Event Comment: We cannot quit this aritcle without remarking to the credit of the managers at this theatre, that there probably never was an evening Performance of this nature before exhibited, consisting of so great a variety. However, the great applause the whole received evinced that the audience were sensible of an attentive effort to please, and, as such signified their approbation (Theatrical Review, p. 223). Charges: #35 (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A Dramatic Poem, Never Performed [written on the model of a Greek Tragedy by William Mason]. The Overture and all the Music entirely New Composed by Dr Arne. With New Scenery, Dresses, and Decorations (playbill). Altered by Colman to Mason's distress. (Biographia Dramatica). Books of the Chorus to be had at the Theatre. Rec'd from Bensley on account of Cash advanc'd last season #100 (Account Book). Receipts: #201 12s

Event Comment: Paid Patrick (tinman) #51 19s. (Account Book). As the tragedy of Elfrida, written (after the Greek manner) by that most excellent poet Mr Mason, has met with such singular applause at Covent Garden Theatre, I cannot help lamenting that our English Roscius has never had a play of Sophocles (translated into English blank verse) represented at Drury Lane. The plays in general, are the finest ever written; and the Oedipus Tyrannus is, in my opinion, the properest to be represented at present, both for the grandeur of the chorusses and the magnificence of the scenery. I mention this because I think this new species of drama would be better received, by an English audience, than all the Golden Pippins, or Nonpareils, that have lately appeared on the stage. (signed) Cantab (Gentleman's Magazine , XLIII, 74). Receipts: #183 16s

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A New English Burletta, never performed, by the Author of Midas [Kane O'Hara], in three parts. Books of the Burletta to be had at the Theatre. Receipts: #229 14s. [The mainpiece had been censored by Licenser 5 April 1772 (Larpent MS 330) but had been passed later. The MS indicates stage directions "Curtain rising discovers a splendid Pavilion in the Clouds, Juno, Pallas and Venus at card table." Reviewed in the Westminster Magazine. Rev. Charles Jenner wrote the following "Ode to Miss Catley in the character of Juno." (Harvard Library original MSS No. 65 [1930].)] @Hail vulgar Goddess of the foul mouth'd race!@If modest Bard may hail without offence)@In whose majestic, blush-disdaining face@The steady hand of Fate wrote Impudence;@Hail to thy dauntless front, and aspect bold;@Thrice hail, magnificent, immortal scold!@ @Thee, Goddess, from the upper gallery's height@With heedful look the jealous fish-wife eyes,@Tho early train'd to urge the mouthing flight,@She hears thy bellowing powers with surprize.@Returns instructed to the realms that bore her,@Adopts thy tones and carries all before her.@ @Proceed then, Catley, in thy great career@And nightly let our maidens hear and see@The sweetest voice disgust the listning ear@The fairest face assume deformity!@So shalt thou arm them with their best defense,@And teach them Modesty by Impudence.

Event Comment: Mr G. never better. monstrous Applause (Hopkins Diary). Paid Mr J. French, on Acct #20.; Christmas Box as per part[ners] #15 9s. Receipts: #284 12s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: On Saturday, a New Tragedy (never performed) call'd Alonzo. Paid Duke of Gloster's Footmen, Xmas Box #2 2s.; Mr Reddish per order, #6. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #175 7s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: This Tragedy written by Mr Hume was receiv'd with very great Applause Indeed Mrs Barry Seem'd inspir'd She never Appeard to moor Advantage uncommon Applause (Hopkins Diary). New Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations. Paid 4 Day's salary list #348 5s.; Tallow chandler's 6th bill #44 14s. Mr Reddish's draft #10 10s.; Mr Racket for Women's cloaths #12; Mr Dibdin Draft #70 (Treasurer's Book). [Westminster Magazine for March gives a long, and unfavorable review of the new tragedy, concluding Home's genius lies not in the tragic way.] Receipts: #237 11s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Oratorio Never performed. Music composed by Arnold. [See account in The Westminster Magazine for March.

