Reg.]. Public Advertiser, 10 May: Tickets to be had of Booth, No. 18, Broad-court, Bow-street, Covent Garden. Receipts: #234 2s. (95.13; 7.1; tickets: 131.8)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Paid to Printer's Bill, #8 2s.; Paid towards a Bonfire for the Birthday, #2 2s.; Paid a Bill to Mr Cross, 12s. [probably for writing parts]; Paid Mr Deport for a wig for Eumenes #1 11s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). [The printer's bill was a weekly constant which amounted to #309 2s. for the season and will not be further itemized.] Receipts: #140 (Cross); #103 16s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Written by the late Mr Otway. Receipts: #26 3s. 6d. Weekly Journal or Saturday's Post, 13 Jan.: Mr C. Bullock having a considerable Part in the Play; and being sick in his Bed, chose to rise and perform his Part; rather than disappoint the Audience, but was not able to finish it; therefore his Part in the last Act was read by another