SELECT * FROM london_stages WHERE MATCH('(@(authnameclean,perftitleclean,commentcclean,commentpclean) "Mr Benj May"/1) | (@(roleclean,performerclean) "Mr Benj May")') GROUP BY eventid ORDER BY weight() desc, eventdate asc OPTION field_weights=(perftitleclean=100, commentpclean=75, commentcclean=75, roleclean=100, performerclean=100, authnameclean=100), ranker=sph04

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We found 5678 matches on Event Comments, 1309 matches on Performance Comments, 607 matches on Performance Title, 19 matches on Author, and 0 matches on Roles/Actors.
Event Comment: Benefit for Jefferson. Mainpiece: Not played in 12 Years. [See 16 May 1760.] Paid half year's cleansing & Lighting to Lady Day Last for St Martin's #10 2s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #116. Charges: #64 4s. Profit to Jefferson: #51 16s. (Treasurer's Book)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Fair Quaker Of Deal; Or, The Humours Of The Navy

Afterpiece Title: The Register Office

Event Comment: Benefit for Gardner and R. Smith. Mrs Gardner's Indisposition preventing her from performing this evening, she hopes she shall be excused by her friends. [She was to have played Catherine in Afterpiece according to advance notice of 4 May.] Charges #64 10s. Deficit to each benefiticiary #15 6s. 6d., cover'd by income from tickets: Gardner, #61 1s. (Box 118; Pit 101; Gallery 164); Smith, #64 19s. (Box 35; Pit 264; Gallery 166). Paid half year's Land Tax for the Theatre due Lady day last, #61 5s.; paid ditto for window lights, #6 10s. 6d.; Paid ditto for House in Bow Passage #2 3s. 9d. and for its window lights 15s. Receipts: #33 17s. (Account Book)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Merchant Of Venice

Afterpiece Title: Catherine and Petruchio

Dance: III: Comic Dance, as17711031; IV: A Tambourine, as17720501

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Oroonoko

Afterpiece Title: The Citizen

Dance: IV: A Dance-Mas. Harris, Miss Mathews (her 2nd appearance that stage)

Monologue: Interlude. End: True Blue. As 2 May, but Principal Parts-Mrs _Baker, Mrs Mattocks

Performance Comment: End: True Blue. As 2 May, but Principal Parts-Mrs _Baker, Mrs Mattocks.
Event Comment: Benefit for Ansell and Green (Box-keepers). Charges #81 5s. Deficit to Box-Keepers #27 1s. 3d. apiece, cover'd by income from tickets: Ansell #122 2s. (Box 310; Pit 248; Gallery 74); Green #128 3s. (Box 420; Pit 115; Gallery 59) (Account Book). [Since box capacity seems to have been about 560 places, it would seem that several rows of the pit had been sold at box prices by these Boxkeepers. See 22 May 1767.] Receipts: #27 2s. 6d. (Account Book)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Busy Body

Afterpiece Title: The Deuce Is in Him

Dance: End: The Old ground Young, as17711030

Event Comment: Paid Black? Lyon bill #2 7s. 4d. (Treasurer's Book). [This is a recurring item weekly throughout the season varying in amounts from about #1 to #3. Tavern. Run by Yearley Waterer. Not noted further. Total payments this season about #75.] Public Advertiser, Theatrical Intelligence: Any Young Lady inclined to the Stage, is offered an advantageous Opportunity to experience her Theatrical Abilities in a very desirable Situation. As this Advertisement appears not from an itinerant Manager, nor results from a Dearth of People, but a Wish to promote Merit, which often (for want of the proper Mode of Application, or Fear in the Parties of their Intentions being made public, in case their Services should not be received) lies hid and unnoticed, it is hoped none but such as are possessed of a good Figure, as that will be greatly regarded, and whose Capabilities are blended with a real Inclination will apply. Enquire for W. at No. 114, in Long-Acre between the hours of Eleven and One on Wednesday or Thursday Morning in person, as no Attention will be paid to any Substitute. The Stage: A Gentlewoman, who has played capital Characters with unblemished Reputation in the three Kingdoms, takes this Method of acquainting such Ladies who have Talents and Inclination for the stage, that she undertakes to instruct them for the Profession many having been unsuccessful, more from Want of previous Instructions than Want of Genius. Her Attention to the great Articles of Reading and Speaking, with Elegance and Propriety, as well as Expression, Grace, and Ease, will be found of infinite Service to those who are assisted by the least Understanding. Those Ladies who do not intend to display their Talents in Public may be instructed for their Amusement. Enquire for E. H. No. 2 Queen Street, near Windmill Street, Haymarket. N.B. Any Lady will be waited on by a Line directed as above. [These advertisements ran for a number of days.] Receipts: #183 16s. (Treasurer's Book)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Beggar's Opera

