Event Comment: Benefit Francisque. By Their Majesties' Command. N.B. Places may be taken next the Boxes built on the Stage for their Royal Highness the Princess Amelia and Princess Caroline. [King, Queen, and rest of the Royal Family present.]

Event Comment: Benefit Ford and Mrs Forrester. [For a discussion of the production of plays, see Prompter, 6 May.]

Event Comment: Daily Advertiser, 22 May: We hear that Mons Poitier and Mademoiselle Roland made their Submission last Night on the Stage, and ask'd Pardon of the Town, and afterwards danc'd with universal Applause

Event Comment: Benefit Bond. At the Desire of several Persons of Quality who have universally applauded the same. N.B. Many of the greatest Persons being engaged at the Opera last Saturday desir'd therefore this Delay, in order to crown this Gentleman's Benefit, with their Presence, that after so great an Expence, Reward may not be wanting to the Merit of the Piece

Event Comment: London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 6 May: Last Night the Opera of Ariodante was performed [at CG], in which Signior Gieacchino Conti Ghizziello made his first Appearance, and met with an uncommon Reception

Event Comment: A New Opera. [Librettist not known. Music by Handel.] London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 13 May: Last Night was perform'd ... Atalanta ...in which was a new Set of Scenes painted in Honour to this Happy Union, which took up the full length of the Stage: The Fore-part of the Scene represented an Avenue to the Temple of Hymen, adorn'd with Figures of several Heathen Deities. Next was a Triumphal Arch on the Top of which were the Arms of their Royal Highnesses, over which was placed a Princely Coronet. Under the Arch was the Figure of Fame, on a Cloud, sounding the Praises of this Happy Pair. The Names Fredericus and Augusta appear'd above in transparent Characters. Thro' the Arch was seen a Pediment supported by four Columns, on which stood two Cupids embracing, and supporting the Feathers, in a Princely Coronet, the Royal Ensign of the Prince of Wales. At the farther End was a View of Hymen's Temple, and the Wings were adorn'd with the Loves and Graces bearing Hymenael Torches, and putting Fire to Incense in Urns, to be ofter'd up upon this Joyful Union. The Opera concluded with a Grand Chorus, during which several beautiful Illuminations were display'd. . . . There were present their Majesties, the Duke, and the Four Princesses

Event Comment: See a letter by Benjamin Victor to Matthew Debourg, in Victor, original Letters . . . (1776), I, I4ff which Deutsch, Handel, p. 409, thinks should be dated ca. 15 May 1736. Ricb's Register: Duke and Princesses present

Event Comment: According to the newspapers, the Prince and Princess were present, but Deutsch, Handel, p. 408, thinks that they may have been at CG instead

Event Comment: A New Comedy. [By Mrs E. Cooper. Apparently not printed. The characters named in the bill are: Lord Belamour, Sir Roger Wrangle, Sir Charles Cumberland, Froward, Wary, Young Wrangle, Peinter, Snare, Lady Cumberland, Felicia, Ready. See also a puff by Mrs Cooper in Daily Advertiser, 17 May.]

Event Comment: Afterpiece: As 26 May. Benefit the Author of the Farce

Event Comment: By particular Desire. Afterpiece: As 26 May. 7 P.M

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by the Author of George Barnwell. Afterpiece: As 26 May

Event Comment: See Daily Advertiser, 4 Feb., for a letter from Colley Cibber to the Gentlemen of the Inns of Court. Daily Advertiser, 4 Feb.: Whereas it is agreed on between several Gentlemen, to erect a New Theatre for the exhibiting of Plays, Farces, Pantomime, &c. all such Persons as are willing to undertake the said Building, are desir'd to bring their Plans for the same by the 2d of May next ensuing, in order to be laid before the said Gentlemen, the Time and Place of which Meeting will be advertis'd in this Paper on the last of April. Proportions of the Ground: The North Side 120 Feet; the West, square with the North, 130 Feet; the South 110 Feet; and the East on a Bevil, joining the Parallel. Note, There must be a Passage left to go round the Building, and the Stages to be 30 Feet wide at the First Scene; the Distance between Wall and Wall 80 Feet; and the Scene-Rooms, Green and Dressing Rooms, to be on the outside of the last mention'd Measure. The Stage to be either North or South

