Event Comment: MMiss Morris was a pupil of Mr Colman's--She was very much approved by the public in the character of Juliet. On the sixth night of her appearance on the stage she was taken ill, and died before the end of this season. See the Bill for her Benefit (Hopkins MS Notes). Afterpiece: Not acted these 6 years. [See 19 May 1762.] [The Occasional Prologue, by Colman, is Larpent MS 288, which introduces Miss Morris as Juliet, and stresses the qualms and fears of a new performer.] Receipts: #227 19s. 6d. (Account Book). Lloyd's Evening Post, 28-30 Nov.: Sir: The managers of both theatres have of late, in order to put a stop to the Public complaint against a dearth of actors, given trials to several stage candidates that seemed to have any promising requisite. Such experiments have not proved fruitless. The most brilliant and interesting of which was the young lady's appearance on Covent Garden Theatre last night, in the character of Juliet. So great was her terror, on presenting herself for the first time before a crowded audience, that, deprived of all her powers, she fell down on the stage in a swoon. The first act in consequence, was all terror on her side, all compassion and anxiety on that of the audience. But having had time between the first and second Acts to recover from her panic, she shone forth in the Balcony Scene the most pleasing promise of a young tragic actress that has been seen for half a century past, and continued so throughout. Her person is genteel, her tone of voice insinuating, variable, and melodious; her recitation is just and sensible; very affecting in the pathetic parts; condescending, free, and polite are the familiar speeches with the Nurse. She is happily devoid of all stage whine, and tragedy Cant. The manner she has been rudimented in does great honour to her instructors, who have so judiciously prevented the so excellent actor of this verily a Shakespeare's Juliet, from being sophisticated by the studied tricks, and false ornamenting of mistaken modern and degenerate art

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Ward. Mrs Ward is extremely sorry she is oblig'd to change the Night's Entertainment advertised for her Benefit, but the severe illness of Mrs Mattocks and Mrs Baker, makes it impossible to perform the Opera of Love in a Village, as does Mr Woodward's indisposition the Farce of the Citizen. The Managers have therefore kindly granted her the above tragedy and pantomime. Charges #65 15s. Balance to Mrs Ward #55 5s. plus #53 2s. from tickets (Box 58; Pit 158; Gallery 149). Receipts: #121 (Account Book)

Event Comment: [W+Winston MS 10 notes that O. Smith suggests Miss Spencer. Winston suggests Mrs Greville. The Town and Country Magazine (From Theatre No XIII): "Mrs Gladeau...has appeared as Rosetta in Love in a Village." Comments that she does not know much about music but "has a pleasing voice and an agreeable figure and will probably be a valuable acquisition to the stage. Received with applause."] Receipts: #217 16s. 6d

Event Comment: Benefit for Sarjant and his Son (Book and Box-keeper). Charges #81 5s. plus extras #3 5s., total #84 10s. Deficit to Sarjant #20 18s., covered by income from tickets #166 14s. (Box 272; Pit 252; Gallery 109), half value of tickets paid up by Ansell, Symonds, Abbott, Furkins, Mrs Trott, Pilfold, Doe and Claridge. Paid half year's Paving tax for theatre #18 15s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Flight, Furkins, Wooley, Sherratt. Tickets deliver'd by Mrs Paddick, Doe, Claridge, Reed, Ellis, Dickson, Robson, Walker, Longley, Whatley and Singleton will be taken