Event Comment: Ninth Night. For the Author. On Monday (never performed) a New Comedy call'd The Mistakes of a Night. Charges #67 4s. Profit to Author #83 6s. Paid Younger for a License for Mistakes of a Night #2 2s. (Account Book). Receipts: #150 10s

Event Comment: A sacred Oratorio. The music entirely new composed by Atterbury. Never performed. For this night only. To begin at 6:30. Boxes 5s. Pit 4s. Gallery 3s. Upper Gallery 2s

Event Comment: Benefit for Messrs Fawcett and Hartry. Paid salary list #520 7s. 6d.; Recv'd from Sinking Fund #334 10s.; Stopages #17 5s. (Treasurer's Book). On Monday a New Comedy, Never performed, called The Maid of Kent, for the Benefit of Waldron. Receipts: #230 8s. 6d. Charges: #65 14s. Profits to Hartry and Fawcett: #149 14s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Public Advertiser: When the Disturbances of the Theatre at Rome, in the Days of Augustus, caus'd several Tumults, the Emperour interpos'd and pronounc'd the Sentence of Banishment on a very great Actor, for whose Sake these Disturbances were made. He observ'd at the same Time, that the Stage had a strong Tendency to disturb all as well as to amuse the People. The Actor said, with great Spirit, "'Tis for your Interest, Caesar, that they shoul d be amus'd any Way." The Civil War of England, 1641, did not commence 'til the Playhouses were shut. People are never more discontented than when depriv'd of their Favourite Diversions

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A Comedy [by Richard Cumberland] never performed there. Paid John Doe for sticking Black Bills #3 12s. Paid Cooper (printer) as per bill #20 2s. (Account Book). [The Westminster Magazine held in reserve its judgment on Lewis as an actor until the reviewer could see him in another part.] Receipts: #137 4s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: The Comic Opera Love in a Village oblig'd to be deferr'd on account of indisposition of Miss Catley. Tomorrow a new Comedy (never performed) call'd The Duellist. The subject of the new Comedy advertised for Performance Tomorrow, as far as we can guess, from the Title, is remarkably well timed. There is at this Day no predominant Passion carried to such a ridiculous extreme as Duelling. We can be laughed out of our Follies on the Stage when we defy the Power of pulpit Oratory and serious Argument. Let us hope therefore, that the comic Satirist of Tomorrow Evening may have exercised his Pen with some Ability on a very important subject (Public Advertiser). Receipts: #134 6s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A Comedy [by William Kenrick] never performed before. [The play failed to succeed. Kenrick accounts for the failure in his Preface to the 1773 edition by reference to the Macklin affair (See 23 Oct., 30 Oct. and 18 Nov.) He quotes from the Public Advertiser (22 Nov.): "On Saturday last a new comedy called the Duellist was performed, for the first time, at Covent Garden Theatre. Previous to the curtain being drawn up, the following written handbill was dispersed about the house. 'Mr Macklin has been pursued by a malicious party to such a pitch of rancour, that at last they have succeeded so far in their cursed designs, as to get him discharged this theatre, and thereby have deprived him of the means of a livelihood; therefore if the public have any spirit, they will not suffer the new play to begin till Mr Colman promises that Mr Macklin shall be engaged again.' This handbill found its way into the green-room, and had a very visible effect on the performers, as was plainly evident from their confusion. The piece was received with great marks of approbation, and given out again for Monday, which was attended with some hissing, but that was greatly overpowered by the general applause of the audience. The overture to Thomas and Sally being attended to with silence, the greatest part of the author's friends quitted the theatre; which being taken advantage of by a party in the gallery, a riot ensued, and the entertainment was not suffered to go on till another play was given out for Monday." Kenrick agrees with this account, then analyses several other objections which he dismisses, to wit, in the play (a) too lengthy a satire on lawyers, (b) an indelicate passage in Latin (omitted from the printed version); in the audience, a conspiracy of Garrick and Bickerstaffe against him; and lack of a claque of his own friends to carry through their suport of him. Macklin's name appears on the playroll this night, but only for a accumulated 4 days of pay #8 16s. (Account Book).] Receipts: #221 3s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Music by Sacchini and other celebrated composers. The Dances under the direction of Pitrot. With New Cloaths, Scenes and other Decorations. Pit and Boxes Half a Guinea; Gallery 5s.; Second Gallery 3s. Doors to open at 5:30. To begin at 7:00 p.m. N.B. Fierville having unfortunately sprained his ankle by a fall at the rehearsal yesterday...Mariottini, who never appeared in England before, has kindly undertaken to supply his place. The Managers beg leave to acquaint the Nobility and Gentry that Mesdames Favier having arrived from Florence, but being indisposed from the great fatigue of the journey are incapable of dancing this day

