Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Barry. Mainpiece: A Tragedy altered from Thomson [by Thomas Hull] never perform'd. Part of Pit laid into the Boxes. Servants who are to keep places are desired to be at the stage door by 4 o'clock, and those Ladies and Gentlemen who have taken seats in the Pit are requested to come early to prevent confusion in getting to their places. Epilogue by Sheridan. [This play had been refused a license on 26 March 1739, While Walpole was still Prime Minister, probably because of such speeches as: @Is there a cure on Humankind so fell@So pestilent, to Prince and People,@As the base servile vermin of a court;@Corrupt, Corrupting ministers and favourites?@How oft have such eat up the widow's morsel,@The Peasant's toil, the Merchant's far-sought gain,@And wantoned to the ruin of a nation!-Larpent MS, op. p. 65.@ Also the play equalizes Christianity and Mohammedanism before God, and gives a slight edge to the latter (Act IV, scene ii), suggesting the part politics play in Christian churches. An account of the alterations made for the present performance is given in the Westminster Magazine for March. The review concludes: The Play was got up altogether well, and reputedly acted, and is in its present state what the Ladies call "a very pretty tragedy."

Event Comment: Benefit for Lee. Last Performance but two before the Holidays. Afterpiece: Never acted there. In the comic scenes will be introduced (as they were sung in Masqued and other Characters) the favorite songs, Ye Warwickshire Lads and Lasses, Sweet Willy O, The Mulberry Tree, and the Roundelay of Sisters of the Tuneful Strain. In the second act, a Statue of Shakespeare will be erected, and the ode on Dedicating a Temple to that great poet recited, with proper Airs and Chorusses-Particularly Sweetest Bard that Ever Sung, Tho' Crimes from Death and Torture Fly, the Characteristic Song on Falstaff, More Gentle than the Southern Gale, and Thou Soft-Flowing Avon. Part of Pit laid into boxes

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A Comedy [in 5 Acts by Sir William Davenant, slightly altered for the stage by Henry Woodward] never acted there. [The lady identified by Hopkins MS Notes and named in the Edition of 1775. The Westminster Magazine for Nov. suggests Shuter instead of Quick for Sancho. The review thought it an indifferent Comedy which "yet could be made a most excellent farce....The dialogue has all the rust of antiquity about it, and the modernizing scenes are left to the discretion of the performers. However, in representation, this piece cannot fail of entertaining....Miss Leeson, who appeared in the character of Isabella, has an agreeable plaasing figure, a good face and a marking eye; her voice is weak, but after she got rid of her fright was sufficiently articulate; there was an ease and nature in her deportment and dialogue that entitles her to encouragement."

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Never Performed There. On account of the Additional Airs, contracted into 3 Acts. [Public Advertiser, 30 Dec., notes that the principal omission was the conspiracy of Alonzo, Antonio, &c., and that the Masque in Act IV was removed to the concluding scene of the play.] With New Dresses, Scenery and Decorations. The Music by Purcell, John Christopher? Smith, Dr Arne and Fisher. [In afterpiece the playbill retains Delpini as Pierrot, but "[Hull] made an apology for the illness of Delpini, telling the audience that the Signor had hurt himself so much the preceding evening in performing the part of Pierrot that he could not come out of his room; the managers therefore hoped that the audience would accept of Wewitzer in the character" (Morning Chronicle, 28 Dec.). The playbill also adds Wewitzer as the Gardener; this part was perhaps omitted.] Paid Enderby, Oil Merchant, #258 17s. Receipts: #245 18s. (244.15; 1.3)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Never acted there. In Act III The Procession and Ceremony at the Tomb of Cresphontesv. [Peile is identified on playbill of 16 Apr. 1777.] Receipts: #247 17s. 6d. (246.16.6; 1.1.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Never acted here. [Mrs Armstead is identified in Morning Chronicle, 16 May. Prologue by George Colman elder (Collection...of English Prologues and Epilogues, II, 207).] Afterpiece: Not acted these 20 years. With a new Overture, the Original Prologue [by David Garrick], and a New Scene, in which will be introduced an air. With a Grand Jubilee-Pageant, in Honour of Gulliver. The Music, Dresses, Scenes, Trophies and Decorations entirely new. The Music composed by Dr Arnold. ["Lilliput was altered by Garrick (its author), and a procession of cards introduced in it, Gulliver walking as the Knave of Clubs" (Gilliland, I, 121-22). London Chronicle, 16 May, gives a synopsis of this pageant.] The Doors to be opened at 6:00. To begin at 7:00 [same throughout season]. Places for the Boxes to be taken at the Theatre. After this Evening the Entertainments of this Theatre will be discontinued till further Notice, on account of the Performers employed at Drury Lane Theatre [see 28 May]

Event Comment: [The playbill of 23 July announces for performance on this night the 1st night of A Tour in Wales, "a New Dramatic Piece of Three Acts, interspersed with Songs." It appears never to have been acted. Larpent MS 484; the author is unknown.

