Event Comment: At the Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Before the opera: some select Scenes taken out of a Comedy

Event Comment: Sir John Perceval to Elizabeth Stockwell, 20 Sept.: We should have languished for want of diversion but for Othello, which drew all the stragglers in town together, and our number was greater than I imagined....Meanwhile I declare that they who cannot be moved at Othello's story so artfully worked up by Shakespeare, and justly played by Betterton, are capable of marrying again before their husbands are cold, of trampling on a lover when dying at their feet, and are fit converse with tigers only (Egmont MS, II, 240)

Event Comment: Benefit Penkethman, Note, The Subscribers are desir'd not to bring their Tickets this Day, his Friends having promis'd to make this a Jubilee Day to him, and fill the House at the full Price, Mr Penkethman being at a greater Charge than ordinary. For the Entertainment of Madam la Signiora Fount, Signiora, Espagnola, Native d'Barcellone di cale Quallificatta, who will, in a particular Manner, hounour Mr Penkethman...by appearing in her own Country Habit. The Boxes opened to the Pit at 2s. 6d. At five o'clock, by reason of thelength of the Entertainments, and that the Gentry may return to London before 'tis Dark

Event Comment: Weekly Journal or British Gazetteer, 14 Sept.: On Thursday...Mr Bullock and Mr Leigh were taken out of their Booth in Southwark, as we hear, upon an Information against them; but being carried before the Lord Mayor, they were releas'd upon Bail

Event Comment: Weekly Journal or Saturday's Post, 11 Oct.: Last Friday Night...three Gentlemen demanded to go behind the Scenes; but there being an Order of the House made to the contrary, they were denied Admittance; upon which they went into the Pit, and with Apples, &c. pelted the Players in a shameful Manner, after which they got upon the Stage and drew their Swords and broke down the Scenery, Lamps, &c. which put the House in an Uproar, and 'twas an Hour before the Gentlemen could be brought to a civil Behaviour

Event Comment: By Command. The Concert will be perform'd in a Magnificent Triumphant Scenev, exceeding 30 Foot in Length any Scene ever seen before. Painted by Sig Roberto Clerici. The Pit and Boxes at half a guinea. Gallery 2s. 6d

Event Comment: At Mr Penkethman's Theatre, before their Royal Highnesses, the Prince and Princess

Event Comment: At the particular Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Afterpiece: With several new Scenes of Action, and comical Incidents neverperformed before

Event Comment: Mrs Lee, daughter of Mrs Minns, at the Great Booth on Bowling Green. With all the Scenes and Machines, with Additions. Mrs Lee had spared no Cost, but used her utmost Care, and most elaborate Industry in this Droll, to surpass even her Mother, the Booth coming as near the Perfection of the Theatre as possible, being adorned by the most ingenious Workmen: Her Head Characters are all Dress'd in real Gold and Silver, beyond what was ever worn at the Fair before, but by her own People

Event Comment: UUniversal Mercury, February 1726: Elisa...an Opera of a foreign Growth, and of which they promis'd us Wonders before it was brought over. But when it arriv'd, we soon found to our Cost, that its being far fetch'd and dear bought was the only thing that could recommend it: But even that would not do long, and Audiences grew so thin, that the Royal Academy, for fear of making another Call, was oblig'd to drop it

Event Comment: TThe King, Prince and Princess of Wales present. Universal Mercury, February 1726: Mr Handel had the Satisfaction of seeing an old Opera of his not only fill the House, which had not been done for a considerable time before, but People crowding so fast to it, that above 300 were turn'd away for want of room

Event Comment: A few days before 7 June the Drury Lane comedians presented Tamerlane at the Dutchess Dowager of Marlborugh's House in St. James's. See St. James's Evening Post, 10 June

Event Comment: [No advertisements of opera performances before 1 March are available, but the opera was probably performed on the regular Tuesday and Saturday schedule.

Event Comment: By His Majesty's Command. The King, Queen, Prince, Princess Royal, Princess Amelia, and Princess Carolina present. Universal Spectator, 14 Dec.: On Wednesday in the Afternoon there was a Riot at Drury-Lane Playhouse. The Mob hearing that their Majesties and the rest of the Royal Family were to be at the Play in the Evening, several disorderly People forced into the House pretending to keep Places, broke and did a good deal of Damage before they could be dislodg'd

