Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Bellamy. Mainpiece: Never Acted There. [Thomas Southerne's play adapted by Garrick. See bill 4 May.] Afterpiece: With New Introduction and Conclusion [see Harlequin Statue or the Jealous Farmer Outwitted, 20 May 1765] but with Music, Scenes and Decorations adapted to the whole. Charges #65 6s. Balance to Mrs Bellamy #53 6s. plus #113 4s. from tickets (Box 316; Pit 228) (Account Book). Receipts: #118 12s

Event Comment: "[Henderson] appears to have cultivated the gifts of nature, with great industry; he promises better to attain the character of a player of consummate judgment than a great player, properly so called. Edwin, in spite of his thin voice and disgusting articulation, is at least equal to half his London contemporaries; and exhibited proofs that neither his conception, nor style of playing, is limited to a particular cast of parts, or mode of acting" (London Magazine, June 1777, p. 288). [ Miss Barsanti was from the Crow Street Theatre, Dublin.

Event Comment: Benefit Cross (Prompter), Anderson, Clarke, White. Tickets for Miss Burgess also taken. Receipts: #110 (Rylands MS.)

Event Comment: The Two Misers is unavoidably oblig'd to be deferr'd. Books of the Entertainment [The Two Misers?] to be had at the theatre. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. No persons admitted behind the scenes, nor any money returned after the curtain is up. Places for the Boxes to be taken, of Mr Sarjant (only) at the Stage Door. The Doors to be opened at Half after Five o'clock. To Begin exactly at Half after Six. Vivant Rex and Regina. (Customary footnote for succeeding Playbills. It will not be repeated here. The Westminster Magazine, September, p. 459, indicates a Prelude was also given this opening night, consisting of several of the actors comparing notes on their various successes, casts of parts, droll accidents, which they had experienced during their different summer excursions. Mattocks, Dunstall, Lee Lewes, Miss Barsanti, and Hull participated. The reviewer reported the content of their reminiscences, but disliked the jumbled nature of the Prelude. Another account in the Morning Post, 21 September.] Note: For performance at hay 20 September, see Season of 1774-1775, p. 1905

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Farren. 2nd piece: Altered [by Henry Bate] from Prior's Nut Brown Maid, with new Airs and Chorusses composed by Shield. Receipts: #226 5s. (105.1.0; 29.3.6; 1.2.6; tickets: 90.18.0) (charge: #108.14)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Bellamy. Tragedy reviv'd and never acted there before. Afterpiece: Written by Foote

Event Comment: [For Cross' comment, see dl.] Receipts: #203 8s. 6d. Paid Barry one third of the surplus of this night's receipt over and above #80 allow'd for the charges:-#41 2s. 10s. Paid Lambert (Scene Painter) 3 month's salary to 16 Nov. last:-#25 (Account Book). [Lee, who seems to have entered earlier on a percentage-of-Box-Receipts: basis for his salary, received only one-third of receipts above a house charge of #100.] The Tragedy of King Lear was presented on this stage; King Lear by Mr Barry, and Cordelia by Mrs Bellamy; The latter was received with universal satisfaction; but on the former's appearance, after a thundering Peal of Applause, a few misguided persons made it necessary for Mr Barry to inform the audience that it ever had been his study to contribute his utmost to the entertainment of the town, and that all reports of his having been exorbitant in his demands were injurious and totally groundless. Upon this he was desired with one general acclamation to proceed in the play. The disturbers of the public were ordered to be silent or to be turned out of the house; and this great actor proved, by the improvement he has made in this character, that excellent as he is, he is still capable of reaching new strokes of perfection; and in the conclusion of the play the applause he met with was the tribute of hearts gratefully agitated through the whole performance with a variety of passions thrown into a ferment by powers most wonderfully suited to tenderness and compassion (London Chronicle, 3-6 Dec.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Sparks. Receipts: #83 2s. 6d. plus Tickets #184 12s. (boxes 335; pit 551; gallery 182). Advanced Mrs Bellamy on her salary #105. Two new Renters came in at 1 share each: Sir Thomas Robinson and Robert Hassell (Account Book). Mr Smith takes this earliest opportunity to return thanks the Ladies and Gentlemen who honoured him with their presence at his Benefit on Tuesday Night, and is very sorry for any interruption that might happen in the performance. The indulgence of his friends that night far exceeded his most sanguine exceptations; otherwise he should have provided proper accomodations for them on the stage (Public Advertiser). [See Theatrical Review, 1757 and Beginning of 1758, for contemporary comment on mainpiece: "It is not paying it a very great, much less an underserved compliment to give it the preference over all the dramatic pieces that have been presented at either house these six or seven years...Tears were the first praises I gave it...no play except Lear ever make such a strong constant impression on my feelings."

