SELECT * FROM london_stages WHERE MATCH('(@(authnameclean,perftitleclean,commentcclean,commentpclean) "James Murphey French"/1) | (@(roleclean,performerclean) "James Murphey French")') GROUP BY eventid ORDER BY weight() desc, eventdate asc OPTION field_weights=(perftitleclean=100, commentpclean=75, commentcclean=75, roleclean=100, performerclean=100, authnameclean=100), ranker=sph04

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We found 2140 matches on Author, 1342 matches on Performance Comments, 765 matches on Event Comments, 577 matches on Performance Title, and 0 matches on Roles/Actors.
Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Pritchard (Cross). Mainpiece: Not acted these 30 years. This day publish'd. Price 1s. Reflections upon Theatrical Expression in Tragedy. [By Roger Pickering. This is a defense of the theatrical profession, "which in all countries is considered low and contemptible." Author's thesis: "A master of theatrical expression in all its extensive significancy must be possess'd of such accomplishments, as to set the profession above all contempt." Garrick is mentioned as best example. True tragic expression "requires Genius, Education, Reading, Experience...and a solidity of thought which never accompanies abject morals" (p. 11). Includes an interesting treatise on acting-sections on figure, voice, ear, memory, management of feet and legs. Comments on costume: "Taste in dress demands that an actor be conversant in the mode of dress ancient and modern, in other countries as well as in our own...Alexander and Cato were not masters of the snuff box, nor Greek women of French heels." The appendix asks why all our plays are not dressed in character in point of time and place, and why they do not contain at least one "scene" proper to the country. The author (p. 61) sees need for variety in acting same role, especially when a play has a continuous run of several nights. He calls (p. 77) for creation of appropriate mood for the play by selection of proper music between the acts. Wants a softening of the prompter's bell. Concludes by damning contemporary audience manners, especially those of the stage loungers (pp. 79-81).] Receipts: #314 (Cross)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Mistake

Related Works
Related Work: All Mistaken; or, The Mad Couple Author(s): James Howard

Afterpiece Title: The Englishman in Paris

Song: II: The Cantata of Cimon and Iphigenia-Beard

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Unnatural Parents; Or, The Fair Maid Of The West

Afterpiece Title: The Comical Humours and Adventures of Trusty, her Father's Man, and Three Witches

Entertainment: Kettle Drums-Jos. Woodbridge. A Good Band is provided consisting of Kettle Drums, Trumpets, French Horns, Violins, Hautboys, Bassoons

Performance Comment: Woodbridge. A Good Band is provided consisting of Kettle Drums, Trumpets, French Horns, Violins, Hautboys, Bassoons.
Event Comment: When Mr Garrick ended the 3d Act with "Die wth pleasure for my Country's good"-a person in the Gall: cry'd no french Dancers then-wch seems to say much resentment will be shewn when the 24 we have engag'd appear (Cross). Receipts: #130 (Cross)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Jane Shore

Afterpiece Title: The Mock Doctor

Dance: IV: Lilliputian Sailors, as17551104

Event Comment: Mainpiece :By Particular Desire. The Orphan of China published. Price 1s. 6d. Dedicated to Garrick. Translated from the French of Voltaire. Acted at Paris with great applause. Published This Day Reflections on Theatrical Expression in Tragedy, with a proper introduction and appendix. For the character of the above see The Monthly Review for July (Public Advertiser). [This must be the second edition of Roger Pickering's pamphlet. See 13 March 1755.] Receipts: #170 (Cross)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Rehearsal

Afterpiece Title: The King and Miller of Mansfield

Event Comment: MMonr Delatre danc'd, no notice taken of the french (Cross). [Apprentice published--1s., by Mr Murphy.] Receipts: #130 (Cross)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Earl Of Essex

Related Works
Related Work: The Fall of the Earl of Essex Author(s): James Ralph

Afterpiece Title: The Apprentice

Dance: IV: Peasant Dance-

Event Comment: MMr Barbaut's Second Subscription Oratorio, taken from the First Book of Milton's Paradise Regained and set to music by Mr Charles Barbant in two parts with a solo upon the Violin by Signor Marella; a solo upon the German Flute by Mr Tacet; a Concerto on the Lute by Mr Servi?; a Hautboy concert by Mr Barbant; and an organ concerto ditto; and a Great Concerto with Clarinets, French Horns and Kettle-Drums, composed by Mr Barbant. Boxes and Pit put together at Half a Guinea each, Gallery 3s. Tickets to be had at Mr Barbant's, at Mr White's in Marshall St., Carnaby-Market; and at Mr Browne's Stationer [sic], facing the Opera House, Haymarket. To begin at half an Hour after six. N.B. the Books of the Oratorios stitched in Blue Paper at 1s. each are sold at Mrs Browne's [sic] in the Haymarket, and at the House on the night of the performance