Event Comment: Paid 6 days salary at #82 16s. 5d. per diem--#496 18s. 6d.; Mrs Abington on cloaths account #2; Mr French on acct #2. Mr D. Garrick's Night. Charges #84 (Treasurer's Book). Profit to D. G. for sixth night of Inst of Garter #115 7s. 6d. Mainpiece: Not acted in 4 years. [See 2 Dec. 1767.] Garrick recovered from his illness (Winston MS 10). [Of the mainpiece: "How the managers could think of shoving Mr Cautherly into the part of Captain Plume, is, to us, a matter of surprize....The part requires elegance, vivacity and the easy deportment of an accomplish'd gentleman. We never remember to have seen this character more completely performed, than by Mr Smith at Covent Garden Theatre (who is everything that criticism can wish) nor much worse, than by Mr Cautherly, who does not possess one requisite for the character, and is the effeminate and insipid School-boy throughout the whole. To this we may add, that he was not perfect, and made a great mistake, by coming in where he should not which oblig'd him to retire again. This was an unpardonable fault, though it was the first time of his appearing in this character."--Theatrical Review, 2 Nov. Of the afterpiece: "We were not a little pleased to observe this evening, that Mr King, in the character of Sir Dingle, omitted the parody on the lines with which the third act of Otway's Orphan concludes. But we think the introducing a chine of roast beef, decorated with a flag, to be carried off in triumph by the rabble, accompanied, from the orchestra with music of the old song of that title is a pitiful addition to the performance, and intended only as a sacrifice to the caprice of the riotous inhabitants of the upper gallery. Had this Entertainment been exhibited at a French theatre it would have had some claim to merit. This seems to be a piece of stage policy, arising from a consciousness, that the whole performance is too contemptible to meet with countenance from any but the sons of riot, for which reason they are brib'd to support it, by this notable trick."--Theatrical Review, 2 Nov.] Receipts: #199 7s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: [Theatrical Review, 6 Dec.: re afterpiece: "Thomas is well supported by Mr Vernon who...is the best acting singer on the stage...Mr Davies appeared for the first time in the character of the squire, and discovered no inconsiderable degree of merit.--Dorcas by Mrs Love--This character is better played here by Mrs Dorman. [Both surpassed by Mrs Thomson at cg.] Mrs Scott does justice to the songs, being an accomplished singer, but as an actress she is insufferably insipid and inanimate."] Paid Mr Russell for men's cloaths #30; Paid Mr Follett on note #10 10s.; 2 Clarinets 6 nights (2nd incl.) #9 9s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #243 19s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Stede, Mrs Heard, Mrs Willems, Abbott and Furkins. Tickets deliver'd by Wilkinson, Wooley, Pilfold, T. Ansell, Mrs Hitchcock, Widow Trott, Sherrat, Bassin, Whatley, Doe and Mrs Paddick will be taken. Charges o. [House received in addition to the ready receipts half the value of each beneficiary's tickets.] @Tickets Box Pit Gallery Value Half Value@Miss Stede 28 57 61 #21 13s. #10 16s. 6d.@Mrs Heard 19 34 .. #9 17s. #4 18s. 6d.@Mrs Williams .. 24 21 #5 14s. #2 17s.@Mr Abbott 18 95 75 #26 5s. #13 2s. 6d.@Furkins 22 37 26 #13 13s. #6 16s. 6d.@Wilkinson 28 27 20 #13 1s. #6 10s. 6d.@Wooley 9 42 79 #16 9s. #8 4s. 6d.@Pilfold 37 227 74 50 14s. #25 7s.@T. Ansell 9 66 64 #18 11s. #9 5s. 6d.@Mrs Hitchcock 27 15 45 #13 10s. #6 15s.@Widow Trott 24 4 8 #7 8s. #3 14s.@Sharratt 1 12 19 #3 19s. #1 19s. 6d.@Bassan .. .. .. .. ..@Whatley 5 18 57 #9 13s. #4 16s. 6d.@Doe 2 22 44 #8 4s. #4 2s.@Mrs Paddick 1 14 14 #3 15s. #1 17s. 6d.@Total 230 694 607 #222 6s. #111 3s.@ Receipts: #19 9s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: This Farce was wrote on purpose to Shew Mrs Barry in an Irish part. She did not succeed so well in it as was expected but upon the Whole the Farce was well perform'd & met with great Applause (Hopkins Diary). [Macmillan note from Kemble differs slightly. See Account of the Irish Widow" in British Theatre article, London Magazine, Oct. 1772.] Paid Mr Rochfort for men's cloaths #7 7s. (Treasurer's Book). [The account in Town and Country Magazine of the afterpiece: "Upon the whole it is very indifferent production and as it did not meet with the applause that was expected, no one has adopted the bantling. The many are of opinion that Garrick had a hand in it, as it is got up to the best advantage, and a new dance is introduc'd between the acts to put the audience in a good humour for the succeeding scenes. Mrs Sutton is the principal dancer in the Irish Fair, in which she displayed great spirit and activity. The piece concludes with a song sung by Mrs Barry, which we think injudiciously alloted to her, as her forte does not consist in singing."] Receipts: #200 9s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Both pieces By Command of their Majesties. Present Their Majesties. Gave Yeomen of Guards #2 2s. (Account Book). [Winston MS 10 suggests (from Burney Actor's MS) that Wignell died this day. If so his name is carried in the Bill for the Sylphs until 26 Jan., and he appears regularly upon the payroll through Sat 29 Jan. On this latter occasion he is marked for only half his customary salary, and does not appear thereafter. He would seem to have died in the middle of the week of 22-29 Jan. 1774.] Receipts: #243 1s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: By Desire. [The presence of Arante as a character in the mainpiece seems to indicate that Barry returned to the Tate version or brought with him the Garrick modification from dl. She does not appear in the Colman version.