Event Comment: By Their Majesties Command. Benefit Mrs Oldfield. Daily Journal, 7 March: Last Night the King, Queen, Prince of Wales, and the Princesses were all at the Theatre in Drury-Lane....But before the Play began, a Gentlewoman presented a Book, address'd to Princess Amelia, intitled, The Ladies Preservative, in the Three Chief Characteristicks of Beauty; the Hair, Complexion, and Teeth, which was very graciously received. Universal Spectator, 8 March: And supposing the Tickets which came in at the usual Rates, there was about 240 1. in the House. But her Benefit is generally reckoned at 500 1. several Persons of Quality, &c. giving five, ten, and twenty Guineas each. There was the greatest Appearance of Ladies of Quality at her Benefit that ever was known, and the House so excessive full, Stage and all, that the Actors had scarce Room to perform

Event Comment: The same morning [Saturday 31] the Opera of Scipio was rehearsed before a great Number of Ladies of the first Quality, and other Persons of Distinction.-Daily Courant, 2 Nov

Event Comment: Written by Shakespear. Daily Advertiser, 12 Oct.: The same Day [11 Oct., the Anniversary of His Majesty's Coronation] Mr Giffard...gave a handsome Entertainment, with a Concert of Musick, to the Company of Comedians, and a large Bonfire and Liquor to the Populace, when the Healths of their Majesties, his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales; the Duke, and the Princesses, were drank, with the sounding of Kettle Drums and Trumpets, and repeated Acclamations of Joy. Daily Post, 13 Oct.: Mr Fielding the Player (who keeps a Booth...during...Bartholomew Fair) gave to the Populace before his own Door in Hart-street, Bloomsbury, a Butt of the strongest Beer that could be got; also a large Bonfire

Event Comment: At the particular Desire of several Persons of Quality. Mainpiece: As it was perform'd last Week before their Majesties and all the Royal Family for the Benefit of Mrs Porter. The Judgment of Paris, which was intended to be perform'd this Night, is deferr'd for a few Days, upon Account of some Alterations in the Machinery

Event Comment: A new Opera. Written by the late Mr Gay. With New Habits and Scenes. Receipts: #207 11s. 6d. Daily Courant, 12 Feb.: Mr Pultney and Mr Pope were in the Pit....They were in the House before any body else was admitted. Sir William Windham was also present at this Performance; but notwithstanding the Countenance given to it, there was so much Obscenity and Scurrility in it, that it raised a general Abhorrence in the Audience. [See also The Bee, 17 Feb., for a puff concerning this performance and the play in general.

Event Comment: At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. Afterpiece: With new Habits, Scenes, Machines, and other Decorations. No Money under the full Price to be taken during the Time of Performance. The Additional Money to be return'd (if desired) to those who go out before the Overture of the Entertainment begins. Admission: 5s., 3s., 2s., 1s

Event Comment: CCraftsman, 9 June: We hear...that the Rebel Players are not yet reduced to their Obedience, but it is thought that They will soon be obliged to surrender at Discretion. In that mean Time, the Publick waits with Impatience to see the Manifesto of their doubty Chief, Mr Theophilus Cibber, which He hath promised in the News-Papers. It is expected that, in this Manifesto, the young Captain will endeavour to prove that the King's Patent, after a solemn Adjudgment in the Court of Chancery, is of no Validity; and that picking a Gentleman's Pocket of Six Thousand Pounds is perfectly consistent with the Principles of Liberty. In the Daily Post, 11 June, Benjamin Griffin, Comedian, published his Humble Appeal to the Publick.The gist of his statement is: (1) Griffin had been under the management of Rich at Lincoln's Inn Fields, without any intention of leaving him, when, at the beginning of the season of 1721, the managers at Drury Lane sent him messages by Thurmond Sr and Shaw, seeking Griffin to treat with them. Griffin at first refused, but Steede, then the prompter of Drury Lane, prevailed upon him. Wilks immediately offered the same conditions Griffin had under Rich: #4 weekly and a benefit before 15 April, at the certain incident charge of #40. Wilks also offered him articles for three years, with a promise of an advance in salary and better terms at that time. (2) No sooner had Griffin agreed than the masters of both companies entered into a private agreement not to receive any one of the other's company, though discharged, without a private agreement to that purpose. (3) At the end of three years, under date of 12 December 1724, R. Castleman, the treasurer of Drury Lane, sent Griffin a note to the effect that the managers were willing to continue him at 10s. nightly (#3 weekly); as Griffin could not return to Rich, he had to accept the reduction in pay as well as a delay of his benefit to May and a payment of #50 for the charges. (4) He remained so until 1729, losing in salary #147 besides the #10 extra benefits. At Norris' illness and death, the managers returned him to #4 weekly but kept the charges at #50. (5) Under date of 4 June 1733, by the signatures of Mary Wilks, Hester Booth, John Highmore, and John Ellys, Griffin received a discharge from Drury Lane and full Liberty to treat with Rich or any one else. He asserts that he had no previous notice and received no reason for his discharge