Event Comment: A sacred Oratorio never performed in public. Composed by Handel

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Bulkley. Mainpiece: A New Comedy [by a Lady] never perform'd in this Kingdom. As performed with Universal Applause at the Theatre Royal in Dublin. [The Edition of 1774 lists the Irish Actors. The characters are: Mowbray, Sir Thomas O'Shaughnesy; Admiral Swivel; Leslie; Egerton; Capt. Egerton; Issacher; Donald M'Pherson; Strap; Elfrida Audley; Henrietta Egerton; Mrs Ornel; Mrs Issacher; Jenny, a Mantua Maker, a Maid; French servants and porters. Genest suggests a casting for ten of the characters.] Charges: #66 6s. 6d. Profit to Mrs Bulkley #33 17s., plus #93 13s. from tickets Box 232; Pit 177; Gallery 91). Paid Mrs Carne half year' salary due Lady day last #15. Paid half year's water rent due Xmas last #4. Receipts: #100 3s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Sga Marchetti. A Cantata, music by Sacchini which has never been performed before. Tickets 10s. 6d. To begin at 7:00 p.m

Event Comment: Comic Musical entertainment. Never performed before. Music composed by Arnold. The Composer's night. To begin at 6:30 p.m. Tickets 3s. 6d. The Gardens will be splendidly illuminated with many thousand additional lamps of various colors

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A Tragedy never performed there. Mrs Yates first appearance this stage in 8 years. This Play is from the Orestes of Voltaire Mrs Yates who has been at Covent Garden these 8 years is now return'd & chose to make her first appearance in the part of Electra. Mr Garrick wrote an Excellent Prologue & Epilogue for the Occasion both of which were greatly receiv'd With great Applause. The Play is very dull & heavy & Mrs Yates wanted Spirit greatly in the part of Electra had but little Applause (Hopkins Diary). Paid salary list 5 days at #91 8s. 10d. #457 4s. 2d.; Mr French on acct #5 5s. (Treasurer's Book). [From Westminster Magazine, Oct. (of the mainpiece): From its want of business, it is a very heavy, tedious performance. Most of the scenes are mere declamations; and a certain air of coldness and apathy, which is the peculiar characteristic of French drama, runs thro the whole, which must ever render it unpleasing as well as uninteresting to an English Audience." Gave a severe comment on the Prologue with its theme "home is home be it ever so homely." Preferred the Epilogue. The perspective scenery of Argosv, the Palace of Aegisthusv, and the Tomb of Agamemnonv, designed by Loutherbourg, and painted by Messrs French and Roy, were warm and spirited, and the dresses elegant and characteristic."] Receipts: #243 17s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mr G. never play'd Kitely better (Hopkins Diary). Paid Mr Hatsell (mercer) #59 16s.; Cropley (linen draper) #92 2s.; Cole (turner) #56 11s.; Hopkins & Co. (ironmongers) #49 8s.; Stacy (colourman) #10 8s. Middleton (colorman) #11 8s.; Scott (copper laceman) #41 7s. 6d.; Ireland (upholsterer) #30 1s.; Carter (scowerer) #11 6s. 6d.; Cubitt (tinman) #15 8s. Receipts: #251 4s. (Treasurer's Book)