Event Comment: The hay advertised for 30 May and later two plays which never got staged: Macheath turn'd Pyrate; or, Polly in India. An Opera. Very much taken, if not improv'd from the famous Sequel of the late celebrated Mr Gay. With a New Prologue, proper to the Occasion. And after the Run of that, the Town will be entertain'd with a new Farce of two Acts, call'd The King and Titi; or, The Medlars. Taken from the History of Prince Titi, Originally written in French, and lately translated into English

Event Comment: We are inform'd that Mr Giffard, as an Expedient to recover, in some Degree, the Loss he has sustained by his late Undertaking in [lif] has apply'd to the late Patentee of the Theatre@Royal in Drury@Lane, for the favour of his Appearance in the Character of Lothario (in which it is observable, he amus'd himself some years since to very numerous and polite Audiences) with which Request the said Gentleman has very generously complied

Event Comment: Benefit Leviez, Desse, and Powell (Deputy Treasurer). [The latter was probably John Powell, who later ingratiated himself with Lord Holland, became an accountant in the office of Paymaster General of His Majesties Forces and in 1783 was accused with Mr Bembridge of concealing a large sum in Accounts chargeable to Lord Holland, 1757-65. He committed suicide 26 May 1783, under the stress of the investigation, and the verdict of death as a result of Lunacy was issued. See account in Gentlemen's Magazine (1783) pp. 454, 539, 613. He is there described as having been a Teller in Drury Lane Theatre, a person who acts as a check upon the door keepers of the playhouse, by counting the number of people in the house, which he does from a small box, conveniently situated for that purpose.

Event Comment: [For the Relief of the Sufferers by a late Calamity...at his Auction-Room late the Little Theatre in the Hay-Market Mr Foote will exhibit for the satisfaction the curious a choice Collection of Pictures, all warranted Originals, and entirely new. To begin at twelve noon. [Cross, Fielding, II, 89, states that Foote mimicked Fielding as "Trottplaid" on this date.] Daily Advertiser, 28 April: It being represented unto this Court, that several Common Players of Interludes, Gamesters...have for several Years used and accustomed to assemble and meet together at several Fairs or pretended Fairs, held in this County of Middlesex, not warranted by Law, to wit, Tottenham Court Fair, Hampstead Fair, in Holborn Division, the Shepherd's Bush Fair in Kensington Division, Mile-End Fair and Bow-Fair, commonly called Green-Goose Fair, in the Tower Division, and May Fair in Westminster Division

Event Comment: From the late unfortunate calamity at the King's Theatre [see 16 June], the Subscribers are respectfully acquainted that as many Operas will be represented at this Theatre as can from this Evening to the 11th of July, the day on which most of the Performers' Contracts expire. Mr Gallini humbly requests it may be observed that on account of there not being Boxes enough to accomodate the Subscribers, as at the late Opera House, in order to avoid partiality, no particular Places or Boxes can be allotted to the respective Subscribers. The Entrance into the Theatre will be from Covent-Garden and Hart-street only, the doors from Bow-street will, from necessity, be shut up. Pit and Boxes 10s. 6d. 1st Gallery 5s. 2nd Gallery 3s. "Covent--Garden, on Saturday night, had the honour of entertaining this noble Foreigner--but by some accident they did not agree...The Gallery, only, was filled" (World, 29 June)

Event Comment: The King's Company. Pepys, Diary: With my wife and girle to the King's house, and there saw The Mad Couple, which is but an ordinary play; but only Nell's and Hart's mad parts are most excellently done, but especially her's: which makes it a miracle to me to think how ill she do any serious part, as the other day [26 Dec.], just like a fool or changeling; and, in a mad part, do beyond all imitation almost. It pleased us mightily to see the natural affection of a poor woman, the mother of one of the children brought on the stage: the child crying, she by force got upon the stage, and took up her child and carried it away off of the stage from Hart. Many fine faces here today