Event Comment: Benefit for Legg, Mrs Lampe, Mrs Jones. Afterpiece: For the last time this season. Tickets deliver'd for Hamlet will be taken. The Dragon of Wantly cannot be perform'd on account of indisposition of Mrs Pinto. Charges #67 9s. 6d. [Profit to each beneficiary #2 19s. 6d. plus income from tickets: Legg #84 2s. (Box 129; Pit 251; Gallery 142); Mrs Lampe and Mrs Jones combined #74 15s. (Box 102; Pit 219; Gallery 164).] Paid Bryan a bill for writing parts #1 1s. 6d. Paid Cooper (printer) #27 2s. Paid Condell for Coach hire, the last command by order of Mr Beard 2s. (Account Book). Before 5 went to ye Play...It was played tolerably well; Cleopatra very well by Mrs Bellamy, Octavia (for ye 1st time) by Mrs Mattocks, Antony by Smith, Vent. by Gibson not badly. We had ye Dances, Rural Love and ye Wapping Landlady (Neville MS Diary). Receipts: #76 8s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: At 5 went into the Pit to see Mrs Yates' first appearance on that stage....Hastings for the first time by Powell, but I like Barry better in that character....Mrs Bellamy always excelled in the character of Alicia. Jane Shore by Mrs Yates who far surpasses Mrs Dancer in that character...Woodward is the best Fine Gentleman [in the farce] I ever saw. Drunken man very well by Dunstall (Neville MS Diary). Receipts: #189 12s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: [Extra night] Benefit for Mrs Bellamy. [This was Mrs Bellamy's last appearance on the stage. And see dl, 24 May 1785.] Receipts: none listed

Event Comment: Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. No Persons to be admitted behind the scenes, nor any money returned after the Curtain is Drawn up. Places for the boxes to be had (only) of Mr Sarjant at the Stage Door. The Doors to be opened at Five o'clock. To begin exactly at Six o'clock. Vivant Rex & Regina! [Customary note for each bill. Only significant changes will be further noted. The company was weakened by the loss of Woodward (see 23 Oct.) who accompanied Foote to Edinburgh, and of Mrs Bellamy who was not engaged. Miss Catley, however, returned from Ireland after an absence of 9 years. And Ross returned after four years.

Event Comment: Benefit for Pritchard (treasurer). Farce went well Jane Shore was to have been Play, but chang'd on Sunday--Bellamy ill (Cross). Tickets of Pritchard, in Great Queen St. Lincoln's Inn-Fields, and at the Stage Door. Tickets deliver'd for Jane Shore will be taken. Afterpiece: Alter'd from Otway, with several additions never perform'd before. Receipts: #130 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Baker. The Citizen oblig'd to be deferr'd, on account of the Indisposition of Woodward. Charges #66 6s. 6d. Profit to Mrs Baker #21 12s., plus #112 11s. from tickets (Box 172; Pit 359; Gallery 157). Paid Buxton & Enderby (oyl merchants) #238 1s.; Bellamy & Settree (mercers) #36 10s. Receipts: #87 18s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Sun: 29th Dr Barrowby dy'd suddenly a good friend to ye Actors in Sickness (Cross). [Inspector No 259 appears in Daily Advertiser and London Gazette with a long comparison between actors and various styles of famous painters, Garrick, Barry, Miss Bellamy, Mrs Cibber, Mrs Pritchard, Woodward and Macklin are treated.] Receipts: #160 (Cross)

Event Comment: Published at 1s. 6d. Romeo and Juliet, revised by Theo. Cibber, first rev[ived] in Sept. 1744 at the Theatre in the Haymarket. Now acted at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane. Great objects only strike the Gen'rous Heart@Praise the Sublime, o'er look the Mortal Part@Be there your judgment, Here your Candor shown@Small is our Portion-and we wish 'Twere none.-Prologue to Comus alter'd, &c. To which is added a Serio-Comic Apology for part of the life of Theophilus Cibber, Comedian, written by himself. Interspers'd with Memoirs and Anecdotes relating to the Stage managements, Theatrical Resolutions, &c., also Cursory Observations on some Pribcipal players. Particularly, Mr Quin, Ryan, Delane, Mrs Woffington, Mrs Ward, Miss Bellamy, Mr Garrick, Barry, Mrs Cibber, Mrs Clive, Mrs Pritchard and others. Likewise Original Letters that passed between the late Sir Thomas deVeil and Mr Theophilus Cibber relating to the Stage Act. "Each Puny Critic can Objections raise@The Greatest still is Knowing when to praise,"-Buckingham. Concluding with a Copy of Verses called The Contrite Comedian's Confession. Printed for C. Corbett &c. (General Advertiser). [This pamphlet details Cibber's troubles with Fleetwood during the years 1743-46.] Receipts: #160 (Cross); #151 11s. (Powel)

