Event Comment: Mon: 29 Sept. Mr Rich open'd wth ye Nonjuror. Mr Smith not coming to town, Mr Palmer, from Drury Lane, play'd Frankly wth great Applause (Cross). Jno. Rich paid to Charlotte Lane for the Theatre for Mr Sparks in Dr Wolfe for a superfine full trim'd black cloth coat and breeches, 14s. Sewing silk & twist 4s. 6d. Buckram stays 2s. 6d. Frilly sleeve lining, pockets, & interlining Cuffs 2s. 6d. Hair Cloth, wadding & Poll Davy 5s. Dimety lining, leather pockets, & silk garters 6s. 6d. 4 doz 2 Coat Death's Head Buttons at 14d.-4s. 11d. 12 breast ditto at 7d.-7s. 7d. 5 yds fine black shaloon at 2s. 2d.-10s. 10d. Making a Camblet Surtout Coat, 7s. 6d. Sewing silk, twist, buckram & stays, 4s. Velvet to line the collar, 1s. 17 Coat, 1 breast black basket buttons, 1s. 8d. (MS list Folger Library, Davies, Life of Garrick, Extra Illustrated, II, 322)

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. Pepys, Diary: To the Opera, and there saw Romeo and Juliet, the first time it was ever acted; but it is a play of itself the worst that ever I heard in my life, and the worst acted that ever I saw these people do, and I am resolved to go no more to see the first time of acting, for they were all of them out more or less. Downes (p. 22): Note, There being a Fight and Scuffle in this Play, between the House of Capulet, and House of Paris; Mrs Holden Acting his Wife, enter'd in a Hurry, Crying, O my Dear Count! She Inadvertently left out, O, in the pronuntiation of the Word Count! giving it a Vehement Accent, put the House into such a Laughter, that London Bridge at low-water was silence to it. This Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, was made some time after into a Tragi-comedy, by Mr James Howard, he preserving Romeo and Juliet alive; so that when the Tragedy was Reviv'd again, twas Play'd Alternately, Tragical one Day, and Tragicomical another; for several Days together. [No specific notices are known which would indicate when Howard's version appeared.

Event Comment: The King's Company. This play has generally been assigned to June 1669, partly on the basis of a suit--see Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, pp. 252-53, 348-55-over a scene for it which Isaac Fuller, the scene designer, states was finished by 23 June 1669. The suit also states that the play ran for fourteen days, but it is not certain that the theatres played on consecutive days in the summer. The play has been assigned to 24 June 1669 on the basis of a letter from Charles II to Princess Henriette-Anne, dated 24 June [1669]: I am just now going to a new play that I heare very much commended (Cyril Hughes Hartmann, Charles II and Madame [London, 1934], p. 259). Elizabeth Cottington to Herbert Aston, ca. May 1669: Wee ar in expectation still of Mr Draidens play. Ther is a bowld woman [Aphra Behn (?)] hath oferd one: my cosen Aston can give you a better account of her then I can. Some verses I have seen which ar not ill; that is commentation enouf: she will think so too, I believe, when it comes upon the ptage. I shall tremble for the poor woman exposed among the critticks (Arthur Clifford, Tixall Letters [London, 1815], II, 60)

Event Comment: The King's Company. Evelyn, Diary, 9 Feb.: & next day was acted there the famous Play, cald the Siege of Granada two days acted successively: there were indeede very glorious scenes & perspectives, the work of Mr Robert? Streeter

Event Comment: For the entire Benefit of Mr Penkethman. Note, The Subscribers Tickets have free Admittance in any part of the House that Day' and during the whole Season. To begin exactly at half an Hour after 5, by reason the Gentlemen and Ladies that come from London may have time to return again the same Night. Boxes 2s. 6d. Pit 1s. 6d. Gallery 1s. [The opening, originally advertised for Monday 12, was deferred to this day.

Event Comment: Pit and Boxes to be put together, and no person to be admitted without Tickets, which will be deliver'd that day at the office at cg theatre, at half a Guinea each. First Gallery 5s. Second Gallery 3s. 6d. Galleries to be opened at half an hour after Four o'clock. Pit and Boxes at Five. To begin at half an hour after Six. The Subscribers who favoured Mr Handel last season with their subscription, are desired to send to the office at cg on the day of the performance, where two tickets shall be deliver'd to each Gratis, in order to make good the Number of Performances subscrib'd to last season. [Recitative and chorus. Words taken from Milton and Spenser (Edition of 1746). Rehearsed at Handel's lodgings on 7 Feb. Burney and DeFesch in orchestra. (Deutsch, Handel, pp. 629-30.) Librettist not known, possibly Thomas Morell.

