Event Comment: Miss Younge being ill Mrs Lessingham was borrow'd from Covent Garden to play Imogen (Hopkins Diary). Benefit for Dibdin. Paid extra bassoons & flute 3 nights in Christmas Tale (7th March incl.) #7 4s.; Tallow chandler's 7th Bill #20 13s. Heroine of the Cave Music Bill #2 3s. 9d.; Ditto Prompter's Bill #1 5s.; Housekeeper's Bill #3 6s. 5d. Properties #1 2s. 8d.; St George's Hospital subs. 1 year #10 10s.; Mr J. French's draft #23 19s. 9d.; Mr Everard's Note to Egerton #5 3s. 4d.; Chorus 2 nights (this incl.) #3 11s. (Treasurer's Book). The Comedy of Twelfth Night, which was to have been performed this Evening, is oblig'd to be changed, on account of the Indisposition of Miss Younge; Therefore Mr Dibdin humbly hopes that his friends will accept of Cymbeline in its stead. Tickets deliver'd for Twelfth Night will be taken. Receipts: #184 9s. Charges #68 15s. 6d. Profit to Dibdin: #115 14s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 2 years. [See 31 Dec. 1772.] Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. No Persons admitted behind the scenes, nor any money returned after the Curtain is drawn up. Places for Boxes to be taken of Mr Sarjant (only) at the Stage Door. The Doors to be open'd at half an hour past 5 o'clock. To Begin half an Hour past 6. Vivant Rex & Regina. [Customary footnote for all succeeding bills this season, not to be repeated here. Woodward seems to have spoken an Occasional Prologue on the opening of the theatre. See request for its repetition on bill for 21 Sept. This Prologue is Larpent MS 377. It suggests the policy of offerings and competitions for the season--some old plays, some new, some foreign, some pantomimes, some Shakespeare, &c.

Event Comment: At the particular Desire of several Persons of Quality. Alter'd from Shakespear by the late Mr Betterton. [In Daily Post, 8 Sept., The Spanish Fryar had been announced for this day.

Event Comment: At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. Mainpiece: Alter'd from Shakespear, by Mr Betterton

Event Comment: [Mainpiece: Alter'd from Shakespear by Mr Betterton. At the Desire of several Persons of Quality

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by John O'Keeffe, altered from his The Banditti (see 28 Nov. 1781). Text in his Dramatic Works, Vol. 1 (T. Woodfall, 1798)]: With new Scenes [by Carver (O'Keeffe, u, 38)], Dresses, and a new Overture. The Selected Airs by Handel, Vento, Giordani, Giardini, Bertoni, Dr Arne, and Carolan, the Irish Bard. The Overture and New Airs composed by Dr Arnold. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. [This was Sga Sestini's 1st appearance on the English-speaking stage. For several preceding seasons she had been a member of the Italian opera company performing at the King's.] "Sestini . . . was handsome, sprightly, and a good actress, if great exuberance of gesticulation, activity of motion, and affected Italian smorfie could make her one; but her voice was gritty and sharp (something like singing through a comb), and she was nothing of a singer, except for lively comic airs. Yet she was . . . long a favourite with the mass of the public, though not with the connoisseurs" (Mount-Edgcumbe, p. 33). Account-Book, 30 June 1783: Paid O'Keeffe in full for The Castle of Andalusia #368 18s. 6d. Receipts: #166 2s. 6d. (165/9/0; 0/13/6)

Event Comment: Benefit Richard Elford. At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. At 7 p.m. Tickets 5s

Event Comment: Benefit Aston's Family. At the Desire of several Persons of Quality

Event Comment: Benefit LaLauze. Mainpiece not acted this season. By particular Desire of several persons of Quality. Tickets of LaLauze, at Widow Gwinn's, near the Castle Tavern in Drury Lane

Event Comment: At the Instance of several of the Nobility. By Subscription. Tickets 5s. At 7 p.m

