Event Comment: Benefit Woodward. Mainpiece: An Historical Play, never acted there before [see 20 March 1738]. At the Particular Desire of several Persons of Quality. As written by Shakespear. Containing the wars of Cymbeline with the Romansr, in the reign of Augustus Caesar; the various distresses and Adventures of Imogen the King's Daughter; the noble repulse the Romans met with, on their invading Britain; their defeat, and many other historical passages. Ladies are desired to send their servants early to prevent mistakes. To be Lett, and enter'd upon on Monday next, the 7th instant Commodious Places in the Front and Upper Boxes...for the excellent reviv'd play of Shakespear... For further Particulars enquire of Mr Woodward, at his house near the theatre [in advance bills]

Event Comment: Not Acted these Eight Years [see 24 April 1741]. Benefit Cibber, Jr. Tickets and places of Hobson at the Stage door. Tickets ddliver'd out for All's Well at Covent Garden theatre will be taken to the above mentioned play this night. [Mrs Clive's Prologue recommended the cause of Liberty to the Ladies of Great Britain. Cibber had pleaded in his advance advertisement on 5 April in the General Advertiser.] As I have in justice to my creditors assigned over so much of my salary as reduces the remainder to a very small pittance, I very much depend on the encouragement and indulgence of the town at my Benefit. [On the day of the benefit he inserted in the General Advertiser a long, double column address to the Publick puffing his Benefit, and scotching a rumor industriously and invidiously spread that he came to Drury Lane only to impede Mrs Cibber in her performance there. In this he washes in public the linen of his domestic affairs at some length, professing his virtue, forbearance, and generosity, and Mrs Cibber's unfairness and ingratitude, citing her salary as about #700 per year, not a penny of which would she afford for his relief from creditors, or to bail him out of the Fleet prison where he languished six months. He alleges that she was instrumental in forming a cartel between the rival theatrical managers with precluded his employment by either house, and that she refused to act a benefit for him when he was in debtor's prison.

Event Comment: Last night at the New Wells in Goodman's Fields there was such a crouded audience to see the Performance that numbers were oblig'd to go away for want of Places. The Proprietor having been at great expence on this Occasion, in representing the Battle near Culloden House and defeating the Rebels, that it has given universal Pleasure to all that have seen it; which will be perform'd this night with several other new Performances.--General Advertiser, 29 April

Event Comment: Tickets deliver'd out by Mr Davis will be taken. [Bransby doubled in Oxford and Tyrrel. The General Advertiser quoted a long Epilogue on the Birthday of his Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland Written by the Farmer (who had taken over the role of Swift's Drapier) and spoken by Garrick in Dublin. It also quoted the following long puff for Ray's Benefit to come]: Sir, As long acquaintance best entitles us to friendly good natured offices, and as no more proper time can be found to confer them than when the person is in the Decline of life, give me leave to recommend (thro' your means) Mr Ray of Drury Lane Theatre, the oldest actor now belonging to that House, to the Favour of the Town, at his ensuing Benefit next Saturday. A person who once agreeably entertained the Public, should always feel the warmth of their Indulgence, tho' the Infirmities of Old age may have render'd him less pleasing than formerly. This Application is therefore meant to those friends of his, whom Distance of time, and change of Situation may have made it impossible any other way to acquaint them, that The Merchant of Venice is to be acted for his Benefit on Saturday next; therefore 'tis hoped they will be so kind as to send for his Tickets to Mr Hobson, in the Playhouse Passage, or to Mr Ray's lodgings, the second Door in Queen's Court, Great Queen St., Lincoln's Inn Fields, and the Favour will ever be greatly acknowledged by him

Event Comment: TTiled Booth, Bowling Green. A Concert, etc. Benefit Mrs Bambridge. Particular care is taken that the Parts will be performed by comedians from both Houses

Event Comment: Mainpiece Containing the Distresses and Death of King Henry the Sixth; the Artful Acquisition of the Crown by King Richard; The Cruel Murder of Prince Edward and his Brother in the Tower; the Landing of the Earl of Richmond, and the death of King Richard in the Memorable battle of Bosworth Fieldv; being the last that was fought between the Houses of York and Lancaster. Receipts: #160 19s

Event Comment: At the Late Wells, at the bottom of Lemon St., Goodman's Fields, a Concert, etc. The House is alter'd in a more Theatrical Manner, is made warm, and Front Boxes made at the upper end of the Pit. We shall perform every Night. Boxes 2s. 6d. Pit and First Gallery 1s. 6d. Upper Gallery 1s. 6 p.m

Event Comment: Altered from Dryden by Colley Cibber....a Man who was in the Upper Gallery...threw an apple from thence, with an intent, as is suppos'd to hit some person who was looking through the Curtain, but struck a Lady of Quality in the face, who sat in the stage box; upon which the manager order'd the Constable attending the House to make inquiry after the person who did it, and he was immediately apprehended, on the information of several people who sat near him, and was, by the Lady's desire carried before a Justice, who would have committed him for the assault; but on his begging Pardon, and promising never to offend in the like manner, she was pleas'd to forgive him, and he was discharg'd.--As it was a Publick Affront some Gentlemen would have had him brought on the stage to make a Public acknowledgment of his folly;--and tis hop'd that will be the punishment hereafter, for those who offend in the like manner.--General Advertiser, 3 Nov

