Event Comment: Tickets delivered by Wordsworth, Jackson, Painter, J. Bates, Fox, Besford, Eves, Mrs Sharpe, Mrs Templeton, Miss Bassan, the widow of the late Miles, and the widow of the late Dr Arne will be taken this evening. Afterpiece: Not acted these 2 years. Receipts: #219 2s. 6d. (43.14.0; 4.5.6; tickets: 171.3.0)

Event Comment: [By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain (but this notice does not appear on the playbill)]. Benefit for Miss Llewellin. The Doors to be opened at 6:00. To begin at 7:00. Tickets delivered for Monday the 24th, and Thursday the 7th of April will be admitted. Miss Llewellin is the daughter of a late eminent and respectable Merchant in one of our neighbouring islands, whose family have been great sufferers by the late war, and is left with two sisters, orphans. She solicits the patronage of a generous publick for that night only. Tickets to be had of Miss Llewellin, No. 204, Piccadilly

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for Harwood, late prompter of the Theatre-Royal, Drury-Lane. Harwood's respectful compliments to his Friends in particular, and the publick in general, and assures them every effort in his power shall be exerted to render the Evening's Entertainment agreeable, and humbly hopes for their well-known candour and protection on the above occasion. Tickets and Places to be had of Harwood, next door to Drury-Lane Theatre, Little Russel-street, Covent Garden. [Harwood was prompter at dl from 1780 to 1786. Hooke was from cg.] Afterpiece: Written by the late Samuel Foote, Esq

Event Comment: A Serio-Comic Opera in 2 acts (never performed here [1st performed at Vienna, 1784; and in April 1795 performed at king's under the title of Il Conte Ridocolo]). The Music composed in his best style by Paisiello. Under the direction of Mazzinghi. Fineschi being hardly recovered from his late severe indisposition humbly hopes for the indulgence of the public, whom rather than disappoint, he would run any danger. Gallini, for the last time, most respectfully entreats those few Subscribers who have hitherto delayed of declaring themselves, or sending in the names of their Co-subscribers, to do it immediately, as no one can be admitted without showing the Ticket for this year; and the Boxes not bespoke cannot remain empty after the opening of the House. Tickets to be had, and Subscription paid, as usual, at Messrs Ransom, Morland and Hammersley's, bankers, No. 57, Pall-Mall. The Doors to be opened at 6:00. To begin precisely at 7:00 [see 3 Jan. 1788]. Pit 10s. 6d. 1st Gallery 5s. 2nd Gallery 3s. "The only Part of the scenery which is interesting is the bridge Rialtov, and this is badly executed; it looks like a pantomimic show, but not like a grand opera scene; the bridge is crowded with figurative passengers, and small gondolas appear beyond it. The first idea is a capital error, for the representation of the bridge is supposed sideways, and being covered with shops, no passengers can be seen; the latter idea of boats being placed beyond the bridge crowds the scene, and makes the bridge lose its grand appearance at a distance...The Managers of the Opera are exceedingly to blame for having substituted a Soprano to a Tenor in the character of Gafforio" (Public Advertiser, 17 Dec.). Receipts: #164 14s. [These receipts, and those on all other nights throughout the opera season, represent the sale of non-subscription tickets. On this night 400 tickets were delivered to Prendergrass, office-keeper at the Haymarket pit entrance; of these he sold 159 at 10s. 6d. (i.e. #83 9s. 6d.). 100 were delivered to Toosey, office-keeper at the King's Door pit entrance; he sold 26 at 10s. 6d. (i.e. #13 13s.). 300 were delivered to Butler, office-keeper of the 1st Gallery; he sold 190 at 5s. (i.e. #47 10s.). 200 were delivered to Snelson, office-keeper of the 2nd Gallery; he sold 118 at 3s. (i.e. #17 10s.). Sale of one box #2 2s. "Difference from Gallery to Pit" (i.e. money received from persons who changed their seats from gallery to pit, 5s. 6d.). The delivery of 1,000 non-subscription tickets to be disposed was almost invariably the case on every night of the season; but see 5 Apr. 1788.

