Event Comment: Benefit of the British Lying-In Hospital for Married Women in Brownlow St., By Special Licence of the Right Hon. the Lord Chamberlain...will be performed (for that night only) a new Comedy, never acted before...To avoid giving the least offence by too pressing a Solicitation, no Tickets have been sent to any of the Governours or Subscribers. But the Committee hope that this caution will induce every well-wisher to the useful Charity to exert their interest in its favors

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Never Acted There. Receipts: #164 10s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Cautherly. Farce from Mrs Centlivre's The Man's Bewitched. Never acted there

Event Comment: Benefit for Bickerstaffe. Afterpiece: For that night only, a new musical Entertainment by author of The Padlock, never acted before

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Never acted here. Written by Shakespeare

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: A Comedy never Acted [by Foote]

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Never Acted Here. [Reed attended this performance.]

Event Comment: Both pieces By Command of their Majesties. Afterpiece: Never acted there

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Never acted there. [The Gentleman identified as Savigny in Hopkins MS Notes.

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A Musical Entertainment [by Isaac Bickerstaffe] never acted before. This Piece was performed last Summer at Ranelagh; but though very much approved by the best judges of Musical Composition, by being performed in an Orchestra, lost the better part of its effect. It was thought it would please more in action upon the Theatre; and with the Addition of a New Scene, and Chorus and Ballet suitable to the subject; is now accordingly once more presented to the Public, with the necessary Advantages of Dresses and Decorations (Edition of 1770)

Event Comment: Leon, Mr Garrick (Cross Diary). Mr Garrick never Played better (MacMillan). Garrick from ill health did not act till 24 May (Winston MS 10)

Event Comment: Benefit for Wroughton. Afterpiece: Never acted before. Tickets deliver'd for Theodosius will be taken

Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. Theatrical Review, 11 March: Written by the celebrated Milton when he was very young...it would have been sufficient had he never produced anthing more considerable, to have transmitted his fame to the latest posterity. It is inimitable set to music by Mr Handel...not strictly an Oratorio, tho' perform'd as such, the subject not being taken from Holy Writ. To which was added the celebrated Te Deum, composed by Mr Handel for the peace of Utrecht...a very grand masterly piece. End of Act I, a Concerto on the French Horn by Mr Ponta, musician to his Serene Highness, the Elector of Mentz, lately arrived in England. What this gentleman executes with the horn is very surprising, but, not being suited to the genius of the instrument, it is not productive of any good effect, when considered musically; as a matter of novelty it may surprise and please, on which account it is worthy the notice of the curious

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A New Piece in 2 Acts [by William O'Brien] never perform'd. [Genest, V, 363, assigns parts as follows: Grub-$Shuter; Consol-$Quick; Chapeau-$Lewes; George Bevil-$Wroughton; Robin-$Dyer; Mrs Grub-$Mrs Green; Emily-$Mrs Bulkley; Jenny-$Mrs Kniveton. See playbill 8 Oct. 1773. Plot given in detail in Town and Country Magazine for this month.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Never perform'd. New Scenes and Dresses (playbill). This Comedy was written by Mr Obrien. It was very much hiss'd from the 2d Act & with the greatest difficulty we got thro' the Play amidst Groans hisses &c. They would not Suffer it to be given out again. After many Altercations between the Audience Mr G. & Mr King by the Author's Consent the Play was withdrawn (Hopkins Diary). [Macmillan's note from Kemble briefer. See long review of The Duel in British Theatre article, London Magazine, Dec. 1772, and Town and Country same month.] Paid Mr Scott (c[opper] laceman) #83 9s.; Mr Waller (hosier) #17 18s. 6d.; Mr Hatsell (mercer) #80 19s.; Mr Barrow & Co. for oil, #45 13s.; Mr Cropley (linen draper) #73 14s.; Mr Cubitt (tinman) #15 19s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #241 4s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Woodward. Mainpiece: Never acted there. Charges #69 12s. 6d. Profit to Woodward #121 2s. 6d., plus #44 10s. from tickets (Box 178) (Account Book). The several Musical Pieces performed last night at Covent Garden, were very agreeably received by a numerous Audience. The well contrasted variety of the Compositions in which each performer exerted their [highest] excellency had the most pleasing effect. Dr Arne's elegant Serenata, as well as the Thunder Ode, composed by Mr Michael Arne, met with the greatest Applause. The Performance will be repeated on Wednesday Next (Public Advertiser). Receipts: #190 15s

Event Comment: Benefit for Hull. Mainpiece [a tragedy by Thomas Hull, based upon the version by William Hawkins, 1749, suggested by William Shenstone, and instigated by the presence of Mrs Hartley among the actresses at cg]: Never acted before. Characters to be dressed in the Habits of the Times (playbill). Charges #64 5s. Profit to Hull #50 13s. 6d., plus #75 6s. from Tickets (Box 165; Pit 171; Gallery 84) (Account Book). Receipts: #114 18s. 6d

