Event Comment: Adapted to the stage, as altered from Milton's Masque at Ludlow Castle. With proper habits and a new grand scene of the Palace of Comusv

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. The Musick for the Afterpiece compos'd by Mr Arne. With a New Overture founded on some favourite Irish tunes. Nothing Under Full Prices will be taken during the Performance.--General Advertiser. [See Poem by S. G. To Mrs Sybilla, on her Acting the Goddess of Dullness and persuading her to attempt Melantha in Dryden's Marriage Alamode in Gentlemen's Magazine, Feb. 1745, p. 98. Authorship of afterpiece unknown; possible a revision of Theobald's The Happy Captive. See 16 April 1741 hay.

Event Comment: A new Pastoral Opera. [Really a pasticcio. Text-Vanneschi; some music by St. Germain (Burney).] Pit and boxes half a guinea. Gallery 5s. 6:30 p.m

Event Comment: The Proprietor of Drury Lane Theatre having receiv'd letters from several Gentlemen pressing him to revive the Tragedy of King John; to comply with this request (as he shall always make it his business to oblige the Publick) he immediately put the play in rehearsal; but upon information that the author of a Play on the same subject, had insinuated that this was calculated only to prejudice him, the Revival was intended to be deferr'd till the run of his play should be over; but upon perusal of the Bills he finds this is no Alteration, as was thought, but a new Tragedy founded only upon that plan; therefore in compliance with the above request, and at the same time to take off all imputation of an injury to this author, the Proprietor has deferr'd the bringing it on till Tuesday next, the day after the author's benefit, when will be exhibited the Historical Play of King John, as written by Shakespear

Event Comment: Written by Shakespear. Not acted in 50 Years. It is hoped no Gentleman will take it ill, he cannot be admitted behind the scenes, the play being so full of characters, that any company there will be of great prejudice to the performance. [The play advertised as ready on 15 Feb., but held off until after the first performance of Papal Tyranny at cg so as not to detract from Cibber's first night.] The Principal Characters New Dress'd

Event Comment: At the New Theatre. Benefit George. 2s., 1s. 6d., 1s

Event Comment: We hear, that the company of Dutch/Children that are to perform to Tuesday next at the new theatre in the Haymarket, joyn'd with English, German, and Italian amount to above 25, and most of them excel either in Vocal or Instrumental Musick, Dancing Exercises, and playing of Pantomimes

Event Comment: The Company of Children that are to perform next Tuesday at the New Theatre in the Haymarket, we hear excel anything of that sort ever seen here, for their great abilities in all sorts of exercises, Dancing, Music and Pantomimes, and are to perform but a few nights, they being oblig'd to return before Easter

Event Comment: By Command of their Highnesses Prince George, Prince Edward, and the Lady Augusta, By A Company of Dutch children, join'd with the English, German and Italians. A Pantomime Entertainment. Boxes and Pit 5s. Gallery 2s. 6 p.m. We hear the Company of Dutch/Children join'd with the English, Germans and Italians, will perform this day, tomorrow, Thursday and Friday next, and will exhibit something new every night, and some people of Quality have engag'd Boxes for each night.--Daily Advertiser

Event Comment: [This Pastoral Serenata first appeared 21 March 1744 at the Crown and Anchor in the Strand, qv. At that time Beard, Savage, Mrs Clive and Miss Edwards sang in it.] By Subscription for three nights will be performed an English Pastoral Serenata, set to Music by Mr DeFesch. Pit and Boxes laid together at 5s. First Gallery 2s. 6d. Upper Gallery 1s. 6d. On the 20th of March and 3rd of April will be performed a New Oratorio call'd Joseph, also set to Music by Mr DeFesch. For the encouragement of such persons as shall please to favour Mr Defesch by subscribing one Guinea, they shall be entitled to six tickets, each of which will admit one into the boxes, or Two into the Gallery. Nobody to be admitted into the boxes without printed tickets, which will be deliver'd at the theatre. Subscriptions to be taken till the 5th of March, at Mr DeFesch's at the sign of the Angel and Trumpet, in St. Martin's Lane, at the Bedford Coffee House, Covent Garden; and at Mr Page's Stage Door-keeper. To begin at half an hour after six. This day is publish'd Papal Tyranny in the Reign of King John. [No price given, but the 1st edition lists it as 1s. 6d. Watts would have had to sell about two thousand copies to cover his investment in copyright and printing costs.