Afterpiece Title: Harlequin's Invasion

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not played in two years. [See 20 May 1771.] Paid half years cleansing & lighting to Mich. Last for St Martin's #10 12s.; one years' ditto for 2 houses Vinegar Yard to ditto, #1 16s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #140 6s. (Treasurer's Book)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The London Merchant; Or, The History Of George Barnwell

Afterpiece Title: The Witches

Event Comment: Pantomime reviv'd not acted these 8 years. [See 17 May 1765.] Paid Mrs Topsham for Women's cloaths as per bill #24 (Account Book). Receipts: #228 5s. 6d

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Miser

Afterpiece Title: Harlequin Sorcerer

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.

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Golden Pippin

Afterpiece Title: The Commissary

Dance: I: A New Pantomime Dance call'd The Venetian Gardner-Mas. Blurton, Miss Capon. [See17650925]; II: [A New Dance-Aldridge, Miss Capon; End: [A New Grand Ballet, call'd Rural Amusements-Fishar, Sga Manesiere. [See17720424.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Paid Mrs Baks for walking 13 nights in King Henry VIII to 15th Inst.: #3 5s. (Account Book). [Mrs Baks as a walking super seems to have done better in salary at 4s. 1d. per night than did the men (Gard &c.) who perform'd as Ostriches, Asses, Hogs &c. in the afterpieces at 2s. 6d. per night. The difference may have depended upon whether one was a mute in a mainpiece or an afterpiece.] Receipts: #159 2s

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Stratagem

Afterpiece Title: The Golden Pippin

Dance: IV: The Fingalian Dance with Double Hornpipe, as17720921; End: New Dance, as17730206

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A New Comedy [by Oliver Goldsmith] never perform'd. [Carried in the Account Book under its secondary title. A long and grudgingly favorable review appeared in the Westminster Magazine: On the whole the Comedy has many excellent qualities: though we cannot venture to recommend it as a pattern for imitation. Still attached to the laudable intent of it, we wish it may keep possession of the stage till a better comedy comes to relieve it." There follows a long account of Foote's Puppet Show.] Receipts: #234 11s. 6d

Performances

Mainpiece Title: She Stoops To Conquor; Or, The Mistakes Of A Night

Afterpiece Title: Thomasand Sally

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Macklin. Each piece for only time this season. [But see 24 May.] Part of Pit will be laid in Boxes. Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Charges #64 10s. Profit to Miss Macklin #87 10s. 6d., plus #131 from 524 Box and Pit tickets sold at Box prices (Account Book). [The payroll this night is the highest for the season, #613 11s., due largely to the fact that Ross appears on it for what seems to be a whole season's pay in one sum: #255 15s.] Receipts: #152 6s

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Merchant Of Venice

Afterpiece Title: Love-a-La-Mode

Dance: II: Minuet-Fishar, Miss Macklin; IV: The Bird Catchers, as17721207; End: A Double Hornpipe, as17730218

Event Comment: Benefit for Bannister. Not Acted in 3 years. [See 17 May 1770.] Paid salary list #520 7s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #192 7s. 6d. Charges: #64 12s. Profit to Bannister: #127 15s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Beggar's Opera

Afterpiece Title: The Minor

Dance: II: A Comic Dance, as17730325

Event Comment: Benefit for Quick. Afterpiece: A new Farce never performed. Altered from Sir Charles Sedley's Piece of the same title by Dr Goldsmith. Acted only this night (playbill). [The notation on the alteration is by Kemble on the playbill. The characters are: Sourby, Octavio, Wentworth, Dancing Master, Scamper, Clarissa and Jenny. See Edition by Alice I. Perry Wood (Cambridge, Mass., 1931).] Charges #66 5s. Profit to Quick #7 6d., plus #80 from tickets (Box 100; Pit 263; Gallery 156) (Account Book). [Brief review of the Grumbler in the Westminster Magazine for May 1773: "It was several years ago translated from the French, and received this night some additional touches from the pen of Dr Goldsmith. An entertainment of one act cannot be expected to contain much. The whole merit of this is centered in one character, and perhaps in one scene."] Receipts: #73 5s. 6d

Performances

Mainpiece Title: King Lear

Afterpiece Title: The Grumbler

Dance: After the Interlude: The Whim, as17730426

Monologue: 1773 5 8 End of Play: Interlude. An Interlude by S. Foote Esq; Lady Pentweazle-Quick; Carmine-Davis