Event Comment: Benefit for T. Ansell, Pilfold, and Symonds. The Last time but one of performing this season. Tickets deliver'd by Wooley, Wells, Claridge, Doe, Furkins, Layley, Robson, Francis, W. Ansell, Stephenson, Fowlis, Mrs Hitchcock & Mrs Trott will be admitted. Doors open half past 5. To begin half past 6 o'clock

Event Comment: Boxes 5s. Gallery 3s. Pit 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Doors open at half past five. Play begin at half past six. [Repeated.] Before the Play a new Overture and New Occasional Prelude (Public Advertiser). The House has been quite alter'd since last Season and is now fitted up in the most elegant manner Possible by the Adam's etc. and is the most Compleat of any Theater in Europe. Great applause to the House before the Curtain. The Theatrical Candidates is wrote by D. G. Esq and was received with great Applause (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly in wording. In Judging the popularity of a play in terms of box receipts for this season one must be aware of the fact that the treasurer's account books here differ from those of the five preceding years in not recording the income from the tickets delivered out for benefit nights. Hence on those nights the stated income reflects only the money taken at the door the night of the performance, and does not indicate the larger amounts which the actors received for their tickets. Deficits to various actors listed on the following pages were all paid up, presumably from the ticket receipts. Each actor doubtless at least broke even on his benefit.] Ceiling rais'd 12 feet. Old side Boxes top and bottom remov'd. New passages to Boxes. Entrance Bridges St. Light pillars to support Boxes inlaid with plate glass on green and crimson ground. Old chandeliers remov'd. Gilt branches with two candles each on pillars. Four new chandeliers in front. No slit i Curtain. Adam architects. 4,000 guineas. Persons not employed in the night's amusement ordered not to come behind the scenes--performers by that means go cross stage (Winston MS 11, from Dr Burney's News Cuttings). Paid Renters #8; Supernumeraries and Drum #1 16s.; taylor's Bill #10 11s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). [For the 188 acting nights of the season and for 11 Oratorio nights the Renters were paid a total of #1,692. The Supernumeraries were paid an average of #5 per night or #940 for the season. No further account of these items will be made. Full account of the new look given to Drury Lane by the Adam's brothers in the Westminster Magazine for Sept. along with an approving review of the Meeting of the Company.] From Lloyd's Evening Post, 25 Sept., "On the New Front of Drury Lane Theatre": @Garrick asham'd to poke his nose@Too sheepishly beneath the Rose:@And fearing, poor man, what were Worse,@His bashfulness might hurt his purse;@Resolves this year to push a front,@And put a better face upon't.@Not surely meaning to give o'er@His Art, and make no faces more.@Yet, fair as tis, I'd have him know@If tis the last he means to show.@This face will never make amends,@For turning tail upon his friends;@Who own, by general consent,@His face the best Stage ornament.@ (In Folger Library, David Garrick Verses, Prologues and Epilogues, MS, p. 86.) Receipts: #208 11s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Prelude and Mainpiece By Command of their Majesties. Jane Shore is oblig'd to be deferr'd on Account of Mrs Yates's being incapable of performing. [MacMillan's note from Kemble "Mr Smith Kitely -dull enough" does not appear in the Folger, Hopkins Diary.] King and Queen Present. Rec'd from Mr Reddish on Acct #50. Paid Printer's Bill #14 12s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). [This weekly payment throughout the season averaged #9 6s., for a total payment of #353 8s. No further itemization of it will be made.] Receipts: #284 11s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mrs King from the York Theatre made her first appearance on this stage in