Event Comment: Young Gentlewoman-Miss E. Miller, marryed since to Mr Thomas Baker, an actor of cg, and a singing master. Mrs Baker is at present separated from her husband (1792) and performs only at Sadler's Wells in Pantomimes &c! Qu: Count Haslang and Mrs Baker (Hopkins MS Notes). Income from Boxes #27 2s. 6d. Nightly expense as usual #32 16s. 11d. Receipts: #74 7s. 6d. (Winston Theatrical Record)

Event Comment: The Book of the opera at the Theatre. Comic opera in 3 acts by Lloyd .Music by Mr Rush. [See reduction to two-act farce, 2 March 1765. First performance in England of C. S. Favart's Le Caprice Amoureux (a parody of Goldoni's Bertoldo).

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Bellamy. Tickets to be had of her Two Doors beyond the Rising Sun in Great Suffolk St; and of Mr Sarjant at the Stage-Door. Charges #64 5s. [Profit to Mrs Bellamy #33 16s. 6d. plus #102 1s. from Tickets (Box 251; Pit 262)] (Account Book). Receipts: #98 1s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Kennedy. Afterpiece: Never performed in this theatre. [No mention of permission.] Mr Kennedy intended having this performance before the Benefits commenced at Drury Lane and Covent Garden Theatres, but having been detained at Bristol, could not pay his respects to his friends sooner

Event Comment: For the Author 2nd Night. Paid Mr Malthus one year's rent to Xmas last (#1 11s. 6d. Land tax deducted) #31 8s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). A Peep Behind the Curtain is oblig'd to be deferr'd. Receipts: #219 6s. 6d.; Charges: #73 10s.; Profits to Author: #145 16s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid Mr Fredrick for lace #22 2s. 5d.; One year's paving and one quarter's #4 10s. to Mich last. Receipts: #170 1s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; c 3, altered from the same, probably by the author, Richard Bentley]: Written in the manner of the Italian Comedy. With new Scenes and Dresses. [Author of Prologue unknown.] "It was originally produced at Drury Lane in the summer of 1761 [27 July] . . . and has now been new dished up, and seasoned to the day" (European Magazine, ibid). J. P. Collier states that "it is not a revival of the former piece" (MacMillan, Larpent Catalogue, p. 98). It was not, strictly speaking, a "revival", but, rather, a revision, as a collation of Larpent MS 586 (the present version, which is unpublished) with MS 199 (Bentley's 1761 version) makes clear. In 1761 Bentley introduced "the speaking Harlequin after the manner of the Italians . . . Mr Harris some years after gave it a second chance on the stage" (Cumberland, Memoirs, I, 212-14). Receipts: #215 19s. (213/5/6; 2/13/6)

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. The date of the first production is uncertain. The date of licensing was 3 Jan. 1678@9, but Wilson (Six Restoration Play-Dates, p. 222) has argued that it may well have been the first new play of the season. The Prologue refers to it as "The first Play bury'd since the Wollen Act," the Act going into effect on 1 Aug. 1678. For Sandford as Creon, see Cibber, Apology, ed. Lowe, I, 131. Downes (Roscius Anglicanus, p. 37): Oedipus King of Thebes, Wrote by Mr Nat. Lee and Mr Dryden: The last Writing the first two Acts, and the first the 3 last. This play was Admirably well Acted; especially the Parts of Oedipus and Jocasta: One by Mr Betterton, the other by Mrs Betterton; it took prodigiously being Acted 10 Days together

Event Comment: The King's Company. The date of the premiere is not known. As the play was entered in the Term Catalogues, June 1679, it probably was acted first sometime in the preceding two or three months. Gildon's revision of Langbaine, English Dramatick Poets: This Play met not with the Applause the Author and his Friends expected (p. 28)

Event Comment: Rich's Company. There is no certainty as to the date of the first performance, and the play has been sometimes assigned to mid-summer 1697 because the Preface refers to a summer production and the play was printed in 1697. Nevertheless, the presence of Verbruggen in the cast suggests that the summer of 1696 is more likely, as Verbruggen left Drury Lane on 1 Jan. 1696@7 and thereafter appeared at Lincoln's Inn Fields. Preface, Edition of 1697: Amongst a number of New Plays that of late have crowded the Stage.... As it is, it may bear up in the Winter, notwithstanding the little Encouragement it met with at its first Appearance from a thin Town, and the Scarcity of Money. A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702): Sullen: Unhappy Kindness, the same Author's [as of Mock Marriage], but very word stole. Ramble: The success? Sullen: Damn'd

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of the premiere is not known, but the fact that the play was advertised in the Post Man, 8-10 June 1697, suggests a first performance in late May or the beginning of June. Preface: I [Motteux] write the Masque of Hercules, and Mr Eccles, having set it with his usual Success, and yet more masterly than my Mars and Venus, if possible, I prevail'd with the ingenious Mr J. Oldmixon to give me a short Pastoral, while I scribbled over a Farce after the Italian Manner, and an Imitation of part of a diverting French Comedy of one Act (for such Plays are very common in Foreign Parts). Then I wanted nothing but a Tragedy....At last I bethought myself of one already studied, called The Unnatural Brother, written by an ingenious Gentleman and acted 6 Months ago, tho not with the success it deserv'd. Yet the latter Part was extremely applauded: So I was persuaded to make bold with it, as I do....I could easily contract the most moving Part of the Story into the Compass of one Act, with some Additions....All this was done in a very short time, the warm Season threatening me with your Absence....The foregoing Lines were published as a Preface to that Masque, some few copies of which were printed for the use of the Audience, the first day of the Novelty's being Acted. A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702), p. 20: Every Word stolen, and then Damn'd

