Event Comment: The United Company. This performance is on the L. C. list, 5@149, p. 368: The Queene a Box, and a Box for the Maids Honor at Don Sebastian King of Portugal. See also Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 352. There is no certainly that this is the first performance. The play was entered in the Stationers' Register, 15 Dec. 1689. See also Charles E. Ward, The Life of John Dryden (Chapel Hill, N. C., 1961), pp. 242-46. Preface, Edition of 1690: I am...to acknowledge, with all manner of gratitude, their civility; who were pleas'd to endure it with so much patience....Above twelve hundred lines have been cut off from this tragedy since it was first deliver'd to the actors. They were indeed so judiciously lopt by Mr Betterton, to whose care and excellent action I am equall y oblig'd, that the connexion of the story was not lost. Does a cryptic remark by Huygens, 3 Dec. 1689 OS, refer to this play: Dat dat geklap met de handen in comedie, onlanxgebeurt, als er gesproken wierd van een Coning, die wederom quam in sign rijck, van seer quade consequentie was. Dat voorseker de Con. too mercifull was, en dat er mosten exempelen gestatueert werden (Journal van Constantijn Huygens, Dutch Historical Society Transactions, New Series, XXIII [Utrecht, 18-212)

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: By Command of their Majesties. King & Queen (Cross Diary). The play and Farce went off extremely well--The King and Queen seemed vastly pleased--after the play the King sent the Lord Huntington to return Mr Powell thanks in his name for the entertainment he gave them, and his good wishes for his success (Hopkins Diary--MacMillan). Receipts: #240 15s. 6d. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A Comedy by Mrs E. Griffith, acted for first time. New Scenes, Dresses, Decorations, etc. Neville MS Diary: While I stood at the Pit door of Drury Lane Playhouse, took occasion to say that now they (meaning the present venal House of Commons) had expelled Mr Wilkes they would proceed to do everything that is bad. For which one present (I suppose a friend of the Court) said they would proceed to send me to Newgate if it should come to their ears

Event Comment: Mr Reddish who has to perform the part of Alonzo was not come to begin the 3d Act, which put us in great Confusion, at Length Mr J. Aickin consented to read the part, & we Cut Mr Aickins part quite out-An Apology was made to the Audience that Mr Reddish was not come, nor had he sent any Message-The Play went on;-before the play was finish'd Mr Reddish came to the House when the Play was over Mr King & Mr Reddish went on the Stage Mr King apologis'd the Audience in behalf of Mr Reddish & told them that Mr R. was ready to make oath that he had entirely forgot that it was a play Night, & that it was by meer chance he came to the House at all-his looks were so truely pitiable, the Audience had Compassion & excus'd him (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly. Genest, V, 353, notes that the rebellion of the audience was quelled by an offer of return of entrance money to those wished to leave. He also notes that Reddish on the eleventh published an affidavit in confirmation of his statement, begging Pardon for disappointing the public.] Paid Mr Wright per order Mr G. G. #13 5s. 2d. Receipts: #143 7s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: A Concert, etc. 7 p.m. 4s., 2s. 6d., 1s. 6d. [New item in Daily Advertiser, 30 June, indicates the play was performed. Daily Advertiser, 3 July, has a letter appraising Goodfellow's rendition of To be or not to be.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 10 Years. Afterpiece: Not acted these 20 years. Music, Dances and Other Decorations for afterpiece entirely new. [In a letter to John Gilbert-Cooper, the actor Charles Adams states that "the Prompter gave me a little Part in the Emperor of the Moon...I appear'd in it thrice." He was "paid Twenty Shilling Pr Week." See Theatre Notebook, XI (1957), p. 136. The only male parts left were Baliardo's servant Peter and the figures in the tableau of the final scene.] Receipts: #160 (Cross); #158 11s. (Powel)

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."

Event Comment: MMrs Love play'd Mrs Peachum very bad. Her fit seem'd a very Aukward Imitation of Mrs Pritchard in the Jealous Wife (Hopkins). Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. No money received at the Stage Door. None returned after the curtain is up. Play to begin exactly at 6 o'clock. Places may be had of Mr Johnston at the Stage Door. Vivat Rex et Regina. [Customary notice, which will not be repeated here, Sept. 15 David Garrick & his Lady set out for Italy from his house in Southampton St. Covent Garden (Winston MS 9). Winston also refers to a Sept. 9 Letter from T. Davies, cg, to the poet Charles Churchill begging he would not introduce so unimportant a person as himself in his Smithfield Rosciad.] Receipts: #248 9s. (Cross Diary)

Event Comment: Tragedy, never before acted, by Dr T. Franklin. Published at 1s. 6d. [See A Letter from the Rope Dancing Monkey in the Hay-Market to the acting Monkey of Drury Lane on the Earl of Warwick (London, 1767) which damns the play as a flat and insipid plagiarism from de la Harpe's tragedy Le Conte de Warwick, Paris, 1764. Especially severe on Colman's Prologue and Garrick's Epilogue.] Rec'd stopages #4 11s. 6d.; Paid salary list #440 4s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #165 9s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. No money taken at the Stage Door, nor any after the Curtain is up. Door open by 5 o'clock. Play begins at 6 o'clock. [Customary note repeated on all bills.] [This month publish'd A Letter to David Garrick on the opening of the Theatre, in which with great freedom he is told how he ought to behave, by H. W. The thesis of the pamphlet: The decline of dramatic genius is owing in great measure to your management (p. 16). "What I would earnestly recommend to you is to represent as many new plays as possible, and let them stand or fall on their own merit."