Event Comment: Attendance will be given this and every Day from Ten in the Morning 'till Three in the Afternoon, at the Opera House in the Haymarket, in order to take in Subscriptions for the Second Subscription to Operas; and whereas the number of Representations for the first Subscription has not been compleated; This is to give notice to the Subscribers, that by sending to the Office, they will have the Money for the deficient Number of Representations returned them; or if they please to go on with the Second Subscription, the Deficiency of the first which ends this Night will be made up to them in the Price of the Tickets for the Second Subscription

Event Comment: WWalpole to Sir Horace Mann: We have operas but no company at them; the Prince and Lord Middlesex Impresarii. Plays only are in fashion; at one house the best company that perhaps ever were together, Quin, Garrick, Mrs Pritchard, Mrs Cibber: at the other Barry, a favorite young actor and the Violette, whose dancing our friends don't like: I scold them, but all the answer is "Lord! you are so English."-Horace Walpole's Correspondence with Sir Horace Mann, II, 42

Event Comment: TThe Suspicious Husband deferr'd by Garrick's Indisposition (General Advertiser). [The House this night carried on its books a profitable balance of #2416 6s. 8d.] Receipts: #100 9s

Event Comment: TThe Suspicious Husband deferr'd by Garrick's Indisposition [repeated in the bills]. From The Museum, or Literary and Historical Register, No 25, 28 Feb. 1747, p. 382: On the Present State of the Theatre: I remember when you and I were last in Town together, some years ago, we were eternally repining at the wretched condition of the stage. Quin was then at the head of the Fraternity; but a very different man from what he is at present, and merely a bad copy of Booth; with all his mouthing and pageantry, but without his musical elocution, or his dignity. Whether Time or Emulation has had the greatest hand in Improving him, I know not; but certain it is, that he is improved, beyond what you will really imagine. He has got much more variety, and much more Spirit. He was always a tolerably just speaker; but then he has hardly anything more; he recited rather than acted....However, Rich has...got Quin, Garrick, Mrs Cibber and Mrs Pritchard to the new house. The consequence has been, that the stage was never, in my memory, so fashionable; not even in the Time of Mrs Oldfield's highest fame. A good taste both of acting and of plays themselves, is much more general than I ever expected to have seen it; and those who are skilled in such matters, tell me, that Rich will be a greater gainer this season than has been known for these many years. Receipts: #108 1s. 6d

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Clive. Mainpiece written by Beaumont and Fletcher, never acted there. Servants allow'd to keep places on the stage which will be form'd into front and side boxes, and so commodiously enclos'd as to prevent the Ladies from taking cold. Ladies send servants by three. Tickets of Mrs Clive at her House in Great Queen Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields, and of Hobson at the stage door

Event Comment: At the particular Desire of several Persons of Quality. Benefit Mrs Giffard. Tickets to be had of her at her house, No 11 in Craven Buildings, Drury Lane, and of Hobson at the stage door where places may be taken

Event Comment: Benefit Macklin. Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. The Farce never before acted. Tickets to be had of Macklin at his House in Bow St; and of Hobson at the stage door where places may be taken for the Boxes.--General Advertiser. [Afterpiece by Charles Macklin.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: At the Desire of Several Persons of Quality. Benefit John Hippisley. [Receipts: #72 17s. 6d. plus #93 1s. from tickets without Stage (Account Books, Egerton 2268)]. Receipts: #165 18s. 6d. We hear Mr Hippisley is so far recover'd from his late illness, that, tho' considerably alter'd in his physiognomy, and lower'd in spirits, he persuades himself a crowded house on Thursday next, at the Stratagem for his benefit, will create a smile on his countenance, raise his spirits, and make him appear as much a Scrub as ever

Event Comment: Benefit Reinhold and Mrs Furnival (General Advertiser). This day agreement was signed between Lacy and Garrick as new partners in the patent for Drury Lane theatre. The total present liabilities of the theatre, including the mortgage to Green and Amber, the mortgage to Hutchinson Meure, with the arrears due to actors and tradesmen, were calculated at about #12,000. It was besides burdened with an annuity to Calthorpe of #300, and another of #500 to Fleetwood. Of this #12,000 Garrick, helped by his friends found eight. Each party was to draw #500 a year as manager, and Garrick was to received besides #500 a year salary for his acting; but was restrained from playing at any other house, except on terms of dividing profits with his fellow manager.--Fitzgerald, Life of Garrick, p. 112

Event Comment: AA Letter to Mr Garrick on his having purchased a Patent for Drury Lane Play-House published. [Written by one who subscribed himself the Plain Dealer, it pointed out the troubles in store for the young manager from grievances from subordinates, arrogance from other actors (all individualists, no unity) failure from joint managership, grievances from public, and extraordinary expense from costume. He suggests the reasons for Garrick's jumping from actor to manager are vanity and avarice. He indicates Garrick's challenge and sums up the late troubled years of management under Fleetwood and Highmore.