Event Comment: Pit and Boxes to be put together, and no Persons to be admitted without Tickets, which will be delivered this Day, at the said Office at Half a Guinea each. Gallery 5s. By His Majesty's Command, No Person will be admitted behind the Scenes. To begin at 6:30 p.m. Great care is taken to keep the House warm. [Repeated in the subesquent bills. Signora Mingotti appears to be the promoter this year.

Event Comment: [Music] compos'd by Mr Arne went of with Great Applause (Cross). With Proper Dances and Decorations. Books of the Opera will be sold at the Theatre price 1s. [The cast is first listed 17 Jan. 1757.] Receipts: #130 (Cross)

Event Comment: [Pantomime new by Woodward] Went off with great Applause. ye Cyclops Dance encored (Cross). New Habits, Scenes, and Decorations. Full Prices. As the performance greatly depends upon the Music and Machinery, no gentleman can possibly be admitted into the Orchestra or behind the Scenes. [This prohibition repeated in all subsequent performances, will not be further noted here.] N.B. The Play of the Revenge oblig'd to be deferred on account of Mossop's indisposition. Receipts: #210 (Cross)

Event Comment: None admitted behind the Scenes. No after money returned after the Curtain is drawn up. [Repeated during the run of this piece.] A new Farce of 2 acts wrote by Dr Smolet-went off wth Great App: (Cross). [See Theatrical Review for the Year 1757 and the beginning of 1758, for contemporary comment.] Receipts: #200 (Cross)

Event Comment: At the Great Room, Dean St., Soho. At 6:30 p.m. Prices half a Guinea and 5s. Benefit Mrs Pontifex, Downey, West Wycombe, Bucks, whose Husband was murdered, and all Stock in their Farm destroyed by Fire

Event Comment: Afterpiece by Mr Foote (Cross). [Foote advertised that persons in the Author were fictitious, some having said his past friends were introduced. See Theatrical Review, 1757, and Public Advertiser this day: "Whereas it has been represented to the Managers of Drury Lane that Mr Foote in his new Farce call'd the Author, intends introducing the Character of a Gentleaan for whom he has the greatest esteem and regard, he thinks it incumbent upon him to assure the Public, that all the persons in that piece are fictitious and general. Samuel Foote."] Receipts: #200 (Cross)

Event Comment: At the Crown Tavern, Great Room. To begin at 6:30 p.m. Prices 5s. Wrote by Gay set by Handel. [Notice signed by J. Reynolds.

Event Comment: At the Great Room, Dean St., Soho. By Mr Handel. Benefit for Signora Frasi. Tickets Half a Guinea. Gallery 5s. To begin at 6:30 p.m

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Pritchard. Part of Pit laid into Boxes. Tickets and places to be had of Mrs Pritchard at her house in Great Queen St., Lincoln's Inn Fields; and at Pritchard's Warehouse in Tavistock St. Receipts: "230 (Cross)

Event Comment: [This month in the Gentleman's Magazine (p. 168) in an article entitled an Estimate of the Manners and Principles of the Times, appeared this paragraph: 'Tho' a great genius has rendered the stage the last refuge of manly taste, and with a variety of powers beyond example, establish'd nature. Shakespeare and himself, yet it is to be feared the crowd of spectators is drawn by secondary circumstances, as the fashionable part of it sit with the same face of admiration at Lear, an Opera, and a pantomime.'

Event Comment: Benefit for Dyer. No Building on the Stage. Tickets of Dyer at Mr Eastgate's, Hosier, in Great Russel St., Covent Garden, and of Crudge at the Stage Door

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Pritchard. Part of Pit laid into boxes. Tickets of Miss Pritchard in Great Queen St., Lincoln's Inn Fields and at Pritchard's Warehouse in Tavistock St. Receipts: #340 (Cross)

Event Comment: Afterpiece alter'd from Beaumont & Fletcher (Cross) being a sequel to Catherine and Petruchio; or, The Taming of the Shrew (Public Advertiser). Benefit for Pritchard. Tickets of Pritchard in Great Queen St.; Lincoln's Inn Fields; and at Pritchard's Warehouse in Tavistock St. [The Larpent MS 133 lists the characters: Sophocles, Tranio, Maria, Bianca, Jaques, Petruchio, Petronius, Pedro, Citizens, Countrymen, Doctor, Apothecary, 1st Watch, 2nd Watch.] Receipts: #140 (Cross)

Event Comment: This day at noon, Mr Yates of Drury Lane and Mr Shuter of Covent Garden Theatres at the new erected Great Concert Hall, the Greyhound Inn, Smithfield, intend to divert the Town during the short time of Bartholomew Fair with variety of Entertainments

Event Comment: Boxes 2s. 6d. Pit 1s. 6d. Gallery 1s. Upper Gallery 6d. The Scenes, Cloaths, Music, Paintings and all other Acommodations are entirely New. The passage will be illuminated, for the better accommodation of the gentry. To begin each day at twelve o'clock. The Booth is made theatrical and commodious for the reception of Gentlemen and Ladies, and a good band of music provided, consisting of Violins, Bassoons, Hautboys, &c. [This note repeated on each subsequent bill.] At the Great Theatrical Booth, George Inn Yard, West Smithfield