Event Comment: By Permission [of the Lord Chamberlain]. Benefit for Massey. Afterpiece: Never performed in London, written by the author of The Son-In-Law [John O'Keeffe; 1st acted at Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin, 14 Jan. 1767. See also cg, 16 Mar. 1782, when it was acted as The Positive Man]. To begin at 7:00. Tickets delivered for the 4th instant will be taken. Tickets and places for the Boxes to be had of Rice at the Theatre, and of Massey, No.4, St. Martin's-street, Leicester-Fields

Event Comment: Benefit for Walker. Mainpiece: Not acted these 30 years [not acted since 4 Oct. 1722], wrote by Mrs Ccntlivre. Afterpiece: Never performed there. The doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30. Ladies are requested to send their servants by five o'clock to keep places. Tickets to be had of Walker, the Globe, Pall-mall

Event Comment: Benefit for Sga Sestini [who had 1st acted Phebe at CG on 13 Mar. and 10 May 1784]. Mainpiece: Not acted these 4 years. Afterpiece: Never perform'd here

Event Comment: Benefit for Curtis. 3rd piece: Never acted there [acted in place of The Agreeable Surprise, announced on playbill of 28 June]. Tickets to be had of Curtis, at the Cock and Magpye

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Sir Richard Steele's Comedy. Never acted at this theatre [acted 17 Mar. 1760, and advertised for performance on 10 Apr. 1764]. Receipts: #229 8s. 6d. (213.19.6; 15.9.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Never acted at this Theatre. By Beaumont and Fletcher, with Alterations [by Thomas Harris (Boaden, Kemble, I, 378)]. Public Advertiser, 15 Jan.: The alterations consisted of many curtailments, the last scene of Act IV being entirely omitted. [Prologue by Henry Sampson Woodfall Jun. (European Magazine, Dec. 1787, p. 503; Feb. 1788, p. 105).] Receipts: #150 2s. (146.18; 3.4)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; T 5, by Bertie Greatheed. Prologue by the Rev. David Williames. Epilogue by Hester Lynch Piozzi (see text)]: With new Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations. Public Advertiser, 20 May 1788: This Day is published The Regent (1s. 6d.). Afterpiece: Not acted these 12 years [acted 29 May 1779]. "I do think that Mrs Siddons for Vigour of Action, pathetic Tone of Voice, & a sort of Radiance which comes round her in Scenes where strong heroic Virtues are displayed, never had her Equal" (Thraliana, II, 715). Receipts: #226 13s. (211.1; 14.4; O.18; tickets not come in:0.10)

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for Mrs Farrer. Mainpiece: Not acted these 3 years. Afterpiece: Never acted here. The Doors to be opened at 5:15. To begin at 6:15. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. 2nd Gallery 1s. Tickets delivered for Wednesday, Dec. 18, will be admitted

Event Comment: [As mainpiece the playbill announces the 6th night of Better Late than Never (see 29 Dec.), but it was not acted. Kemble Mem. and Account-Book both list the substitute play, the former stating that "Mrs Jordan being ill, Mrs Goodall acted Viola."] Receipts: #122 5s. (84.18; 33.14; 3.13)