Rosalind. She is very Tall and would look well enough if she did not paint her face so much with white and Red. She has a course Voice-and does not speak very Naturally. She was received with great applause (Hopkins Diary). [Genest, V, 479, suggests Mrs King was used to offset and upset Miss Younge.] Paid Watch tax and Beadle for half a year #18 15s.; Mr Levy Fredrick bill for silks #154 1s. 6d. Receipts: #132 16s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: This Musical Farce of one Act was wrote by Mr G on purpose to introduce Miss Abrams (a Jew) about 17 Years old. She is very small, a Swarthy Complexion, has a very sweet Voice and a fine Shake, but not quite power enough yet-both the Piece and Young Lady were receiv'd with Great Applause (Hopkins Diary). Books of the Songs, Choruses etc. of Afterpiece to be had at the Theatre. The Conscious Lovers oblig'd to be deferred till Monday, with which will be performed the last new Grand Ballet, The Savage Hunters. [Advertisement to the published edition: "The author of this musical Farce, begs leave to inform the readers, if there should be any, that it was merely intended to introduce The Little Gipsy to the public, whose youth and total inexperience of the stage made it necessary to give as little dialogue to her character as possible, her success depending wholly upon her singing-This reason added to another, which is that the piece was produced at an early part of the season, when better writters are not willing to come forth, is the best apology the Author can make for its defects."] Paid 6 days salary list at #104 7s.-per diem, #626 2s.; Mr Lamash on note #5 5s. (Treasurer's Book). [The note on sale of books of the songs and choruses for the afterpiece occurs on all subsequent bills this season in which May Day is mentioned. The songs and chorusses and overture by Dr Arne. The afterpiece reviewed in Westminster Magazine for Nov.: The preparation is palatable, and the hand of the preparer is discoverable from the affinity between the scene of Roger and the Old Man, and that of whittle and Thomas in the Irish Widow....The Music of the overture and Finale were remarkably light and pretty: some of the airs also did Dr Arne credit. As to Miss Abrams, she has a sweet pipe, and a natural shake that charmed us;-If maturity does but strengthen her voice, at the same time that it gives her ease in deportment, she will prove an ornament to the stage."] Receipts: #205 3s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: House (Hopkins Diary). The new Comedy of The Runaway is unavoidably oblig'd to be deferred till Saturday. Rec'd Mr Stanley's Oratorio Account, 11 nights, #327 5s. Paid Lawrence (paper hanger) #13 7s.; Renters (for 11 Oratorio nights) #88; Cubit (tinman) #7 14s. 6d.; Gardner (shoemaker) #25; Chettle (timber merchant) #22 14s. 6d.; Mist andCo. (brazier) #10 8s.; Thomson (smith) #5 16s. 6d. Barrow andCo. (oil) #106 5s.; Tallow Chandler's 8th Bill #26 12s.; Palmer's Bill of Bath for Spermacetti Candles #162 10s. (Treasurer's Book). [MacMillan quotes from Kemble's note on the playbill, a Garrick interpolation in Drugger 's last speech (IV, vii): "Abel: Did you never see me play the Fool? Face: Yes. Abel: But the wise ones say I have played the Fool long enough; So I am going to leave it off and grow melancholy." [This note does not appear in the Hopkins Diary in the Folger Library.] Receipts: #265 17s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Brereton. Mainpiece: Not acted these 9 years. [See 26 Nov. 1766. MacMillan's note from Kemble: "A Young Gentleman (Francis Rundell) appeared in Alcanor.-A tall aukward figure-spoke sensibly-and came off with applause," does not appear in Hopkins Diary.] Receipts: #63 6d. Charges: #69 13s. Deficit to Brereton: #6 12s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for T. Ansell, Pilford, Wooley, Marks, Symonds, Furkins, Tickets deliver'd by Flight, Roberts, Claridge, Doe, Wells, Francis, Brandon, Budd, Miller, Constable will be taken this night

