Event Comment: By Particular Desire. Before the King of Denmark. To being at 7:00 p.m. London Evening Post: Died Mrs Pritchard 20 August after an illness of 10 days. The pains she endured which were great indeed she bore with a fortitude and resignation which the true Christian could only support. She actually obtained a victory over Death, expressing in her last moment the utmost composure, felicity and firmest hope of a lofty change in life and death. She was in all a pattern of worthy immitation

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. The Doors By Particular Desire will be opened at Five. The Play to begin exactly at Half an Hour after Six. Played for the King of Denmark. [The anecodote is recorded by Genest, V, 237, that the king fell asleep. Annoyed, Mrs Yates, playing Alicia, drew near his Box and with violent exertion of voice cried out in her part "O Thou False Lord!" The King aroused declared he would not be married to a woman with such a voice for the world. The London Evening Post, however, for 10 Oct. states, "Mrs Yates had the greatest honour done her, after playing Jane Shore, by the King of Denmark going to her and thanking her for the pleasure she had given him." (Winston MS 10).] Receipts: #157 9s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: HHopkins Diary: This morning a printed paper was handed about requesting the lovers of theatrical Performances to meet this evening at the theatre to insist upon the doors not being opened till five o'clock.--As soon as the curtain was up, they called for Mr Garrick, and would not suffer the play to begin. Mr King went on and told the audience, "that he was desired by the managers to tell them the doors for the future should not be opened till Five," A great Clap,--He added, "that the managers was always willing to oblige the publick in everything that was in their power; but they thought that on very full nights it would be attended with some inconvenience." They would not hear of any alteration,--he then told them, "the doors should always for the future be opened at five, unless the public applyed to have it altered." All then was quiet and the play began. Mr Weston, whose name was in the Bills for Jerry, was taken suddenly ill, and Mr W. Palmer went on for it without an apology.--called out, "Mr Holland, what is the reason we have not Mr Weston according to your publication in the Bills?" They then were told he was taken suddenly ill--"then pray make an apology for him" they said.--Another gentleman called out "Don't answer him, Mr Holland, you do him too much honor by deigning to answer him."--then all was quiet, and the play went on

Event Comment: Doors opened at 6 o'clock. To Begin (By Particular Desire) exactly at Seven. Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. King of Denmark. Lusignan-Mr Garrick (Cross Diary). For the King of Denmark.--At a Quarter after seven, an Apology was made by Mr Holland--viz.--"The King, being detained longer than he expected, sent word to desire the play might begin as he would not by any means make the publick wait, and he would come as soon as he possibly could,--and he [Holland] desired to know the audience's pleasure whether it should begin before he came."--A great clap and cry'd "No,"--not begin till he comes"--At thirty-five minutes after seven he came, and the play began (Hopkins Diary)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 9 years. [See 7 Feb. 1757.] Mr J. Aickin hissed.--Mr Holland and Mrs Baddeley played well (Hopkins Diary). Mr Garrick had the honour of being with the King of Denmark Tuesday morning last, and conversed with him for near half an hour on the state of the stage in England and France. The King gave him an elegant gold snuff-box studded with diamonds as a small mark of the great regard he had for his extraordinary talents (London Evening Post, 14 Oct.)