Event Comment: The Nineteenth Day. As many of Mr Foote's Customers will be out of Town next Week, his Auction Room will be open'd only this Day, Thursday and Saturday during the week

Event Comment: No mention of Box income. Pay lists as of 26 Sept. Add Mrs Hamilton, enter'd from 1st Inst. at #1 10s. per day being return'd from Ireland that day; Mrs Storer enter'd from 20 Sept. at 6s. 8d.; Mr Maguire and Wife from 2nd at 10s.; Dall a week's salary #2; Thorne for scenemen #12; 19s. 6d.; Serjeant three months' salary to 29 Sept. #10. Total pay list came to #322 8s. 1d. Receipts: #86 15s. (Winston Theatrical Record)

Event Comment: By Command of Their Majesties. This day publish'd Price 1s. Alexander's Feast; or, The Power of Music; written by Dryden. To which is added the Coronation Anthem as performed this evening at Covent Garden. Set by Mr Handel. This Day publish'd Price 5s. sewed. A Treatise on the Art of Dancing, by Giovanni Andrea Gallini, Director of the Dances at the Royal Theatre in the Haymarket

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Paid Mrs Baks for walking 13 nights in King Henry VIII to 15th Inst.: #3 5s. (Account Book). [Mrs Baks as a walking super seems to have done better in salary at 4s. 1d. per night than did the men (Gard &c.) who perform'd as Ostriches, Asses, Hogs &c. in the afterpieces at 2s. 6d. per night. The difference may have depended upon whether one was a mute in a mainpiece or an afterpiece.] Receipts: #159 2s

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; P 2(?), by James Messink and Carlo Antonio Delpini. Not in Larpent MS; synopsis of action in London Chronicle, 26 Nov.]: The Scenery, Machinery, &c. painted new by Carver, Greenwood and Garvey. The Overture and the rest of the Music composed new by Fisher. Nothing under Full Price will be taken. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Account-Book, 3 Feb. 1778: Paid Fisher for composing songs, &c. in The Tempest [see 27 Dec. 1776], and other pieces, as per bill, #131 11s. Receipts: #190 16s. (182.18; 7.18)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 4 years. Afterpiece [1st time; P 2 (?). Not published; Songs: Larpent MS 1272]: Invented by T. Dibdin, & produced under the Direction of Farley. To conclude with an Allegorical Procession of the Seasons, Months and Hours, to the Temple of Domestic Happiness. With entire new Music, Scenery, Machinery, Machinery, Dresses and Decorations. The Overture and Music composed by Moorehead. The Dances by Bologna Jun. The Scenery by Phillips, Lupino, Hollogan, Wilkins, Bromley, the two Whitmores, Powell. The Machinery by Cresswell, Sloper, Goostree, C. Dibdin Jun., &c. The Dresses by Dick and Mrs Egan. Books of the Songs [J. Barker, 1799] to be had in the Theatre. "The opening scene of the new pantomime is highly interesting. The representation of the Volcanov, and the fight in the air between Floridel and Cratero, may with justice claim the epithet of grand and magnificent" (Dramatic Censor, I, 13). Account-Book, 6 Feb, 1800: Paid Moorehead for music in Volcano #25. Receipts: #366 7s. (344.17; 21.10)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Clive. Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Pit and Boxes will be laid together, where servants will be admitted to keep places. Ladies desired to send servants by 3 o'clock. Rec'd from Mr Stevens 1 yrs. rent due at Xmas #10; Paid Locke (hatter) for Garrick #1 4s. 6d.; Re-paid Garrick the cash advanced by Monet for Guidetti #21; Paid B. Johnson's Head bill #3 17s. 11d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #98 13s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Legg, Mrs Lampe, Mrs Jones. Afterpiece: For the last time this season. Tickets deliver'd for Hamlet will be taken. The Dragon of Wantly cannot be perform'd on account of indisposition of Mrs Pinto. Charges #67 9s. 6d. [Profit to each beneficiary #2 19s. 6d. plus income from tickets: Legg #84 2s. (Box 129; Pit 251; Gallery 142); Mrs Lampe and Mrs Jones combined #74 15s. (Box 102; Pit 219; Gallery 164).] Paid Bryan a bill for writing parts #1 1s. 6d. Paid Cooper (printer) #27 2s. Paid Condell for Coach hire, the last command by order of Mr Beard 2s. (Account Book). Before 5 went to ye Play...It was played tolerably well; Cleopatra very well by Mrs Bellamy, Octavia (for ye 1st time) by Mrs Mattocks, Antony by Smith, Vent. by Gibson not badly. We had ye Dances, Rural Love and ye Wapping Landlady (Neville MS Diary). Receipts: #76 8s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Lessingham. Mainpiece: A Tragedy altered from Dryden [Aureng-Zebe] by Mr W. Addington, never performed before. Afterpiece: Not acted these 4 years. [See 16 May 1770.] Charges #71 2s. Profit to Mrs Lessingham #38 7s. 6d., plus #92 12s. from tickets (Box 186; Pit 146; Gallery 242). Paid Cooper (printer) #36 2s.; Paid Mrs Witaker for a woman's white & silver flower'd suit #10 10s.; Paid John Doe for sticking black bills #6 6s. Receipts: #109 9s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: An Earthquake (Cross). Paid Knight for Lamps, &c. #10 9s. 6d.; Paid Mrs Porter a bill by order of Lacy #10 9s. 6d.; Mrs Boucher a Bill by order of Lacy 8s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #30 (Cross); #40 17s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Receipts: #92. Paid Ledley for 20 doz. wax candles at 31s. per dozen, #31; Paid for Insurance of the Wardrobe, &c. in the Sun Fire Office for 12 Months to 12 Jan. 1761, on #10,000, #25 7s. 6d