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 2 years. [See 10 May 1771.] Benefit for J. Bannister and W. Barry. Paid Easter Offering for St Martin's one year 10s. 6d.; Chorus 2 nights (this incl.) #3 6s. (Treasurer's Book). Tickets delivered by Kear will be taken. Receipts: #135 11s. Charges: #84. Profits to J. Bannister and W. Barry: #51 11s. (Treasurer's Book)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Zenobia

Afterpiece Title: Harlequin's Invasion

Entertainment: End: Bucks have at Ye All-Palmer

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Zara

Afterpiece Title: The Irish Widow

Dance: I: The Irish Fair, as17721023

Monologue: 1773 5 22 Between Play and Farce: A Favourite Musical Interlude, The Recruiting Serjeant. As 13 May

Performance Comment: As 13 May.
Event Comment: Mainpiece. Not acted these 2 years. [See 13 May 1772.] Paid Strutt for suit of Blossom'd colored cloaths #4. Paid Younger for license for the Occasional Prologue and The Duellist #3 3s. Receipts: #114 8s. (Account Book)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Elfrida

Afterpiece Title: Catherine and Petruchio

Dance: End: New Dance, as17731021

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)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: She Stoops To Conquer

Afterpiece Title: Midas

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A New Tragedy, acted but once. [See 1 May. N.B. The Account Book states that the bill was altered to The Busy Body and Golden Pippin.] Receipts: #116 8s. (Account Book)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: King Henry Ii; Or, The Fall Of Rosamond

Afterpiece Title: The Commissary

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A New Pantomime (never performed). The Music entirely new, by Fisher, New Scenes, Machines, Dresses, and Decorations. Books of the Songs, Chorusses, &c. to be had at the Theatre. Nothing under FULL PRICE will be taken. [The note about full prices and availability of books of songs, &c. accompanies each subsequent bill for Sylphs this season. The Westminster Magazine (Jan. 1774) fears the afterpiece may have been composed by Woodward. The reviewer recounts the story in some detail, likes the paintings and scenery, but states categorically: "We do not hesitate to pronounce it the worst Harlequin entertainment we remember to have seen...The music too is very insipid and pilfered from other masters."] Receipts: #237 3s. 2d. (Account Book)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Jane Shore

Afterpiece Title: The Sylphs; or, Harlequin's Gambols

Event Comment: By Particular Desire. Being the last time of Miss Catley's performing this Season. [See her participation in special benefit for Younger, 12 May.] Receipts: #237 7s. (Account Book)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Love In A Village

Afterpiece Title: The Sylphs

Dance: II: A Dutch Dance, as17731230

Event Comment: For the Author 2nd night. That Mrs Barry may have sufficient respit, tomorrow The Chances. Receipts: #181 1s. Charges: #73 10s. Profit to Author: #107 11s. (Treasurer's Book)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Sethona

Afterpiece Title: Neck or Nothing

Event Comment: Benefit for Younger. Mainpiece: Not acted these 2 years. [See 18 May 1772.] Tickets delivered by Miss Helme will be taken. Charges: #66 17s. 6d. Profit to Younger #52 1s., plus #130 1s. from tickets (Box 201; Pit 344; Gallery 382) Receipts: #118 18s. 6d. (Account Book)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Cyrus

Afterpiece Title: Mother Shipton with Stockwell Scenes

Event Comment: Benefit for Lewis. The doors to be opened at half past 5. To begin at half past 6 o'clock. [For Gentleman who played Othello, See bill for 25 May.] Charges #73 8s. Profit to Lewis #57 15s., plus #24 10s. from tickets (Box 61; Pit 43; Gallery 28) Receipts: #131 3s. (Account Book)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Rival Queens

Afterpiece Title: Catherine and Petruchio

Dance: End: The Merry Sailors, as17731007

Entertainment: After dance: Ode on the Passions-the Gentleman who performed Lysimachus

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Busy Body

Afterpiece Title: Mother Shipton

Dance: II: The Whim (1st time this season) [but see17740416-Aldridge, Miss Twist; IV: An Allemande-Aldridge, Miss Twist

Monologue: Interlude.End: True Blue. As 3 May, but Dance-Blurton; Principal Parts-Mrs _Baker, Miss Twist

Performance Comment: End: True Blue. As 3 May, but Dance-Blurton; Principal Parts-Mrs _Baker, Miss Twist.

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Don Sebastian

Afterpiece Title: The Dragon of Wantly

Monologue: Interlude.End: True Blue. As 3 May

Performance Comment: End: True Blue. As 3 May.

Dance: End I Farce: Minuet-Blurton, Miss Stede