Event Comment: Not Acted these Twelve Years [but see 2 May 1709]. Written by the late Mr Dryden. All the Habits being entirely new. With Decorations proper to the Play. Steele wrote a Prologue for this play, possibly for this run; it was not used but appeared in The Theatre, 2 Feb. 1720. See also The Works of John Dennis, Hooker, ed., II, 162-65. Cibber states that #600 was expended on the habits, scenes, and decorations

Event Comment: Mainpiece "Reviv'd" with proper Decorations. 'Tis hoped no Gentlemen will take it ill they cannot be admitted this night upon the stage, or in the Orchestra on account of the Scenery and Music, that are made use of in the play. [These two notes appear throughout the run of the play, and will not be mentioned further.] The Audience excus'd Mr Garrick speaking the Prologue (Cross). Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Ridout and Barrington. On Wednesday 24 April for the Benefit of Leveridge, The City Wives Confederacy: @To all generous Britons I sound this endeavour,@To beg that this season my play you ll promote,@By granting as usual your bountiful favour,@Which by Old Silenus shall ne'er be forgot.@Whilst Life I'm enjoying, and health do inherit,@With grateful Remembrance all thanks I'll renew@Still raising my voice to the Heighth of my Spirit,@Then swan-like will sing out my final adieu. tickets fbr the play, with the Musical note printed on them may had of Leveridge at his Lodging over against the Red Lion in Brownlow St., by Drury Lane, and of Mr Page at the Stage Door. Tickets for the 17th will be taken

Event Comment: Speedily will be publish'd at 1s. 6d. Dedicated to David Garrick Esq a New Edition of the Orphan of China...acted at Paris with great applause. [A weekly writer says of this performance: "I could wish that our modern Play-wrights would endeavor to imitate this author in the judicious choice and dispositions of their Fable; and further think this very piece not unworthy the notice of our managers. The Translator has indeed, with great propriety, laid his version at Mr Garrick's door, since there is nobody so well qualified to take the orphan under their protection."] Printed for R. Baldwin in Paternoster Row. Receipts: #220 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Arne. Afterpiece: By Desire. House Charges #68 16s. 6d. [Profits to Mrs Arne #150 18s. 6d.] Tickets deliver'd for The Beggar's Opera will be admitted. Dido oblig'd to be defer'd a few days. Paid 1 year's Watch for St Martin's #10 2s.; Reynolds Oil bill #46 4s.; Carpue (silk dyer) #7 9s. 6d.; Jennings (glover) #13 12s.; Vernon on note #21; Chorus 1 night #2 5s. 6d.; Hautboy 5s.; Salary list #294 2s. 8d. [Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #219 14s. (Treasurer's Book). At 4 dined at the Chop House in St Clements. At 5 went to Drury Lane to see the Tempest for the benefit of Mrs Arne the prettiest performer at the house...She has a sweet little voice...A grand Dance of Fantastic Spirits in different shapes. At the end of the play a Double Hornpipe by Mr Walker and Miss Tatley. We had the entertainment of Daphne and Amintor with dancing by Sg and Sga George, Sg Tessoni, Miss King, &c. Having a seat in the third row of the Pit, was much pleased as all the principal characters were well played and the scenery is very fine. Had I been later in going, I should not have got in (Neville MS Diary)

Event Comment: Benefit for Theatrical Fund. Afterpiece: By Desire. Pit and Boxes together. Play begins half past six. Benedick, Mr Garrick (Cross Diary). No admittance into Pit or Boxes but with tickets. Ladies urged to come early to get to their places with greater Conveniency

Event Comment: BBarry play'd at C. Garden some little Noise, on Account of his being ye occasion of ye late Riot, & demanding more Money than usual-but his speech declaring his Innocence; King Lear went on in quiet (Cross). It is hoped that the Ladies and Gentlemen who took places for the Fatal Marriage this evening will excuse its not being acted 'till tomorrow, as it is impossible for Mrs Cibber to perform the character of Isabella without proper respit. The Old Comedy alter'd from Shirley [The Gamesters] will be reviv'd next week (Public Advertiser). Receipts: #160 (Cross)