Event Comment: Program By Command of their Majesties. Present their Majesties, the Duke of Cumberland, Princess of Brunswick, and Lady Louisa. Paid Yeoman of the Guard #2 2s. Paid Messrs Tomkyn and Robinson a bill for wine, &c. 4s. 3d. (Account Book). Receipts: #243 7s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: By Desire. About this time papers say inside of Foote's theatre with Dressing Room Green Room &c. is entirely pulled down to enlarge the stage which is to be nearly twice the size it was. Woodward is to exhibit two new pantomimes next summer. (Winston MS 10). Paid Printer's Bill #9 6s. (Treasurer's Book). [Treasurer's Book also indicates that this night #30 4s. of Orders were given out.] Paid 2 Clarinets 6 nights (18th incl.) #9 9s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #173 2s. 6d. Ordinary charges #84. Extra for Invasion #10 10s. Profit for Author #78 12s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: By Particular Desire. Paid Sutton (goldsmith) for gold & silver Lace &c. #43 2s. 7d. Paid Dall on account of his salary #30 (Account Book). Receipts: #168 13s

Event Comment: Benefit for the London Hospital. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. 2nd Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be taken at the Stage Door of the Theatre; the Doors of which will be opened at 5:30, and the Performance to begin precisely at 6:30. No Money to be returned after the Curtain is drawn up, nor will any Person be admitted behind the Scenes. [Master Braham is identified in Grove. Address by Arthur Murphy (Town and Country Magazine, July 1787, p. 324).] This was the opening night of this theatre, which had been built by and was under the management of John Palmer. Following the afterpiece he explained to the audience the objections of the proprietors of dl, cg and hay to his opening the theatre. He said that he had from the Lieutenant of the Tower of London what he considered to be sufficient permission, but that he would nevertheless close the theatre temporarily. Palmer's difficulty was that he had no really legal permission from anybody for the performance of actual plays. See 3 July, and for further details the head-note to this season. World, 18 July, prints an official accoudting for this night from the theatre's treasurer: Receipts were #273 12s.; paid for music, advertisements, servants, &c. #37 10s.; lost in bad silver #1 19s.; paid the London Hospital #234 4s.; the players acted without salary

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. This performance is on the L. C. list, 5@141, p. 81. See also Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 348. There is no certainty as to whether this is the date of the first performance. Downes (Roscius Anglicanus, p. 35): Then the Conquest of China by the Tartars, by Mr Settle; in this Play Mr Jevon Acting a Chinese Prince and Commander in it, and being in the Battle, Vanquisht by the Tartars; he was by his Part to fall upon the point of his Sword and Kill himself, rather than be a Prisoner by the Tartars: Mr Jevon instead of falling on the point of his Sword, laid it in the Scabbard at length upon the Ground and fell upon't, saying, now I am Dead; which put the Author into such a Fret, it made him speak Treble instead of Double Jevons answer was; did not you bid me fall upon my Sword

Event Comment: [Cast taken from 1st edn. The bill merely lists actors and notes "With proper Music, Scenes, and Decorations. Never acted before." It mentions no Prologue or Epilogue.] This Masque was wrote about eleven years ago, by Mr Malet & Mr Thomson, & play'd in the Garden at Clifden before the P. of Wales &c.--Mr Malet has now alter'd it, & it was play'd with great Applause, only some of the Dances, being too long were dislik'd, & some of the Songs had ye same reception (Cross). Receipts: #180 (Cross)