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Oratorio From First Book Of Paradise Regained

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Macklin. Last time of Performing the Mainpiece this season. Afterpiece: Translated from the French by Macklin. Receipts: #190 (Cross)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Suspicious Husband

Afterpiece Title: A Will and no Will; or, A new case for the Lawyers

Dance: II: New Sailor's Dance, as17560217; End: A Minuet-Miss Macklin, Leviez. By Desire

Event Comment: This year was published A Collection of the Dresses of Different Nations, Antient and Modern, Particularly Old English Dresses after the Designs of Holbein, VanDyke, Hollar and others, with an account of the Authorities from which the figures are taken, and some short historical remarks on the subject. To which are added the Habits of the Principal characters on the English Stage. Two vols. with French Text [Recueil des Habiliments...] facing English text. Coptume plates included. Vol II for the English. Receipts: #200 (Cross)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Careless Husband

Afterpiece Title: Mercury Harlequin

Event Comment: Benefit for the French Dancers, tho' not in the Bills. It was to have been The Winter's Tale, but Mrs Cibber is taken ill (Cross). Tickets deliver'd for The Winter's Tale and Catherine and Petruchio will be taken. Last time of performing the mainpiece this season. Receipts: #140 (Cross)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Wonder

Related Works
Related Work: Ramah Droog; or, Wine does Wonders Author(s): James Cobb
Related Work: The Bird in a Cage; or, Money Works Wonders! Author(s): James Shirley

Afterpiece Title: Catherine and Petruchio

Event Comment: Benefit Sig and Signora Forti. [Actually a charity benefit, as the ship with their costumes was seized by the French.

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Il Ciro Riconosiuto

Dance: new dance% Il Divertimento Napolitano-

Event Comment: To begin each day at twelve noon and end at ten at night during the short time of St Bartholomew Fair at Yates' (from Drury Lane) Great Concert Hall in the Greyhound Inn, Smithfield. There is a commodious way to the Hall opposite the Sheep-Penn. The diverting entertainment contains the distresses of a young lady that was stolen by a French pirate; the gallantry of an English Captain who rescued her; their unfortunate shipwreck, and their being thrown upon a desolate island; their sufferings through famine; the unexpected relief they met with on a part of the island; governed only by women; their being afterwards seized as pirates; the punishment inflicted on them by the Female Goverment; and their amazing delivering by the Queen's finding her husband and her only son, whom she had lost and thought dead upwards of twenty years. Interspersed with the comical and diverting adventures of Lt Fireball, a true English Tar, Noddy a distressed Beau, Snivel Thimble, a tailor; Splitfarthing an Old Userer; and Glisterspite a Finical Surgeon. In which will be introduced a Dialogue between Mynheer Vanflawkin, a Dutchman, and Mynheer-the German

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Shipwrecked Lovers; Or, Friendly Perfidy Punished

Song: tragi-comic song in the Welch Taste call'd% Hugh Morgan's Lamentation-a Choice Spirit from Common's Court

Dance: Conclude: a song, dance-

Related Works
Related Work: Pamela Author(s): James Dance

Music: An extraordinary Band of Musick is furnished such as you don't hear every day

Event Comment: N.B. We have engag'd Mr King; & Miss Baker from Ireland, one Mr Moody, a Stroler,-Mr Beard is gone to Covent Garden, 'tis said to be manager Mr Mossop to Ireland. Receipts: #120 (Cross). Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places from Mr Varney at the Stage Door. No admittance behind scenes. [The customary note about prices and admittance will not be noted further here.] [At the opening of the theatres this season appeared an essay in Goldsmith's Bee, giving close observations upon actors, and deploring the relative stiffness and formality of English actors in comparison with the French. Advised English actors to travel abroad. Yet (Vol. 1759, p. 12) commented on the magnificnece of "our theatres as far superior to any others in Europe where plays only are acted. The great care our performers take in painting for a part, their exactness in all minutiae of dress, and other little scenical proprieties has been taken notice of by Riccoboni." Complains of the convention of laying a rug before a dying scene and of the vacant expressions of mutes on stage.