Event Comment: At 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., by reason of the Children's Playing twice a Day

Event Comment: Sir Robert Southwell to Edward Southwell, 26 Aug. 1685 (in Morley, Bartholomew Fair, pp. 224-26): I think it not now so proper to quote you verses out of Persius, or to talk of Caesar and Euclide, as to consider the great theatre of Bartholomew Fair....You wou'd certainly see the garboil there to more advantage if Mr Webster and you wou'd read, or cou'd see acted, the play of Ben Jonson, call'd Bartholomew Fair:...The main importance of this fair is not so much for merchandize, and the supplying what people really want; but as a sort of Bacchanalia, to gratify the multitude in their wandring and irregular thoughts. Here you see the rope-dancers gett their living meerly by hazarding of their lives, and why men will pay money and take pleasure to see such dangers, is of separate and philosophical consideration. You have others who are acting fools, drunkards, and madmen, but for the same wages which they might get by honest labour, and live with credit besides. Others, if born in any monstrous shape, or have children that are such, here they celebrate their misery, and by getting of money forget how odious they are made

Event Comment: Minutes of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 7 Feb.: Mr Skeate reported that John Honeycott the master of the Charity School at Clerkenwell had yesterday with the Children of the School publickly acted the play called Timon of Athens, and by Tickets signed by himself invited Several people to it

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Walter and Sandham's Children. Written by Mr Congreve

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Haughton and the Widow of Joseph Giffard, Apothecary. At the particular Desire of several Persons of Distinction. Any Gentleman, or Lady, who design to serve the Widow of Mr Joseph Giffard, Apothecary, who is left with Five Children are desired to take their Tickets at Pidgeon's Coffee-House

Event Comment: Benefit the Widow and Child of Mr Hulett

Event Comment: Benefit Dr Clancy. "The Day returns, but not to me returns," Milton. This Gentleman being deprived of the Advantages of following his profession; and as the writing he had produced for the stage could not be brought out this season, the Master of the Playhouse has been so kind as to favour him with a Benefit Night: It is therefore hoped, that as this will be the first instance of any person laboring under so heavy a deprivation, performing on the stage, the Novelty, as well as the Unhappyness of his case, will engage the favour and protection of a British Audience. Note: Tickets to be had at the Temple-Exchange Coffee House in Fleet Street; Tom's Coffee House in Cornhill; St. James Coffee House, St. James's Street; Child's Coffee House, St. Paul's Churchyard and the Chapter Coffee House in Paternoster Row. Places for Boxes to be Taken at the Stage Door of the Theatre. [General Advertiser, 4 April, publish'd a fifty-six Prologue (licensed) Intended for Oedipus, acted for the Benefit of the Very Ingenious Dr Clancy, written by Mr Lockman.

Event Comment: Written by Shakespear (Daily Post). The Whole concluding with an Epilogue of Thanks wrote by Mr Paget, and spoken by him and the two children (Daily Post). Benefit Paget. Stage and Front Boxes 3s. Pit and First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s

Event Comment: Benefit for ye Author, tho' not put so in the Bills (Cross). To the Publick: As Mr Arne originally composed the Music in the Masque of Alfred, and the town may probably on that account imagine the Music, as now perform'd, to he all his production, he is advised by his friends to inform the publick that but two of his songs are in that performance, viz.: the first song beginning O Peace thou fairest child of Heaven; and the Ode in Honour of Great Britain, beginning, When Britain first at Heaven's Command, with the chorus, Rule Britannia, Rule the Waves, &c. which songs he submitted to be mix'd with the productions of others, to oblige the author of the poem. Tho. Aug. Arne (General Advertiser)

Event Comment: Benefit for a Widow & Children (Cross), who are fallen into great distress (Winston MS 8). Tickets to be had at Mr Gladman's, a Trunk-maker, Charing Cross; at the Amsterdam Coffee House, behind the Exchange; at the Rainbow and Janeways in Cornhill; at Anderton's and the Temple-Exchange, in Fleet St.; at George's, Temple Bar; Somerset Coffee House, Strand and at Stage Door of the Theatre. Receipts: #97 (Cross)