Event Comment: No alterations were made in the farce, but cutting out a little, & it was play'd with great Applause, & given out again with great Clapping. Benefit for Mr Worsdale (Cross). Tickets to be had at the Bedford Coffee House. Part of Pit laid into boxes. We hear that Miss Bellamy, belonging to Drury Lane Theatre, was taken ill on Sunday last, and continues very much indispos'd. Receipts: #230 (Cross)

Event Comment: Publish'd, A Treatise of the Passions so far as they regard the stage &c., by Mr Foote. 1s. [First pub. 1747, it contains an interesting comment on Garrick's Lear.] Romeo and Juliet which was bespoke, and was to have been acted last Monday at Drury Lane, will be acted there next Monday, Miss Bellamy being recovered from her late indisposition. Receipts: #190 (Cross)

Event Comment: Publish'd at 3s. The Actor, in One Pocket Volume. A treatise on the art of playing, interspersed with Observations on the performances of Garrick, Quin, Barry, Berry, Macklin, Ryan, Havard, Woodward, Foote, &c; Mrs Cibber, Mrs Pritchard, Mrs Woffington, Mrs Ward, Mrs Elmy, Mrs Green, Mrs Clive, Miss Bellamy, &c. Also some anecdotes of Betterton, Booth and Wilkes and other celebrated performers; together with occasional remarks upon managers and audiences, and upon the principal Tragedies, Comedies, Masques and Farces. Printed for R. Griffiths in Paul's Church-yard. Receipts: #130 (Cross)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by Ben Jonson, not acted these 20 years. [See 7 Oct. 1754.] Paid Bellamy & Settree (mercers) #300 7s.; Paid Scott (copper lace man) #265 7s. (Account Book). Receipts: #191 9s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Du-Bellamy. Public Advertiser, 21 Apr.: Tickets to be had of DuBellamy, No. 6, Queen's Buildings, Brompton. Receipts: #170 17s. 6d. (60.4.0; 18.4.6; 2.1.0; tickets: 90.8.0) (charge: none listed)

Event Comment: Tickets to be had and Places [for the boxes] to be taken of Fosbrook, at the Stage Door of the Theatre. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30 [same throughout oratorio season]. Books of the Performance to be had at the Theatre. New Lady's Magazine, Mar 1786, p. 110: performance under the direction of Dr Arnold, who conducted from the organ. I know that my redeemer liveth sung by Miss George; He was despised and rejected by Master Pring; How beautiful are the feet by Mrs Forster

Event Comment: 'TTis said Miss Bellamy, who engag'd lately with Mr Rich is off again. Mr Colthorp who kept her, swears to kick Rich &c. Great noise about it in ye Bedford Coffee House (Cross)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by James Cobb. Larpent MS 1050; published (pirated) 1795]: The Musick, principally new, composed by Storace, with a few Pieces selected from Anfossi, Mozart, Bianchi, Ditters and Sarti. The Scenes and Decorations are all designed and painted by Greenwood, except the View of the New Settlement, which is by Capon. The Dresses, &c. are executed by Johnston and Miss Rein. Books of the Songs to be had in the Theatre. Powell: Cherokee rehearsed at 9:30. Receipts: #340 5s. 6d. (284.5.0; 54.13.0; 1.7.6)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; P 2 (?), by William Linley. Also attributed to Cordal Powel, librarian to the Prince of Wales (London Chronicle, 19 Jan. 1796). Larpent MS 1106; not published, except for Airs (C. Lowndes, 1796). Synopsis of action in Pocket Magazine, Jan. 1796, p. 59]. The Musick composed by W. Linley. The Scenes [for a description of which see Theatre Notebook, 1965, XIX, p. 58] entirely new, and painted by Greenwood. The Machinery and Decorations by Cabanel, Johnston and Jacobs. The Dresses by Johnston and Miss Rein. Nothing under Full Prince will be taken. Account-Book, 22 Jan.: Paid Wm. Linley for music of new pantomime #25. Receipts: #619 3s. (608.9; 10.14)