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs West. Tickets to be had of West, at the Ship, near the Seven Houses, Rotherhithe. Mainpiece: In Act II the triumphal entry of Alexander into Babylonv; In Act IV the grand Banquet where Alexander kills his faithful soldier, old Clytus. [The playbill contains a lengthy synopsis of the plot of the mainpiece; it concludes by noting that "the many flowery passages with which this tragedy abounds does honour to the pen of its author, N. Lee, Esqr., and we may justly say with Mr Pope, 'Such plays alone shou'd please a British ear, as Cato's self had not disdain'd to hear.'"]

Event Comment: Benefit for Thomas Ansell, Pilfold, Woolley, Symmonds Furkins & Roberts. Tickets delivered by Clarridge, Doe, Wells, Longley, Francis, Brandon, Walker, Varley will be taken this Night. Receipts: #278 11s. 6d. (21.8.6; 0.6.0; tickets: 256.17.0) (charge: none listed)

Event Comment: Benefit for T. Ansell, Pilfold, Woolley & Marks. Tickets delivered by Furkins, Roberts, Clarridge, Doe, Wells, Francis, Walker, Brandon, Shuter and Abbot will be received. Tickets delivered for The Busy Body will be taken. Receipts: #243 13s. 6d. (137.12.6; 0.13.0; tickets: 105.8.0)

Event Comment: [Mainpiece in place of Merope, announced on playbill of 4 Jan. "We played last night Much Ado about Nothing, and had an apology to make for the change of three principal parts. About twelve o'clock Mr Henderson sent word he was not able to play. We got Mr Lewis from Covent Garden, who supplied the part of Benedick. Soon after Mr Parsons sent word he could not play. Mr Moody supplied the part of Dogberry; and about four in the afternoon Mr Vernon sent word he could not play. Mr Mattocks supplied his part of Balthazar...In the middle of the first act, a message was brought me that Mr Lamash (who was to play the part of Borachio) was not come to the House. I had nobody there that could go on for it, so I was obliged to cut his scenes in the first and second acts entirely out, and got Mr Wrighten to go on for the remainder of the part. At length we got the play over without the audience finding it out. We had a very bad house. Mr Parsons is not able to play in The School for Scandal to-morrow night; do not yet know how we shall be able to settle that" (Garrick, Private Correspondence, II, 328-29: Hopkins, prompter,in letter to Garrick, 6 Jan. 1779. He does not state who took Wrighten's place as the Sexton.).] On account of the sudden Illness of a Principal Performer, the new Pantomime [The Wonders of Derbyshire, announced on playbill of 4 Jan.] is obliged to be deferred till Friday. Receipts: #74 11s. (48.19; 25.10; 0.2)

Event Comment: Benefit for T. Ansell, Pilfold, Woolley, Marks & Furkins. Tickets delivered by Clarridge, Doe, Wells, Roberts, Francis, Walker, Whittington, Abbot, Haliburton, Ledger Jun. will be admitted

Event Comment: Benefit for Wilson. 1st piece [1st time; PREL I, probably by Richard Wilson, altered from Illumination, by Frederick Pilin. Author of Epilogue unknown]. 2nd piece: Not acted these 28 years [acted 9 May 1763]. 3rd piece [1st time; F 2, by Henry Man. Text 1st published in his Miscellaneous Works, 1802, Vol. II, which does not assign the parts, and also lists Mr Carlton, Ralph, Butler. Prologue by the author (London Chronicle, 3 May)]. Public Advertiser, 15 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Wilson, at Stars Acres, upper end of Bow Street. Receipts: #277 19s. 6d. (13.4.6; tickets: 140.15.0) (charge: #105)