Event Comment: For the Benefit of the Wid. Kraus & her children whose Husband was murder'd by Robbers near Chelsea (Cross). Tickets to be had at White's Chocolate House, and the St James Coffee House, St James St.; at Allmack's Coffee House, Halfmoon St.; The Mount Coffee House, Grosvenor St.; Sam's Coffee House and The Jerusalem Coffee House, Exchange Alley; of Mrs Kraus, at her house in Halfmoon St., Picadilly, and of Mr Varney at the stage Door, where places may be taken. Receipts: #200 (Cross)

Event Comment: By Command. Afterpiece: Written by Mr Garrick. Acted by children. Prince of Wales & 4 more went off very well (Cross). New Scenes, Habits and Decorations. Full prices. Prologue-writ by Garrick, spoken by Woodward; Epilogue-Lady Flimnap. [The run of seventeen performances of the afterpieces seems to contradict the judgement of the author of the Theatrical Examiner (1757, p. 89): Lilliput is, I think, the most petit, trifling, indecent, immoral, stupid parcel of rubbish, I ever met with; and I can't help judging it a scandal to the public, to suffer such a thing to pass a second night, which at best was alone calculated to please boys and girls, and fools of fashion; it may gratify them; the manager to debauch the minds of infants, by putting sentiments and glances in their breasts and eyes, that should never be taught at any years, which are sufficiently bad when naturally imbibed. The question of Gulliver, in answer to the infant lady's gross adresses, is horrid, if we allow an audience a common share of delicacy, what should we do with her? and what the devil does it mean. Finally where is the instruction, or even tolerable language, to gild the dirt over. O tempora! O mores!"] Receipts: #210 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for the Widow Jona and her Five Children. Tickets to be had at Arthur's Chocolate House, St James's St.; Prince of Orange's Coffee House, Haymarket; Forrest's Coffee House, Charing Cross; the Rainbow Coffee House in Cornhill; and Places for Boxes to be taken of Mrs Jona in Little Warwick St., Charing Cross, and of Mr Crudge at the stage Door

Event Comment: Benefit for a Widow Gentlewoman and her Children, who have suffered the loss by Two Ships, to the amount of #2000. Urged at the Desire of several Persons of Quality. Tickets to be had at Mr Harper's at the Corner of Avemary Lane; Mount's Coffee-House, Grosvenor St.; Smyrna Coffee-House, Pall Mall; Sam's Coffee-House in Change Alley, Cornhill; and of Sarjant at the Stage Door, where Places for the Boxes may be taken

Event Comment: Benefit towards the Increase of a Fund, established by the Performers of the Theatre Royal Covent Garden for the Support of Decayed Actors and their Families. This Fund having been begun by voluntary contributions among the performers, improved by a proportionable Weekly Deduction on their salaries, and intended as a reciprocal Provision for them their widows and children, in sickness and infirmity, it is humbly hoped and appeal to the Generosity of the Public will not be taken amiss. Such of the Nobility, Gentry, &c. who are pleas'd to favour this Undertaking, are desired to send for places, Box or Pit tickets, to Mr Sarjant, at the Stage Door. Mainpiece [by John Banks]: Not acted these 20 years. Occasional Prologue, written by Hull [printed in the Jester's Magazine, May 1766, p. 241]

Event Comment: Afterpiece: By Desire. Towards Supporting a Charity School for the Education of Children belonging to the Society of Ancient Britons (Hopkins Diary); Rec'd stopages #26 11s. 6d.; Paid salary list #530 2s.; King's extra salary #3; Mr Dibdin's draft #50. Receipts: #250 4s. Charges: #84. Profit to Charity School: #166 4s. (Treasurer's Book)