Event Comment: Mainpiece. By Particular Desire. Paid half years Land and Window tax, #3 3s. 6d. Licensing Little Gipsey, City Manners, New Epilogue to Maid of the Oaks and Sultan #7 7s. Receipts: #198 13s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. The Comedy of Old City Manners oblig'd to be deferr'd. On 31 Dec. (Sunday) died Th. Weston of Drury Lane Theatre (Winston MS 11). [See Memoirs of Thomas Weston that Celebrated Comedian (London, 1776, 59 pp). This year appeared A Serious Disuasion from Frequenting the Playhouse, by Jacob Orton (22 pp. pub. in Shrewsbury). His text is taken from Bulstrode's charge to the Grand Jury of Middlesex, 21 April 1718. "One Playhouse ruin'd more souls than fifty churches are able to save."] Paid Mr Grist on acct per Mr D. G. #20; Three extra trumpets 6 nights #6 15s. Supernumeraries for the Jubilee continued to cost 14s. 10d. during its run. Receipts: #219 12s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 20 years. [See 11 Nov. 1752.] Characters New Dressed in the Habits of the Times. This play is alter'd by Mr Colman and receiv'd with Some Applause, but it don't seem to hit the present Taste a few hisses at the End (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly.] Paid salary list #630 1s. 6d.; Widow Hunter #2 2s.; King's glass bill #3 17s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). [Mainpiece reviewed and contrasted with the original in the Westminster Magazine for Jan.: "Upon the whole we cannot esteem this a striking comedy, even with the assistance it has now received,--the fine manner in which it is got up, and the great expence which the managers have been at in habiting the whole dramatis personae in splendid and characteristic Old English dresses. All the actors except Mr King and Mr Parsons performed but indifferently. Bensley is the worst Old Man we ever saw. He presents the countenace of a sickly old woman; and the uniform goggle of his eye, by which he means to express infirmity and distress is the look of a man in anguish from the colic. Mr Palmer, Mr Brereton, and Mr Davis have a bloated vulgarity about them, which should ever deter the manager from assigning them the parts of cavaliers or men of fashion. Baddeley, as usual, overdid his part, and Mr Yates, as usual, was not very perfect in his."] Receipts: #192 11s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: Not acted these 6 years. [See 11 May 1772.] [Young gentleman identified by Hopkins MS Notes. Genest, V, 517, also calls attention to the fact that the text lists Douglas as Norval and Old Norval as Stranger (1757) or Prisoner (1768). Webster first named as Douglas on bill for 27 Feb. 1776. Review of Webster's acting appeared in the Westminster Magazine for Jan.: "His person is rather elegant; his voice is full and harmonious, his pronunciation distinct and correct, and his delivery graceful and unembarassed. Those are his excellencies, and considering it was his first performance, he seems to possess them in a degree far superior to the various candidates for theatrical fame which the managers of both houses have brought forward for some years past. On the other hand he is aukward, and in some parts unanimated. His arms are too long, or he flung them about in a very disgusting manner. He seemed to express the sense of his author much better than his own feelings. His voice though full, wants variety and modulation; not but on some occasions he managed it with infinite grace and judgement. But if this want of variety of tones and extent of voice, which is so indispensibly necessary to constitute a first rate actor, be not the effect of Nature, the Public may behold with less anxiety their decayed veterans giving nightly proofs of their increasing infirmities, and quick approaching theatrical dissolution."

Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. Tickets to be had and places for the Boxes to be taken of Mr Fosbrooke at the Stage Door of the Theatre, at Half a guinea each. Pit 5s. First Gallery 3s. 6d. Second Gallery 2s. Doors to be opened at Half past Five. To begin at Half past Six. N.B. Those ladies who have had boxes for the Oratorios and who intend continuing them are humbly requested to give notice to Mr Fosbrooke at the Stage Door. Rec'd Stoppages #1 1s. (Treasurer's Book). [The Westminster Magazine, Feb., p. 75, contained an article on the "Origin of Oratorios," followed by one on the Musical Powers of Handel, particularly relating to his Oratorios. The Morning Chronicle for 24 Feb. commented as follows on Miss Linley's performance in Acis and Galatea: "Miss Linley...gave every delight that the ear, the heart, or understanding could receive from Music...Miss Linley's manner of delivering Recitative is peculiarly distinct and sensible; a circumstance of infinite importance in a performance of this nature. Her voice is clear and melodious, and capable of truest expression as was peculiarly evident in the song of 'Must I my Acis still bemoan?'...Their Majesties' presence and apparent satisfaction lead us to hope that the Royal countenance and encouragement will never again be withdrawn to grace the innovations of foreigners on the only musical ground which is left for English genius to take root and flourish"( (Quoted in Hampden, Journal).]