Event Comment: [The Young Gentleman who played Zaphna was Wroughton. "His real name was Rottan, but altered euphonia gratia. He was designed for a surgeon and served his apprenticeship at Bath. The following playbills show that he met with approbation on the stage. He remained with Covent Garden from this time till the end of the season 1785-86. He then played in Ireland one Winter, and was engag'd at Drury Lane Theatre in the beginning of the season 1787-88. This was the occasion of Mr Wroughton's leaving Covent Garden, I mean it was thus conjectured. Mr Lewis had been appointed manager of that theatre for Mr Harris. Mr Lewis and Mr Wroughton lived next door neighbors in Broad Court at the top of Bow Street, and were sworn friends:--they laughed together, lived together--In the season 1784-85 two new performers Mr Holman and Mr Pope, appeared on the Covent Garden Stage--these young men were great favorites with Mr Harris; Mr Holman, attracting at this time very crowded audiences, stood so particularly high in his regard, that his partiality made him guilty of some injustice to older and abler actors in the theatre. Mr Henderson had really cause to complain of neglect; and Mr Wroughton thought himself equally oppressed. At this time we had a Club and met every Wednesday fortnight during Lent at the Long Room in Hamstead at dinner. Our Club consisted of a certain number of us belonging indifferently to either theatre, and two or three other gentlemen who were not actors. Mr King, Mr Quick, Mr Farren, Mr Mattocks, myself, etc., etc. When the bottle had a little warmed Mr Wroughton he threw out some sarcasms on his Friend Mr Lewis's management; Mr Lewis retorted; Their tempers grew hot, their words grew aggravating; Mr Wroughton struck Mr Lewis; Mr Lewis returned the blow. They were parted; all the pleasures of the day were over, and the Club broke up in confusion. I was not present this day, but have related what Mr Siddons told me of this Quarrel, and I imagine that Mr Wroughton's attack on Mr Lewis sprang from a suspicion that he was too willing to execute Mr Harris's designs in favour of Mr Holman. Be this as it may, Mr Wroughton was discharged from cg at the expiration of his Articles with Mr Harris."--Hopkins MS Notes.] Receipts: #186 3s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: This tragedy was wrote by Mr Dow,--went off but So, so.--some hisses thro' the play, and at the end also when given out.--The scenery and dresses was very fine, was well adapted, and had applause.--Miss Younge played very bad, and much disliked--Mr Holland and Mr Aickin played well (Hopkins Diary). New Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations. [The Prologue is Larpent MS 289. It follows in content the suggestions of the Prologue to the Orphan of China ten seasons earlier:@"Too much the Greek and Roman chiefs engage@The Muse's care--they languish on our stage;@The modern bard struck with the vast applause@Of ancient masters, like the painter draws@From models only.--Can such copies charm@The Heart, or like the glow of Nature warm?@To fill the scene, tonight our author brings@Originals at least, --Warriours and Kings,@Heroes who like their Gems, unpolish'd shine,@The mighty fathers of the Tartar line,@Greater than those whom classic pages boast,@If those are greatest who have conquored most."@ An account of the plot of the mainpiece is in Lloyd's Evening Post, 16-19 Dec. Concludes: The play is said to have been written by Mr Dow, who lately favored the public with an accurate History of the Hindoos. The decorations and dresses were very magnificent. The performers who were the most distinguished by the audience were Mr Holland, Miss Younge, Mr Aickin, and Mr Jefferson. Mr Holland spoke the Prologue and Mrs Abington the Epilogue the latter of which furnished infinite entertainment, from the spirit and humour of that admirable actress. A Two column resume of the play appears in the Public Advertiser, 19 Dec.

Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. Theatrical Register, 1769: We cannot rank this among th most capital of Mr Handel's oratorios; and yet it has great merit in one particular, viz. the attempt to characterize the idea of the plagues of Egypt by the power of music, in which, perhaps, the composer has carried the force of imitation to its utmost extent. Charges: #35 (Account Book)

Event Comment: N.B. On Saturday Next, 11 March, for the Benefit of Woodward will be presented Cymbeline...and a New Tragedy in Two Acts, call'd The Rival Favourites; or, The Death of Bucephalus the Great: Alexander-$Woodward; Philip-$Shuter; Statira-$Mrs Green. With a Triumphal Entry. The Funeral Procession of Bucephalus to the Monument of the Houyhnhnms and a Solemn Dirge [See Comment 7, 9, 11 March.] Receipts: #208 7s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Woodward. Ladies send servants by 4 o'clock. Charges #66 19s. Balance to Woodward #87 16s. 6d. plus #65 15s. from 263 Box tickets (Account Book). [The proposed afterpiece, Dr Schomberg's burlesque tragedy, The Rival Favourites; or, Death of Bucephalus the Great (Public Advertiser, 4 March), had been sent to the Licenser 27 Feb., had been cast, and put in rehearsal, but was dropped and never played there. It had been done in Edinburgh in 1765. Larpent MS 293 is the Edinburg edn. The rivals are Statira and the Horse, Statira bribes Alexander's physician to kill Bucephalus.] Receipts: #154 16s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Yates. Tragedy written by R. Glover. Part of Pit will be laid into Boxes. Send servants by 4 o'clock. Charges #64 19s. Balance to Yates #52 19s. plus #151 3s. from tickets (Box 589; Pit 26) (Account Book). Neville MS Diary: Having places in the Pit at Covent Garden went to see Mrs Yates do Medea in which she is inimitably great. My strong desire to see her in this character was one reason of continuing to town so long. Read her part before the play began. Her husband is truly comic in Tim in the Knights. Receipts; #117 18s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: HHopkins MS Memorandum Book: Mrs Barry sent word she was so ill she could not come out for the Pageant [The Jubilee]. If she did she could not play in the Mourning Bride on Monday. I waited on her by the manager's orders & told her they would excuse her playing on Monday if she would come out & do her part in Pageant; & as it was a thing of great consequence to them, they desir'd and expected as she had begun it [as the Tragic Muse] that she would continue it as long as she was able. Her answer was, that as they seem'd to think it of such consequence she would come out & do it tonight & Monday night, but after that desir'd to be excus'd from do[ing] it. On Tuesday Morning Mr Barry sent a note that Mrs Barry was ill in her Bed & could not come out till she was better. Tancred & Sigismunda was call'd, and I did not receive the note till the rehearsal was begun. I also on Saturday deliver'd a message to Mrs Barry from Mr Garrick that he would never ask her to play in anything in which he was particularly interested. Her answer was that was in his Rage. But if his mind should alter, she was ready and willing to do anything he would desire her to do