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Woodman, late of Covent Garden, left a Widow with five Children. By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. To begin at 6:00 p.m. [Public Advertiser, 21 Feb., contained a long letter concerning the small attendance on this occasion: "One of the finest Female Singers this Country has for many years produced is now, through a Series of Misfortunes as unavoidable as unforeseen, in a State of Wretchedness scarcely credible. [Her husband, a schoolteacher, died.] Alas! she had five helpless innocent to drink of the same bitter Cup, to harrow up all the Heartstrings of a Mother, and to tear her Soul unavailingly for that Support, of which she herself was depriv'd by the Death of their Father. [The expenses of the benefit performance exceeded the receipts of the house.] Calamity became heaped upon Calamity, and she is now weeping in a Prison, over her unhappy little ones, for a Sum not exceeding #50." Appeal is made for gifts to relieve her. On 23 May, Mrs Woodman released from prison, gave a Benefit Concert at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, concluding with an Occasional Musical Address to the Town called The Grateful Acknowledgment, written and the music compiled from a most eminent Master by Adam Smith, sung by Mrs Woodman.

Event Comment: Mainpiece:In I A Grand Masqueradev. Afterpiece [1st time; M. INT 1, by Thomas John Dibdin]: To conclude with a new Scenic Representation of Britannia Triumphantv. Interspersed With a Variety of favorite old Airs, popular Songs, Parodies, &c. The Overture and new Songs composed and the Music in general arranged by Moorehead. The Machinery invented and executed by Cresswell. Books of the Songs to be had in the Theatre, price Six-pence. Morning Chronicle, 16 Oct. 1799: This day is published The Naval Pillar (price not listed). The afterpiece had reference to the contemplated erection of a "Naval Pillar" on Portsdown Hill, near Portsmouth, in commemoration of the recent victbries of the English navy. A plain pillar is at the last introduced, with the names of the most celebrated admirals on a scroll, round which the sailors and their sweethearts dance with peculiar festivity. The pillar now flies open, and displays a most magnificent and appropriate spectacle--consisting of Britannia, personated by Mrs Chapman, under a rich canopy, with the figures of a sailor and a soldier for supporters, pointing to the letters G. R. over a brilliant sun, which turns on the center; shrouded in clouds above, and surrounded by angels, is a medallion of Lord Howe, and on columns on each side of the canopy are medallions of your great living naval commanders" (Monthly Visitor, Oct. 1799, p. 180). Receipts: #284 10s. 6d. (277.18.6; 6.12.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for the Unhappy Sufferers by the late Dreadful Fire that happened in King Street, Covent Garden. Places for boxes to be taken, and tickets to be had of Mr Sarjant, at the Stage Door of the Theatre; where, if any persons are so charitably disposed as to send more than the price of the ticket, a receipt will be given him to the person who brings it. And the profits arising from such Benefit Play, will be paid into the hands of the Church Wardens of St Paul's, cg, and St Martins in the Fields, to be distributed by them for the purposes intended. And as there has been no interest made for this benefit, more than arose from the Advertisements in the public Play-Bills, it is hop'd the Inhabitants of the above parishes will favour this charity with their personal appearances at the said Theatre this Night. Receipts: #128 13s. in cash plus #42 5s. (169 Box tickets). Total Income #170 18s. Charges #64

Event Comment: Benefit for King. Part of Pit laid into boxes. Send servants by 4 o'clock

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Barry. King Arthur oblig'd to be deferr'd on account of Mr Barry's illness. Tickets deliver'd for The Distressed Mother will be taken. Pit and Boxes are laid together. Send servants by Four o'clock. Afterpiece: Not acted these seven years. [See 21 April 1760.] The Farce hiss'd. Mrs Barry Sir Harry (Hopkins Diary). Paid Salary list #333 19s.; Mrs Abington's Cloaths Acct, #1; Mr S. French 6 days, #1 10s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #296 14s. Charges: #65. Profit to Mrs Barry: #231 14s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. The date of performance is uncertain. The play was entered in the Stationers' Register, 15 Feb. 1663@4, and its publication noted in The Newes, 3 March 1663@4. Katherine Philips, writing from Cardigan, Wales to Lady Temple in London, 24 Jan. 1663@4: I beleive er'e this you have seen the new Pompey either acted or written & then will repent your partiallity to ye other, but I wonder much what preparations for it could prejudice Will Davenant when I heare they acted in English habits, & yt so aprope yt Caesar was sent in with his feather & Muff, till he was hiss'd off ye Stage & for ye Scenes I see not where they could place any yt are very extra-ordinary, but if this play hath not diverted ye Cittizens wives enough Sr W: D: will make amends, for they say Harry ye 8th & some later ones are little better then Puppett-plays. I understand ye confederate-translators are now upon Heraclius, & I am contented yt Sr Tho. Clarges (who hath done that last yeare) should adorn their triumph in it, as I have done in Pompey (Harvard Theatre Collection)

Event Comment: Text--Goldoni; first performance in England. Music by Sg Vinceni Ciampi. Play a New Italian Burletta. Printed books of the opera will be sold at the theatre. Ladies send servants at half three. [The Epilogue (Larpent MS 117) suggests lovemaking in crowded theatres (see 8 Jan. 1755)]: @Close pack'd they sit and woo with secret squeeze,@Attracting elbows, sympathetic knees...