Event Comment: Sga Sestini thinks it her Duty to assure, in this Public Manner, the English Nobility Gentry and Public, of her unfeign'd Gratitude for their numerous appearance on Thursday Night 28 March at her Benefit as she looks upon it as the most convincing Proof of their honouring her with the continuance of their kind Indulgence and Protection, which she will always use her utmost Endeavour to deserve as long as she shall continue in England, and retain the most grateful Rembrance of wherever her Profession may call her (Public Advertiser)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Jewell. By Permission. A Tragedy for Warm Weather, not acted these ten Years, written after the manner of the worst as well as the best English Poets [author unknown] Containing, amongst a Variety of Particulars curious, entertaining, and pathetic, the Rebellion of the Journeymen Tailors, their Military Preparations and Election of a Chief, their Skirmishes, Ambushes, Sieges, Councils and Combats; their Division into Flints, and Dungs; with the Defection of the Dungs, at the Pass of Butcher Row and total Overthrow of the Flints at the famous Battle of Temple Bar; together with the Captivit and End of their valiant leader. [Colman's shortened version of the 1767 play (Biographia Dramatica).

Event Comment: Mainpiece: With a Medley Overture of favourite Sea Tunes. Old City Manners [announced on playbill of 8 Nov.] is obliged to be deferred on account of Palmer's Illness. Receipts: #146 1s

Event Comment: Before the Play began, Reddish went on, and addressed the Audience as follows, which was drawn up by Mr Sheridan, "Ladies and Gentlemen, having in my Address to the Publick on Tuesday Night last accounted for my Omission in the Part of Vainlove in a manner which appeared to reflect highly on the Managers, I now beg Permission to ascribe it to the Confusion I was in from the Displeasure of the Audience, and, as the Managers are satisfied with my Assurance that this was the Case, I humbly hope for the Indulgence of the Publick, whom I never meant to offend, and whom I will ever study to please" (Hopkins Diary). Raceipts: #119 17s. 6d

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A Tragedy for Warm Weather, written after the Manner of the Worst as well as the Best English Poets; containing, amongst a Variety of Particulars, the Rebellion of the Journeymen Tailors; their Military Preparations and Election of a Chief; their Skirmishes, Ambushes, Sieges, Councils and Combats; their Division into Flints and Dungs, with the Defection of the Dungs at the Pass of the Butcher-Row, and total Overthrow of the Flints at the Famous Battle of Temple-Bar; together with the Captivity and Fatal End of their Valiant Leader

Event Comment: [This was Mrs Hitchcock's 1st appearance in London. Miss Farren was from the Manchester theatre. Miss Twist is identified in playbill of 14 July.] Because of Foote's acting scarcely anything but his own plays "a relaxation of discipline has been fallen into at the Haymarket... The audience last night, however, were not less surprized than pleased at the very regular manner in which the Comedy and the Burletta were exhibited. All the business of the stage perfect, all the little parts smoothly given, and the whole rather superior than inferior to a performance at either of the Winter Theatres" (Morning Chronicle, 10 June)

Event Comment: Benefit for Rauzzini. The last Opera this Season. Part of the Figurants being gone to Paris, the Dances will be given in the best manner possible, and hope for the Indulgence of the Audience. Tickets to be had of Rauzzini, No. 5, Suffolk-street

Event Comment: [Digges refused to make use of "the too familiar modern manner of speaking blank verse" (London Chronicle, 30 Aug., which also identifies Fotteral, although misspelling his name as "Fotheril").