Event Comment: The Public is most respectfully informed that in consequence of the sudden Indisposition of Mrs Jordan the New Comedy is unavoidably deferred. [The original playbill and Public Advertiser both announce the 6th night of Better Late than Never (see 29 Dec.). The above is from a second playbill for this night in BM (Burney 937.c.7). "Mrs Jordan's Illness defers...Better Late than Never" (Kemble Mem., which lists the substitutes play).] Receipts: #123 5s. (83.19.0; 33.4.6; 6.1.6)

Event Comment: [As mainpiece the playbill announces the 8th night of Better Late than Never (see 20 Jan.), but "The Play was to have been Better Late. I was hoarse, & could not act. Miss Farren refus'd to play Berinthia. Mrs Ward acted it for her" (Kemble Mem.).] Receipts: #253 6s. 6d. (208.6.0; 41.9.0; 3.6.6; tickets not come in: 0.5.0)

Event Comment: 3rd piece [1st time; F 2, by Charles Stuart, "from the Spanish"; on 2 Sept. reduced to 1 act. Prologue by the author (see text)]. "The Piece, we understand, was originally founded on some topics that have of late engrossed the conversation of much of the fashionable world...The Lord Chamberlain thought [it] too delicate a nature to appear with the allusions and title it then bore, She would be a Duchess. The consequence was that the offensive bits were expunged and the piece re-christened...It would be unfair to make any observations...in the mutilated stage it was presented" (Public Advertiser, 15 Aug.). "Some part of the plot was supposed to allude to the late occurrences in the family of General John? Gunning, who was indulged with the privilege of erasing [from the MS] that which he disliked, and who reduced it to its present feeble and unconnected form" (Gazetteer, 15 Aug.). [The reference in the original title is to the simultaneous flirtation of Miss Elizabeth Gunning, the General's daughter, with the eldest sons of the Dukes of Marlborough and Argyll (see dnb, under Susannah Gunning). She would be a Duchess: in Larpent MS 915.

Event Comment: The Public is most respectfully informed that in consequence of the sudden Indisposition of Mrs Jordan the New Comedy is unavoidably deferred. [The original playbill and Public Advertiser both announce the 6th night of Better Late than Never (see 29 Dec.). The above is from a second playbill for this night in BM (Burney 937.c.7). "Mrs Jordan's Illness defers...Better Late than Never" (Kemble Mem., which lists the substitutes play).] Receipts: #123 5s. (83.19.0; 33.4.6; 6.1.6)

Event Comment: Ode: Written in Honour of St. Cecilia, by Dryden, and set to Music by Handel. Among the Instrumental Performers are G. Ashley, leader of the band, Mara, Sarjant, C. Ashley, Boyce, Bridgetower, Harvey, Parkinson, Taylor, Nix, two Flacks, Dresler, Gwilliam, Shutze, Price, I. Sharp, W. Sharp, M. Sharp, J. Sharp, Archer, Cobham, two Munros, Wood, Cornish, Purney, Leffler, Woodham, Cantelo, Skillern, Franki, Simpson, Jenkinson, &c. Organ-J. Ashley. Double Drums (used at Westminster Abbey)-R. Ashley. The Chorusses will be numerous and complete. The Whole under the Direction of Ashley. Boxes 6s. Pit 3s. 6d. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be had of Brandon at the Office in Hart-street. The Doors to be opened at 6:00. To begin at 7:00 [same throughout oratorio season]. Books of the Performance (with the Imprimatur of H. Macleish) to be had at the Theatre

Event Comment: Benefit for Munden. 1st piece: Not acted these 12 years [acted 20 Apr. 1789]. 2nd piece: By Permission of the Proprietors of the Theatre-Royal, Drury-Lane. Never Performed at this Theatre. With the Original Overture, Songs, Trios, Duets and Chorusses. To conclude with a Perspective Representation of a Grand Camp. Morning Chronicle, 1 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Munden, No. 16, Clement's Inn. Receipts: #565 0s. 6d. (202.9.0; 10.10.0; tickets: 352.1.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Betterton. 1st piece: Not acted these 6 years [acted 22 May 1797]. Receipts: #206 15s. (89.10; 5.15; tickets: 111.10)