Event Comment: At the Great Theatrical Booth, George Inn Yard

Event Comment: [For Cross' comment, see dl.] Receipts: #203 8s. 6d. Paid Barry one third of the surplus of this night's receipt over and above #80 allow'd for the charges:-#41 2s. 10s. Paid Lambert (Scene Painter) 3 month's salary to 16 Nov. last:-#25 (Account Book). [Lee, who seems to have entered earlier on a percentage-of-Box-Receipts: basis for his salary, received only one-third of receipts above a house charge of #100.] The Tragedy of King Lear was presented on this stage; King Lear by Mr Barry, and Cordelia by Mrs Bellamy; The latter was received with universal satisfaction; but on the former's appearance, after a thundering Peal of Applause, a few misguided persons made it necessary for Mr Barry to inform the audience that it ever had been his study to contribute his utmost to the entertainment of the town, and that all reports of his having been exorbitant in his demands were injurious and totally groundless. Upon this he was desired with one general acclamation to proceed in the play. The disturbers of the public were ordered to be silent or to be turned out of the house; and this great actor proved, by the improvement he has made in this character, that excellent as he is, he is still capable of reaching new strokes of perfection; and in the conclusion of the play the applause he met with was the tribute of hearts gratefully agitated through the whole performance with a variety of passions thrown into a ferment by powers most wonderfully suited to tenderness and compassion (London Chronicle, 3-6 Dec.)

Event Comment: While we were at Rehearsal, Mr Aprice, came to Mr Garrick, full of complaints of Mr Foote's taking him off in the Author & a long & high Argument ensu'd, nor was it settled, but a farther meeting appointed at eight that Night at the Rose, where Foote join'd 'em--a great deal of abuse between him & Aprice; I don't know ye particulars, but it was order'd to remain at the bottom for Tuesday, but, as I hear, it is to be done no more (Cross)

Event Comment: Written by Mr Hume. Author of Douglas. Went off wth. great Applause (Cross). A New Tragedy. The Music composed by Dr Boyce. As this is the 1st night of representation, and much depends upon keeping the scenes clear, 'tis hoped no gentleman will be offended that he cannot be admitted upon the stage or into the orchestra. [See Theatrical Review, 1757 and Beginning of 1758 for contemporary comment on source, and at act-by-act progress of play. Judicial but appreciative. Finds some rant and bombast, as well as inconsistency, in Lysander 's characterization: "If...not...known that the author of Agis is the same to whom we are indebted for Douglas, one would not have suspected those two tragedies to have sprung from the same pen...Agis inspires us with admonition; Douglas speaks forcibly to our softer feelings. In Douglas he has shown himself perfect master of nature and the human heart: in Agis of contrivance in point of plot and incidents. What a masterpiece may not we expect from such talents when united in one tragedy!"] Receipts: #200 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Sparks. Receipts: #83 2s. 6d. plus Tickets #184 12s. (boxes 335; pit 551; gallery 182). Advanced Mrs Bellamy on her salary #105. Two new Renters came in at 1 share each: Sir Thomas Robinson and Robert Hassell (Account Book). Mr Smith takes this earliest opportunity to return thanks the Ladies and Gentlemen who honoured him with their presence at his Benefit on Tuesday Night, and is very sorry for any interruption that might happen in the performance. The indulgence of his friends that night far exceeded his most sanguine exceptations; otherwise he should have provided proper accomodations for them on the stage (Public Advertiser). [See Theatrical Review, 1757 and Beginning of 1758, for contemporary comment on mainpiece: "It is not paying it a very great, much less an underserved compliment to give it the preference over all the dramatic pieces that have been presented at either house these six or seven years...Tears were the first praises I gave it...no play except Lear ever make such a strong constant impression on my feelings."

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Abegg. At the Great Room, Dean St. Soho. Announced for 27 March but postponed because of indisposition of Mrs Abegg

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Cibber. Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Not acted these 3 years. [See 8 April 1756.] The great Demand Mrs Cibber has had for places, has oblig'd her to lay the whole Pit into the Boxes; and the Stage form'd into an Amphitheatre, where servants will be admitted to keep places. Tickets deliver'd for Barbarossa 9 March will be taken. Receipts: #300 (Cross)

Event Comment: There are Places inclosed for the Ladies to sit, and it is humbly hoped that the Gentlemen will not be offended, as it is impossible to accommodate everyone with Seats. To begin at Six. Public Advertiser, 12 and 13 June: Sga Seratina and Mr Reinhold distinguished themselves beyond expectation and the Company was pleas'd to say that Sga Seratina was in no way inferior to the famous Spiletta. Performed before a very genteel and numerous audience with great applause. It will continue to be performed Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays

Event Comment: PPublic Advertiser: The Uncommon Applause of the new Entertainment...has excited the curiosity of a great many of the Nobility and Gentry that had never seen Marybone before. Sga Seratina and Mr Reinhold have distinguished themselves surprisingly; and though this Entertainment is performed in the English Language, clearly proves, that it is in the Power of an Englishman, to excel even the Italians in that kind of performance; Sga Seratina (though an Italian) expresses the English Dialect with all the Graces, and proper Expressions, which that kind of performance requires. [Books of the performance to be had at the Bar 6d. each.

Event Comment: At Yates@Shuter Booth. Great care will be taken to provide a proper Guard, to keep the Passages to and from the hall clear, that the Nobility and Gentry may pass without interruption. Noon to 10 p.m