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Never acted there. With Alterations and Additions by the Author [Arthur Murphy. London Chronicle, 7 Nov., prints a detailed synopsis of the alterations.]. The Characters entirely new dressed; with New Scenery and Decorations. [Morning Chronicle, 7 Nov.: Mrs Barry entered into the character of Mandane with all that strength of conception which characterizes her acting in general. Many of the passages received additional force from the judicious breaks and sudden transitions in her manner of giving them.] Receipts: #200 3s. (199.6; 0.17)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: Written after the Manner of the worst as well as the best English Poets. Containing, amongst a Variety of Particulars, curious, entertaining and pathetic, the Rebellion of the Journeymen Tailors; their Military Preparations and Election of a Chief; their Skirmishes, Ambushes, Sieges, Councils, and Combats; their Division into Flints and Dungs; with the Defection of the Dungs at the Pass of the Butcher-Row, and total overthrow of the Flints at the famous battle of Temple-Bar; together with the Captivity and fatal End of their valiant Leader

Event Comment: [As afterpiece the playbill announces the 31st night of The Touchstone (see 20 Feb.), but "The entertaiment at Covent-garden theatre was obliged to be changed last night, on account of Lee Lewes being seized with a most violent inflammation in his right arm...Hand-bills, announcing that The Reprisal would be the farce, were distributed at each door of the theatre as the company came in; when the tragedy, however, was ended, some persons in the galleries...began an alarming disturbance, calling out vociferously for the pantomime...and continued throughout the farce to behave in the most savage manner, pelting every actor and actress as fast as either came on the stage. Mrs Morton stood their fire of oranges, apples, and pieces of wood, with more heroism than prudence. At length the brutes aimed at her head with an orange, which struck her a violent blow, and she fainted immediately" (Morning Chronicle, 16 Feb.).

Event Comment: [In afterpiece the playbill retains Dodd, but he "having lost his Father, an apology was made for R. Palmer's playing his character in the Critic; and though the apology was a very handsome one, it is but justice to say it was unnecessary, R. Palmer acquitting himself in such a manner as did him infinite credit" (Morning Chronicle, 4 Feb.).] Receipts: #186 8s. (151.1; 33.19; 1.8)

Event Comment: [This was a puppet show, rewritten by Charles Dibdin from his Comic Mirror; it consisted of 7 different acts, presented in 3 Parts. The audience was both misled into thinking that it was to be performed by actual persons, and made angry because of the "almost unintelligible manner of conveying [the various acts], as the singers were scarcely audible, and the objects very indistinctly visible.' A riot ensued. Lighted candles were thrown on the stage against the curtain, chandeliers broken, benches torn up. The audience was not "satisfied" until Colman the proprietor of the theatre, disclaimed any concern with the entertainment, and Dibdin made an apology. Although announced for repetition on 3 Mar., it was not again performed. (See Dibdin, II, 65; Morning Chronicle, 2 Mar. )]

Event Comment: Opera: Performed in the Manner of an Oratorio. The music by Bertoni. Tickets to be had of Bertoni, No. 20, Queen Ann-street, Westminster

Event Comment: A Serious Opera; the Music by Sacchini. [This was Sga Lorenzini's 1st appearance in England.] Public Advertiser, 25 Dec.: The spirit of Vestris seems to diffuse itself throughout the whole Body of Dancers at this Theatre; even the Figurants acquit themselves in a manner that deserves the encouragement of the Public

Event Comment: Performed after the manner of an Oratorio. With the original Music [to William Macon's play] as composed by the late Dr Arne. To begin at 7:00. Boxes 7s. 6d. Pit 4s. 1st Gallery 3s. 2nd Gallery 2s

Event Comment: Benefit for Sga Sestini. Gherardi, though very ill, yet being unwilling to disappoint the Nobility, Gentry and Public who intend honouring Sga Sestini with their presence at her Benefit this Evening, has undertaken to perform in the best manner he is able, and hopes for the indulgence of the Audience. Opera: The music composed by Paisiello

Event Comment: Benefit for Mme Simonet. Public Advertiser, 21 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mme Simonet, No. 5, Dover-street, Piccadilly. "[Vestris's] forcible manner of characterising the passions in the part of Jason distinguished him as an actor superior to all his contemporaries. Mme Simonet in Medea, it is said by the judges, is equal to him as an actress" (London Magazine, Apr. 1781, p. 156)