Event Comment: The Principal characters New Dress'd

Event Comment: Afterpiece: Never acted before [authorship unknown]. Benefit of the Authoress [of the new Farce]. 2s., 1s. 6d., 1s

Event Comment: Benefit Delane. Tickets at his lodgings at the Unicorn in New Exchange Row in the strand, and of Hobson at the stage door where places may be taken

Event Comment: Benefit Mr Dove and Mrs Dove. Boxes 3s., Pit 2s., First Gallery 1s. 6d. Upper Gallery 1s. [Theatre designated as the Late Wells in advance notices; as the New Wells on the day of performance.

Event Comment: Set to music by Mr DeFesch. Both words and Music entirely new. Galleries open'd at four. Pit and boxes at five. [See Deutsch, Handel, p. 609.

Event Comment: A New Oratorio. Libretto-Jennens; Music-Handel

Event Comment: HHorace Walpole to Sir Horace Mann, 29 March: The Town flocks to a new play of Thomson's call'd Tancred and Sigismunda: it is very dull: I have read it. I cannot bear modern poetry; these refiners of the purity of the stage, and of the incorrectness of English verse, are most woefully insipid. -Toynbee, Letters of Horace Walpole, II, 82

Event Comment: Whereas it was first intended to lay the pit and boxes together, for the better accommodation of the ladies, who are desirous of having their places kept, the boxes will be enclosed as usual. -General Advertiser. The songs added to the farcical opera call'd the What D'Ye Call It to be performed tomorrow night at cg, were wrote some years ago by a Gentleman since deceased, whose pieces of the Lyric kind have been often admir'd by people of Taste; there is a pleasing variety in them, and they are thought to be well adapted to the several characters in which they are introduced. The Music, which is entirely new, and compos'd by Mr Lampe, is allow'd by all who have heard it, to be an agreeable mixture of humour, spirit, and harmony. -Daily Advertiser. General Advertiser, 4 April: Yesterday was a rehearsal of The What D'Ye Call It

Event Comment: Benefit T. Cibber?. Afterpiece with a variety of songs adapted to the several characters. The Music entirely new, composed by Lampe. The songs are printed and will be deliver'd gratis at the theatre

Event Comment: Will be perform'd several new exercises of Rope Dancing and Tumbling, by M. Duge, Vangable and others, divided into two Parts. Boxes [as 26 Dec. 1744]. Between the two Parts of the Exercises will be given gratis the Tempest as alter'd by Mr Dryden and Sir William Davenant from Shakespear. 7 p.m

Event Comment: 7 p. p.m. [New formula for evading Licensing Act as 15 April 1745.

Event Comment: 1 Benefit Paget. Tickets given for Comus taken this day, Several Gentlemen desiring to see him as Falstaff. [Originally scheduled for 4 April were Comus and a new Farce The Biter Bit; or, Vintner in the Suds.

Event Comment: A historical note about the patent for May Fair by Edward Shepherd. Daily Advertiser, 1 May: Whereas a Patent was granted by King Charles the First, and confirm'd by King James II, to the Proprietor of Great and Little Brookfield, then in the Parish of St. Martin in the Fields, now in the Parish of St. George, Hanover Square, to hold a Fair during the Space of fifteen Days, to begin the 1st Day of May next, and every May Day forever: the present Proprietor thinks it proper to apprize the Publick thereof, that it may not be thought that he attempts to do any thing but by Virtue of the said Patent, and no Ways to disturb the Publick Peace, or act in Contradiction to the Laws of the Realm. [Alluded to in 2 May news of the Daily Advertiser, as being proclaimed by Edward Shepherd.

Event Comment: MMiddleton's Great Theatrical Booth. Mainpiece: The late facetious Mr. Penkethman's diverting Droll, not acted these thirty years. Note, this is no Puff. [Repeated 13 May. From a news item of 13 May, this piece was probably acted the rest of this week.