Event Comment: A new Comic Opera never acted before. The Music by M. Gasman

Event Comment: Mainpiece: [a tragedy by Alexander Dow]: Never acted before. New Scenes, Dresses and Decorations. This Play was receiv'd with very great Applause Mrs Barry Play'd finely & the Scenes were applauded (Hopkins Diary). Rec'd Stopages #4 12s. 6d. Paid 4 days salary list #348 14s. 8d. Mr King's extra salary #2 (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #238 19s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [tragedy by Arthur Murphy]: Never acted there. New Dresses, Scenery, and Decorations

Event Comment: New Overture and Pieces of Music Between the Acts. Music by Barthelemon. New Scenes, Habits and Decorations. The Scenes designed by DeLoutherberg, and painted by Messrs French, Royer, and Greenwood. Books of the songs and Chorusses to be had at the Theatre. This piece is got up in a most Superb manner. The Scenery is beyond description fine -& the whole Performance tho' the most complicated upon the stage went off with uncommon Applause. Mrs Abington played finely--Mr Slingsby & Sga Hidou danc'd for the first time & were Amazingly well Rec'ed. The Ballets are very Grand (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly in wording.] Rec'd stopages #17 18s.; Paid salary list #567 16s.; J. French on Acct #5 5s. (Treasurer's Book). Mainpiece: Never performed before, by John Burgoyne. [The review in the Westminster Magazine, Nov. 1774, tells the plot, and concludes: "After some superb exhibitions of transparent scenery, several characteristic airs, and elegant dances, Mr Oldworth...proclaims Maria his only daughter and gives her to Sir Harry. After a dance of Cupids, Hymen, &c....offering them eternal wreaths, the Druid of the Oaks, freed by the present powers of Beauty from that sequestered habitation to which by mystic spells he had long been doomed, appears to ratify their union, and astonishes the spectators by his magic influence, in a glorious vision of that felicity the virtues of the happy pair had so justly insured. An admirable vaudeville, and a grand dance, conclude the dramatic entertainment....Had it not appeared obvious that the whole was intended as a mere vehicle for the splendid spectacle, we do not suppose, in spite of the managers Orders and Puffs, that the author's labors would have been tolerated. The very excellent scenery, however, of the ingenious Mr Loutherbourg preserved this piece from that damnation, which as a dramatic production, it justly merited."] Receipts: #263 14s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A New Comedy (by Hugh Kelly] of 2 Acts never perform'd. [Written, as the author states in his Advertisement to the Edition of 1774, at the instigation of and on the inspiration of Mrs Abington. The Larpent MS 379 lists a partial cast and the lengths for each part: 10 Hector Strangeways-acters, Dialogue of this piece; yet upon the whole we found it extremely entertaining. The Indian servant is well introduced to satirize the follies and vices of the metropolis; and Sir Hector and his son give us a good dish of sea terms, well served up by Messrs $Shuter">Shuter; 7 Brownlow-$Bensley; 5 Ormsby-$Clarke; 6 Bussora-...; 5 +Orson-...; 6 +Pillage-$Dunstall; 1!2 Servant-...; 5 +Lady Strangeways-$Mrs Green; 7 1!2 Zelinda 1!2 Jenny-....(A Length was 42 lines of dialogue.)] [From the +Westminster Magazine, Dec: Though there is scarce anything new in the Plot, Characters, Dialogue of this piece; yet upon the whole we found it extremely entertaining. The Indian servant is well introduced to satirize the follies and vices of the metropolis; and Sir Hector and his son give us a good dish of sea terms, well served up by Messrs $Shuter and Quick."

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A New Comedy [by R. B. Sheridan] never perform'd. New Scenes and Dresses. [Gentleman's Magazine for Jan. states: "Tuesday 17, Was performed for the first time at Covent Garden a comedy call'd The Rivals, said to be written by Mr Sheridan. Some objections being made both to language and character, the author has thought proper to withdraw his piece for correction, and it has since been played with applause." See 18 and 28 Jan. The Westminster Magazine, Jan., remarked: "This comedy was acted so imperfectly, either from the timidity of the actors on a first night's performance, or from an improper distribution of parts, that it was generally disapproved....The author promised some alterations, which implied that he would be glad the Town would suspend judgment till a farther hearing" See 28 Jan. John Hampden quotes from Lloyd's Evening Post, 18 Jan., the Morning Chronicle and Morning Post of the same date, and the London Chronicle of 19 Jan. articles damning the casting and the imperfectness of the actors, the impudence of Shuter in particular, and the fatigue of the audience.

Event Comment: Benefit for Waldron and Mrs Greville. Farce (in 2 Acts) Never performed before, and for that night only. This Farce was written by Mr Waldron-Some Applause (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly in wording.] Paid Mr Wegg's rent half year to Lady Day last #57; Duke of Bedford ditto #164 2s. 10d.; One yrs Paving, Cleansing & Lighting to ditto #39 7s. 6d.; Mr Moody for Mr Philips #13 13s.; St Martin's Charity School, 1 year, 1774 #2 2s. (Treasurer's Book). [The Westminster Magazine for May gives the following cast for the farce: Reuben-$Waldron; Blunt-$Moody; Sharp-$Dodd; Flimsy-$LeMash; Joseph-$Burton; Mrs Reuben-$Mrs Davies; Betty-$Miss Platt. It then bluntly tells the plot and concludes: "The whole is beneath criticism."