Event Comment: MMr Woodward has enter'd into partnership with Mr Barry in a new Theater in Ireland & has taken from us Mr Walker and Wife (Miss Minors that was) Mr Vernon, Mr Jefferson and Wife-from Mr Rich, Mr Arthur, Mr White, Mr Chambers, Mr Finny (his Scene-man) & others (Cross). Receipts: #120 (Cross); #128 15s. (Winston MS 8). Places for Boxes to be had of Mr Varney at the stage door. No admittance behind scenes, nor any money returned after the Curtain is drawn up. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. [This notice regularly occurs at foot of bill and will not be noted further this season. The box receipts recorded from Winston MS 8 seem to have been taken by him from the Huntington Library playbills (second set) annotated by J. P. Kemble from a Treasurer's Book.] Letter to Mr G@k on Opening of the Theatre, With Observations on Managers, Actors, Authors, and their Audiences and Particularly New Performers. 6d. Published by Cooke opposite Drury Lane Theatre. [It is a plea for more frequent appearances of Garrick, especially in lighter parts, now that Woodward has left; for especially good plays on Saturday nights; for striking from the repertoire all immoral, immodest and cruel plays; for being a sport about competition with Rich; for better regulation of the boxes, on a first-come, first-pay basis; for training up the most promising young actors gradually and not casting them in parts beyond their reaches; for more new plays; and for an advisory council in selecting them; for omission of personal satirical attacks in comedy.

Event Comment: Music of Afterpiece entirely new Composed by Dibdin. [An adaptation of Goldoni's Il Filosofo di Campagna.] Book of Songs to be had at Theatre (playbill). The Wedg R. a Comic Opera of Two Acts wrote & composed by Mr Dibdin. The Music very pretty--as the Author was kept a Secret The Town fancy'd that is one of Mr Bickerstaff & call'd out to know who was the Author. Mr Garrick inform'd them that he had no power to declare who the Author was but he could assure them that it was not Mr Bickerstaffs this did not Satisfy them at last Mr Dibdin went on & declard himself to be the Author & made an Affidavit of it & then the Farce went on with Applause (Hopkins Diary). [Account of The Wedding Ring in Westminster Magazine for Feb. 1773.] Paid #4 4s. for licensing The Wedding Ring and Alonzo (Treasurer's Book). [Maria Macklin, in a MS letter to her father, 3 Feb. 1773, commented fully on this night's performance: "Written as it was suppos'd by Bickerstaffe. The music by Dibdin. I went with a party into the Gallery to see the event as there was a great riot expected, & indeed never did I see an audience more inflamed. They would not suffer them to begin the piece. At last Mr King came on with a written paper in his hand, which he said he was desir'd to read in the name of the managers. After a great noise they let him read it. He said just before the play began the managers had receiv'd a letter from Mr Dibdin in which he declared that Bickerstaff was not the author of that piece, that he had made oath of it, and was ready to do the same again, but that for very particular reasons the author could not be given up. Then they stopp'd him & roar'd out that the author should be given up then. He continued as loud as he possibly could, reading on that 'but that if Mr Dibdin did not very soon given up the author he never should be suffered to appear again on that stage or any other.' Very luckily that turn'd them as I believe the House would have come down. The piece then began. Before the end of the first act one of Bannister's songs were encor'd. The other party were against it and would not let it go on. They all stood up and insisted that the author should be known then. After some time the house being nothing but confusion, Dibdin was push'd upon the stage ready to drop with fright, and declared that he was the author himself. Then they were as noisy the other way. Made them finish the piece, but how you may guess in a storm. It is like the Padlock, but the songs not so good." (Brander Matthews, Actors and Actresses, extra illustrated, Vol. I. Harvard Theatre Collection.). Westminster Magazine this month included in parallel columns flattering "Characters of Mr Garrick and Mr Colman," the Rival managers. The article especially praised Garrick's acting.] Receipts: #252 3s. 6d

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Payments: Mr D. Garrick's 3 Nights for the Christmas Tale, 30 Dec., 4 & 11 Jan., #84 charges deducted each night--#371 14s. (Treasurer's Book). At Isleworth, James Lacy, Esq.: one of the patentees of Drury Lane Theatre died (Gentleman's Magazine, 44, p. 47). [For full account of Lacy, see Covent Garden Magazine (229-34).] Rec'd of Mr Burges, 1 yrs. rent to Xmas last (#4 4s. King's Tax deducted) #16 16s.; Paid Mr Cropley (linen draper) 2 Bills #66 10s. 6d.; Mr Scott (laceman) #66 1s.; Messrs Lowe & Co. (glaziers) #18 6s.; Mr Burges (bricklayer) #65 8s.; Mr Waller (hosier) #24 5s.; Messrs Barrow & Co., oil, #53 7s. 6d.; Messrs Hopkins & Co. (ironmongers) #30 11s.; Mrs Vaughan (haberdasher) 2 bills, #14 10s. 6d.; Mr Hatsell (mercer) 3 bills, #120 11s.; Mr J. French's draft to Mr Wise #5 10s.; Mr J. Johnston's Music Bill #24 5s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #246 18s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)