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Recruiting Officer

Afterpiece Title: The Intriguing Chambermaid

Event Comment: [G$Goldsmith's Bee (1759, p. 9) glances at Yates's clowning in the part of the Mock Doctor in comparison with the stage business of the French actors in the same part. The Mock Doctor in France 'pleased with his latinate bamboozling of the clients, kicks up his legs, falling over backwards in his chair." The English actor just fingers his snuff box, and keeps pulling up his breeches.] Receipts: #100 (Cross)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Romeo And Juliet

Afterpiece Title: The Mock Doctor

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Henry Jones. Afterpiece: [See note under cg play this night. During this year appeared An Essay Upon the Present State of the Theatre, in France, England, and Italy, a "work absolutely necessary to be read by every lover of Theatrical Exhibitions," printed for J. Pottinger. It contains twenty-two chapters on tragedy, thirteen on comedy, opera, authors, and the art of acting. Pages 147-51 discuss the obligation of English farces to French ones.] Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Earl Of Essex

Related Works
Related Work: The Fall of the Earl of Essex Author(s): James Ralph

Afterpiece Title: Harlequin's Invasion

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Universal Prayer

Performance Comment: In Two Parts with a Solo on the Violin-Hollendulla; Concerto on the Harpsichord and Hautbois by Barbandt-; Concerto upon the Tenor by Herschell-; And a Aacred Ode by Redmond, the Music by Barbandt-; To conclude with a grand Concerto on Clarinets and French Horns composed by Barbandt-.
Event Comment: Afterpiece: A New Musical Entertainment never perform'd before. The Music composed by Dr Arne. Full Prices. Boxes #53 (Account Book). [About 212 persons in Boxes. A profitable and popular afterpiece for Rich, but it cost him each night this season 10s. 6d. for Mr Wrexell for the Clarinet, and 5s. to Dell for the French Horn.] Receipts. #181 8s. (Account Book)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Minor

Afterpiece Title: Thomasand Sally; or, The Sailor's Return

Event Comment: Benefit for Smith. Part of Pit will be laid into Boxes. Tickets sold at the Door will not be admitted. The Charges include House charge: #63, plus Wax Candles #1 5s. plus Extra Guards #1 5s. 6d., plus a French Horn and 2 Side drums 7s. Receipts: #83 4s. 6d. plus #174 7s. from tickets (Box 382; Pit 447; Gallery 118) (Account Book). Charges: #65 17s. 6d. (Account Book)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: King Richard Iii

Afterpiece Title: The English Tars in America; or, The Good Woman Without a Head

Dance: III: A Comic Dance-Poitier Jr, Mlle Capdeville; After Play: An Epilogue on the Humours of tne Age in Imitation of Shakespeare's Stage-Cresswick

Event Comment: Farce in two acts never performed before. Full prices. [See advertisement to Reed's 1761 edition where he accuses Foote of taking the character of Mrs Cole in the Minor from Mrs Snarewell.] A new farce wrote by one Reed, a ropemaker, brought out by Mr Foote--went off tolerable--hissed a little at the end (Hopkins MS Notes). [See advertisement for the Universal Register Office General Advertiser 18 Oct. 1750: This Office being much approv'd and encouraged especially by Ladies and Gentlemen in the Country, we have daily enquiries by those who are just come to town, and many letters from those in the country to procure houses and lodgings, both furnished and unfurnished, for single Gentlemen, Ladies, and Families for the winter; and also boarding houses as well in French Families as in English Families." Announces its books open to any who wish to register there. The afterpiece met with trouble from the Licenser. Larpent MS 189 and 196, indicate the exceptionable passages to be those using profanity, and those of Mrs Snarewell's capable of double entendre, principally about the comfort she received from Mr Watchlight who was called twice out of bed to pray-"so ernest in his ejaculations, &c."