Event Comment: Mainpiece: An English Opera [from Rolt's The Royal Shepherd]. Never perform'd there. The Music selected from the best composers, and adapted by Tenducci. Books of Opera to be had at theatre. [Argument from Edition of 1769: Among the most celebrated actions ascribed to Alexander the Great, may be well ranked that of delivering the Kingdom of Sidon from the tyrant Strato; and instead of taking the dominion himself, restoring the crown to the next lawful heir, who, ignorant of his pretensions to it, lived as a shepherd in the country near Sidon, of which a more particular account may be found in Quintus Curtius, Book IV, Chap. 10. The superstructure of the fable raised on this historical foundation, will be seen in the course of the drama." The Plot sketched out in a review in the Freeholder's Magazine, Dec.] Receipts: #137 14s

Event Comment: [See note for 9 Jan. 1770 of a mild riot this night during best scene of The Orphan.] Afterpiece: A New Opera [by George Alexander Stevens] the Music composed by Mr Fisher. Books of the entertainment to be had at the theatre. Gave Duke of Glocester's Footmen #2 2s. (Account Book). [Afterpiece a roaring burlesque of Lee's Rival Queens. Larpent MS 302 includes Semi Chorus, Grand Chorus, and Perdiccas, not listed in the Playbill. The Court awakes with total hangover. Alexander orders a pot of coffee to clear his head. Thais begs him to leave the gout giving juice-Retire with me @ In my Chinese pavilion, drink some Tea." Afterpiece reviewed inthe Freeholder's Magazine for Jan.] Mr Shuter and Mrs Mattocks gave great satisfaction in their different characters; the words of the songs were written by Mr George Alexander Stephens, author of the celebrated Lecture upon Heads, and several other whimsical productions; and the airs which had Uncommon merit, were composed by Mr Fisher, a young genius, who has hitherto been but little known in the musical world. Receipts: #215 8s. 6d

Event Comment: MMiss Weller a Pupil of Dr Arne first appear'd and-(Hopkins Diary). London Evening Post, 11 Jan.; A pupil of Dr Arne and scarecely 19 years of age; her figure is that of the tallest of the middle size, well proportioned and at present possesses a dignity and grace which when habit brings her to perfection cannot fail of being universally admired. Her face is oval with an aqualine nose and though from the timidity of a first appearance the rest of her features lost that necessary animation, yet there were periods when she could disposses herself of her confusion, that prognosticated great expression of countenance. Her voice was clear, commanding, and melodious, and her ear and manner both excellent. She is that kind of singer that one can be pleased from looking at as well as from hearing, --an excellence few vocal performers possess. Her acting abstracted from her voice would have done credit to a first appearance, as it was very pleasing and properly accompanied....What the managers could mean in casting Lucy for Miss Pope is extraordinary, as she sung, or indeed rather squalled every song so much out of tune that it was impossible for the music to accompany her; we do not however mean by this to cast the least reflection on so excellent an actress, as her spirited and judicious manner of playing it almost atoned for that of singing it