Event Comment: [As mainpiece the playbill announces the 8th night of Better Late than Never (see 20 Jan.), but "The Play was to have been Better Late. I was hoarse, & could not act. Miss Farren refus'd to play Berinthia. Mrs Ward acted it for her" (Kemble Mem.).] Receipts: #253 6s. 6d. (208.6.0; 41.9.0; 3.6.6; tickets not come in: 0.5.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Wilson. Wilson's most violent and sudden Indisposition will prevent his having the honor of appearing before the Public and his Friends this Evening, and sincerely hopes the Pieces he is under the necessity of substituting will meet their approbation. [2nd piece in place of Hail Fellow Well Met; 3rd piece of The Rights of Woman, both advertised on playbill of 7 May. A 4th (and new) play, The Point of Honor, by John Peter Roberdeau, was also advertised on playbill of 7 May. It was never acted. Hail Fellows [sic] Well Met and The Rights of Women [sic] were 1st acted, for Wilson's benefit, at the hay, 9 Aug. 1792.] Morning Herald, 24 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Wilson at his house, Park-lane, Church-lane, Chelsea. Receipts: #285 5s. (93.17; 1.14; tickets: 189.14) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: Benefit for Quick. 2nd piece acted: The New Sketch being unavoidably withdrawn. [This was the anonymous NOW'S YOUR TIME, TAYLORS! SOUND MEN AND TRUE!, advertised on playbill of 21 Apr. MS: Larpent 1017. It was never acted.] Morning Chronicle, 14 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Quick, No. 98, High Holborn. Receipts: #384 17s. 6d. (157/4/0; 11/7/0; tickets: 216/6/6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Lewis. Mainpiece: In Act II the admired Procession from the Grand Spectacle of Hercules and Omphale, with the entire Decorations, Music, Dance, Dresses, &c. adapted and introduced in the Triumphal Entry of Alexander into Babylon. 3rd piece: Never acted at this theatre. Morning Chronicle, 26 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Lewis, No. 6, Bow-street, Covent-Garden. Receipts: #392 6s. 6d. (273.4.0; 13.4.0 ; tickets: 105.18.6)

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for Everard. 1st piece [1st time; PREL 1, by Sarah Gardner. Larpent MS 1101; not published]. 2nd piece: Never acted here [acted 19 Aug. 1784]. [3rd piece: Prologue by Samuel Foote.] Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. The Doors to be opened at 5:00. To begin at 6:15. Tickets to be had at No. 21, Carey-street, Lincoln's-Inn Fields; New Slaughter's Coffee-house, St. Martin's-lane; of Adams, the Duke of Clarence Coffee-house, Haymarket; and of Everard, at Mr Shade's, Woburn-street, near Drury Lane Theatre

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Siddons, and the Last Night of her Engagement [see 6 and 16 May]. Mainpiece: Never acted here [1st acted at Bath, 1 Jan. 1788, as Such Things Were. Prologue by Richard Graves (Public Advertiser, 28 Jan. 1788)]. Oracle, 18 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Siddons, No. 49, Great Marlborough-street. Receipts: #590 14s. (292.16.0; 51.13.0; 4.10.0; tickets: 235.6.6; odd money: 6.8.6) (charge: #213 17s. 4d.)

Event Comment: [In mainpiece Lucianus is not listed in the playbill, but "Wewitzer never came to act Lucianus, so the Prompter's Call-boy [identified as Chatterley by Kemble's list, in his Memoranda, of this season's servants] acted it" (Kemble Mem.).] Receipts: #266 14s. (213.3.0; 53.3.6; 0.7.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Fawcett. 3rd piece [DO 2. Larpent MS 1251; not published]: Never acted at a Public Theatre [1st acted privately at Brandenburgh House, Hammersmith, 28 Feb. 1798]; Written by her Serene Highness the Margravine of Anspach. The Music partly by the Margravine, and partly by Sarti, Guglielmi, Paisiello, and Saphio. Grand Overture, La Chasse, by Reeve. The Scenery painted by Phillips, Lupino, Hollogan, &c. The Machinery by Sloper. The Dresses by Dick and Mrs Egan. Morning Chronicle, 17 Apr.: Her Serene Highness the Margravine of Anspach having, with unprecedented Kindness and Liberality, lent Mr Fawcett the Manuscript of the above magnificent and interesting Opera, he begs leave to state that nothing shall be wanted on his Part to render it as acceptable to the Public as it was to the Nobility who had the pleasure of seeing it at the Brandenburgh house Theatre. Ibid, 4 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Fawcett, No. 41, Frith-street, Soho. Receipts: #532 6s. 6d. (239.1.6; 2.9.0; tickets: 290.16.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Wathen. 2nd and 3rd piece: By permission of the Proprietors of the Theatre-Royal, Drury Lane. 2nd piece: Never acted at this Theatre [i.e. in the regular summer season; it had been acted "out of season" on 9 Feb. 1797]. Morning Chronicle, 16 Aug.: Tickets to be had of Wathen, No. 2, Frith Street, Soho