Event Comment: Founded on Shakespear's Much Ado About Nothing. By the Author of the Man of Taste. Daily Advertiser, 8 March: As the late tumultuous and riotous Behaviour of the Footmen at [dl] is become a Topick of Publick Discourse, a true and exact Account of the Disturbances they have made will be publish'd in this Paper: In the mean time we have the Pleasure to inform the Town, all proper Care being taken, every thing was very quiet last Night, and 'tis believ'd will continue so. The Director of the aforesaid Theatre having receiv'd a threatening Letter last Saturday in the Afternoon from the Footmen, a true Copy of it will be published in Tomorrow's Paper, with a Reward to those who shall discover the Author or Authors, so that he or they may be brought to Justice

Event Comment: DDaily Advertiser, 10 March: Last Night the Representation of the Rehearsal of Kings was disappointed by some Persons taking clandestinely Possession of the Hay-Market Playhouse, who were about Eight o'Clock committed to Bridewell for the same. On this Account several hundred Persons were turn'd away. We are assur'd that the Publick may depend on the aforesaid Play's being acted, as writ, Tomorrow

Event Comment: Benefit Essex. Tickets at Essex's Lodgings, at Mrs Holt's near the Playhouse Passage in Bow Street. Note, As many of my Friends may not appris'd of the hurt I receiv'd in my Performance on the Stage at the beginning of this Season, which still continues

Event Comment: LLondon Daily Post and General Advertiser, 28 April: This is to inform the Publick, That the new Tragi-Comedy, entitled, The Free Thinker, or the Fox Uncased, which was to have been play'd on this Day, is oblig'd to be again deferr'd till Friday Se'nnight, being the 6th of May, when it will certainly be play'd [in yb], Pen. Aubin. [See also 14 April.

Event Comment: DDaily Advertiser, 11 May: Yesterday there was a publick Rehearsal of...the Dragon of Wantley, now getting up...to a numerous and polite Company, who express'd uncommon Satisfaction at the Music and Performers

Event Comment: Mainpiece: a new Farce of Two Acts. [Author not known. Apparently not printed.]Afterpiece: (by a Company of Singers just imported) A new Musical Burlesque of two Acts, in a Grand Oratorio. [By Henry Carey.] The Musical Connoisseurs are desir'd do take Notice, that the Company keeps up strictly to the Italian Taste, the Notes being full of Grandeur and Harmony, and the Words full of low Nonsense; and as a further Indication of his Attachment, it is so contriv'd, that two powerful Parties are already form'd to support the two beautiful Rivals, Mauxalinda and Margeria; but which of them will carry their Point, Time alone must determine. It will be deem'd a lasting Obligation to any Chronologer, in what University soever presiding, if he will communicate the precise Century Moore of Moore-Hall liv'd in, so that the Hero may be dress'd in Character; but if the Recherche should prove too laborious, it is resolv'd he shall come as near the Figure of the Divine Farinello as possible. N.B. The Dragon was intended to have charm'd the City at Stationer's Hall; but from a Punctilio very common to Singers, he insisted on exerting his Musical Faculty at the Hay-Market. Admission: 5s., 3s., 2s. 7 p.m

Event Comment: Benefit Penkethman. At the Desire of several Persons of Distinction. [This bill from London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 16 May.

Event Comment: As 16 May, but No After-Money will be taken

Event Comment: As 17 May. The Usefulness of the Stage (1738) stated (p. 18) that The Dragon of Wantley was acted at hay with little success and that the audience was dismissed on the third night [this night, presumably]

Event Comment: As 17 May