Event Comment: [Alter'd from +Lionel and Clarissa. Mrs Wrighten made her first appearance in the Stage in Diana. A very fine Voice--Aukward & Clumsy figure--Well faced (Hopkins Diary). Mrs Wrighten's first Appearance (Cross Diary). New Scenes, Dresses and Decorations. Greater part of the Music entirely New (playbill)

Event Comment: This day Publish'd Price 6d. Three Old Women Weatherwise: an Interlude, as performed with great applause at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane. Printed for S. Bladon

Event Comment: Benefit for Barthelemon. A new Entertainment by Barthelemon. Admittance 3s. N.B . Tickets sold in the Fields in Great Marybone St., and at the doors (as they were at Mrs Barthelemon's night at the low rate of three tickets for a shilling) are forged and will not be admitted

Event Comment: Mr Inchbald from the Norwich Compy. made his first appearance in Osmyn very bad Figure, Indifferent voice and a very bad Actor. a Small hiss at End of Play (Hopkins Diary). Osmyn, Young Gentleman (Cross Diary). This appears to be the last night of Miss Younge's performing in London this season--She left Drury Lane, and went ot Dublin. Mr Joseph Inchbald became an actor in the York Company of Comedians--He died at Leeds in Yorkshire, where he is buried--I knew him intimately--he was an excellent man, and an admirable actor of old comic characters, and of drunken men--He was at once-poor fellow-the greatest Sloven and in many Particulars of the nicest Delicacy too, that could be imagined (Hopkins Diary-MacMillan)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A Tragedy [by Hugh Kelly] never perform'd. The performance of Mrs Yates alone could have counteracted, for nine nights, its natural tendency towards damnation....A gentleman being asked, after one of the representations of this play, if he did not hiss it, replied "How could I? A Man can't hiss and yawn at the same time." (Biographia Dramatica.) [The advertisement to the 1771 edition thanks Mrs Yates, Bensley, Wroughton, "for their great good nature in undertaking their respective characters at the short notice of a week, when Mr Ross unexpectedly returned the part of Anselmo, which had been in his possession above a fortnight." This circumstance, continues the advertisement oblig'd Mr Bensley, cast for Palermo to undertake Mr Savigny's part, orginally Granville, Savigny taking Anselmo, and Wroughton Palermo." The play was brought on anonymously to avoid political repercussions associated with the name of the author.

Event Comment: By Order of the Grand Buck. Benefit for Wignell and Barnshaw. Places will be kept in the Boxes for the Brethren of the Most Noble Order, who are desired to meet the Grand Buck and his Council at the Shakespeare's Head, in the Great Piazza, Covent Garden; by Five o'clock, in order to proceed from thence to the Theatre in Procession

Event Comment: Benefit for Theatrical Fund. Afterpiece: By Desire. Pit and Boxes together. Play begins half past six. Benedick, Mr Garrick (Cross Diary). No admittance into Pit or Boxes but with tickets. Ladies urged to come early to get to their places with greater Conveniency

Event Comment: Last Night of Performing This Season. [Great overflow last Thursday...play will be repeated tonight.

Event Comment: Miss Younge having been a Season in Ireland is now return'd play'd Well & was receiv'd with Great Applause (Hopkins Diary). Potter, Theatrical Review: We must beg leave to point out a small error in her playing the part of Imogen; and which was too obvious to escape notice: --When Iachimo arrives from Italy...he is introduc'd to her by Pissanio who says..."Madam, a noble gentleman of Rome comes from my Lord with letters." And Iachimo on his first appearance informs her, that "the worthy Leonatus is in safety." These circumstances ought to awaken the highest joy and transport in Imogen, instead of which, we wer sorry to observe, she dropped a solemn curtsey, and without one joyous feature said, with the utmost langor, "Thanks good sir, &c." And even after she had read the letter...she addresses herself to him again with the same indifference. Rec'd Mrs Groath, 1 yrs. Rent to Xmas last #3, and from Mr Atkins on Acct #5 5s.; Advanc'd Mr Barry, Box Office keeper #15; Ditto to Mr Watson, Box Office Keeper #10 (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #164 5s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: A New Scene was introduced at the End of the Elopement call'd the Rejoicing Night & finish'd with the Sailors Pageant...the whole receiv'd great Applause (Hopkins Diary). Mainpiece: By Deisre. Paid 2 notes of Mr Weston #9 4s. 10d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #200 2s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)