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Conscious Lovers

Afterpiece Title: The Register Office

Performance Comment: Actors only: Irishman-Moody; Frenchman-Blakes; Scotchman-Foote; Capt Le Brush-King; Gulwell-Packer; Harwood-Austin; Frankly-Baddeley; Williams-Ackman; Lord Brilliant-Castle; Trickit-Fox; Maria-Miss Reed; Prologue-. Lady Wrinkle and Mrs Snarewell-not permitted to be played ($Genest, IV, 612).
Cast
Role: Frenchman Actor: Blakes

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Music In Four Acts

Performance Comment: Favourite songs. A good Choir disposed over the orchestra, and some extraordinary hands. End Act II, Handel's Grand Chorus from the Messiah-; [End Act IV, Handel's Coronation Anthem-. [After the music is over, in the Portico opposite the Octagone in the Garden, will be exhibited the Theatre of Shados [sic] representing several beautiful views of Italy, and moving figures...Between the acts the French Horns-; [and Clarinets- [will play favourite pieces- [in the Garden. The whole to conclude with a Ball..in the Garden. The whole to conclude with a Ball..
Event Comment: Characters in Mainpiece New Dress'd in the Habits of the Times. [Theatrical Intelligence for 4 Nov. (Theatrical Miscellaneous Cuttings, G 60.23, Boston Public Library) notes: Last night the reformation in dress took place at the theatre in the revival of the second part of King Henry IV. The beauty as well as the propriety of the dresses give great satisfaction. The Old English Habits are indeed admirably suited to the style and manners of the plays of that time, in which a peculiarity prevails very remote from modern dialogue and the present fashion. The effect of this observation of the Costume, as the French call it, is very visible in the representation of Every Man in His Humour, and will, we hope, for the future be strictly observed in dressing every character of the plays of that age." The author then comments on Love's succes as Falstaff, and Garrick's effectiveness as the sick king especially in delivering the long speeches.

Performances

Mainpiece Title: King Henry Iv, Part Ii

Afterpiece Title: The Apprentice

Event Comment: Books of the Opera to be sold at the Theatre. Nothing under FULL PRICE can be taken. Opera not perform'd this season. [A riot this night in which the benches were torn up. Led by Fitzpatrick against the abolishment of the custom of admitting at half-price after the third act. See previous disturbance at Drury Lane. No more plays at cg until 3 March 1763 while repairs were being made to theatre. See Gentleman's Magazine, Feb. 1763, Historical Chronicle, Th. 24: A riot happened at Covent Garden theatre occasioned by a demand being made for full prices at the opera Artaxerxes. The mischief done was the greatest ever known on any occasion of the like kind; all the benches of the boxes and Pit being entirely tore up, the glasses and chandeliers broken, and the linings of the Boxes cut to pieces. The rashness of the rioters was so great, that they cut aWay the wooden pillars between the Boxes, so that if the inside of them had not been iron, they would have brought down the Galleries upon their heads. The damages done amount to at least #2000. Four persons concern'd in the riot have been committed to the gatehouse. The Beauties of All Magazines Selected, for March 1763 (p. 142) reprinted from the Ledger a humorous account of this riot as told by a sailor in fabricated seaman's language: As soon as the foresheet was clewed up...As to my 5s., why the owners are welcome to it towards repair, for you stripp'd plank, timbers, and scantlings,-you gutted her; she look'd like a French prize, after a yard-arm engagement."

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Artaxerxes

Dance: I: A New Comic Dance-Granier, Miss Valois; II: La Provenciale-Sga Manesiere

Event Comment: Paid Mr French on account #50 [scene painter and maker of light props] (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #85 7s. (Treasurer's Book)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Country Girl

Afterpiece Title: A Fairy Tale

Event Comment: Paid French on account #50 (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #137 15s. (Treasurer's Book)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Cymon

Event Comment: Paid Blandford (tallow chandler) bill #48 14s. 6d.; Waller (hosier) bill #18 13s. 6d.; Burgis (bricklayer) bill #46 18s.; Swan and Buck (mercers) bill #28 5s.; Mrs French on acct #21; Chorus singers 1 night #2 10s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #198 2s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Cymon

Event Comment: Half past 5 went to the 5s. Gallery at the Opera House to see the comic opera La Buona Figliola, altered from Goldoni. The Music by Sg Nic Piccini, a Neopolitan composer. The Marq by Sg Lovatini, Castina by Sga Zamporini, the German by Sg Marigi. These I believe are reckoned the best of the company. I can't say I was greatly entertained, tho the music is very pleasing. There is something very absurd and truly characteristic of the present age in supporting a set of people at an immense expense to perform plays in a language which very few here understand. We had dances after every act by Sg Adriani, Sga Radicati, &c. It is said the dances at the opera are better than those at the theatres, but I am no great judge either of music or dancing. The scenes, particularly that of the Garden with waterworks &c. are very fine. They who go into the Pit &c. must be in a vile French dress (Neville MS Diary)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: La Buona Figliuola

Dance: [Unspecified.