Event Comment: At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. Mainpiece: Written by Mr Tate, late Poet Laureat. Afterpiece: The Words by Mr Motteux, and set to Musick by Mr Eccles. With Scenes, Machines, Dances, and all proper Decorations

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A New Dramatic Masque. Admission 5s., 3s., 2s., 1s. No Money under the full Price will be taken; and the Advance Money will he returned to those who chuse to go out before the Overture to the Entertainment begins. Edition of 1736: Invented by Mr Pritchard. Musick composed by Mr Arne. Scenes painted by Mr Hayman

Event Comment: Benefit Rogers, Simson, and Mrs Chetwood. Tickets to be had of Rogers at Mr Molloy's, Wine Merchant in Bear Yard, Lincoln's Inn Fields; at Mr Settre's, Linen Draper, at the Golden Anchor, next Tom's Coffee House, Covent Garden; of Mrs Chetwood, Castle Tavern, Drury Lane; and of Simson, at Mr Gill's, a shoemaker, Basinghall St. [At 5 p.m. this day Jack, Joseph and Polly Granier are scheduled to dance in several dances at the New Wells, Lemon St., Goodman's Fields. Carney has also gone over to the New Wells.

Event Comment: At the particular Desire of several Persons of Distinction. Benefit Dance. Boxes 3s., Pit and First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. The Late Wells in Goodman's Fields. Tickets to be had at Mr. Dance's Lodgings, at Mr Boteler's in Fenchurch St.; and at Mr Goodfellow's at Mrs Simpson's, in Church Lane, near the Wells. Particular care will be taken to keep the House warm

Event Comment: To the Author of the General Advertiser, Sir: I have frequently observ'd particular Notice has been taken in your paper of particular Merit, I hope therefore you'll allow room for this short Epistle--I am a great Lover of Public Diversions, especially such as can agreeably amuse, or afford the highest Mirth, without offense to Sense of Decency; Of this kind are the two new dances compos'd by Salomon, and perform'd by him, Mr Cook, Mr Muilment, Madem Violette, Sga Padouana, and the young little Salomon, and others. To say they are excellent in their way is barely doing 'em justice; but in these Dances they may be said to have excell'd themselves. The first, tho' a kind of Serious Pastoral Ballet afforded the Audience great Pleasure; and I believe never did three dancers in a Pas Trois, altogether equal the Execution of Sg Salomon, Madem Violette, and Mr Cook; there was an Elegance peculiar to herself that shone thro' her whole performance. The other Entertainment is the representation of a Fair, to which People of all degrees and nations are suppos'd to resort, it may not improperly be stil'd a very High Piece of Low Humour; and caused as much laughter and applause as the strongest Farce ever produc'd, without offending the Modesty of the Ladies. We have had many performers from abroad, but Sg Salamon and Violette so inimitably express their characters in this entertainment, that I think they excel what we have hitherto seen; and very much deserve the Encouragement of the Town, I am, &c

Event Comment: Paid Gallini in part of his Bond #50 (Account Books, Egerton 2268). Mrs Cibber, being Indisposed with a violent Fever, which renders her incapable of performing in the Distrest Mother this day for her Benefit, she is therefore oblig'd to defer it till further Notice. On Tuesday next will be publish'd (Address'd to Mr Garrick) The Pretty Gentleman, or Softness of Manners vindicated from the False Ridicule exhibited unter the character of William Fribble, Esq:...Printed for M. Cooper in Paternoster Row. We hear the Comedy of the Suspicious Husband will be performed in a few days, and the continuance of Mr Garrick's Indisposition, rendering his appearance on the Stage entirely uncertain; the part of Ranger will be attempted by Mr Chapman.--General Advertiser

Event Comment: [The following letter appeared in the General Advertiser]: To Mr Ryan, Sir: As the Author whom you have judiciously, I think, call'd in to your Assistance on your Benefit Night is little known; his Name not having appeared upon the Stage in our Days; and from whence some may be apt to think it scarce worth while to produce him now;--it was thought advisable by many of your Friends, of which Number I profess myself, to draw up the following Account of him and his Dramatic Works, that such as are Strangers to him may have some further Inducement to favour you with their Company. Mr Thomas Randolph lived in the Reign of King Charles I, was Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge; but died young. He was a Man of pregnant Wit, gay Humour and of excellent Learning; which gain'd him the Esteem of the Polite Part of the Town, and particularly recommended him to the Favour of Ben Johnson, who adopted him one of his Sons, and held him in equal Esteem with the ingenious Mr Cartwright, another of the Laureat's adopted Sons:--The Plays he wrote were: [he lists 5 plays, commenting from Cokayne and Rich of Christ's Church College, Oxon, and West on the ethical quality of the last one, The Muses' Looking Glass]. In short, Sir, I doubt not but his old nervous Wit will still please, and join'd with the New Masque you have added, excite Curiousity enough to answer your Design; since by your Steadiness it was absoluteley necessary you should hava Novelty, as well as Interest, to procure half so good a House, as we all wish you, and especially, Your Humble Servant, I. M. [See 14 March afterpiece.

Event Comment: Benefit for Matthews and James. Rec'd Cash #44 9s., plus #116 12s. from tickets. Total #161 1s. Paid Mr Barsanti for music by order of Garrick #1 11s. 6d. Paid Mr Williams 1!2 year's rent K: passage #11 15s. (Treasurer's Book). Mr Mills bury'd at St Marks [Cross). Receipts: #160 (Cross); charges, #63 (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Havard. Mainpiece: By particular desire. No building on the stage on account of the machinery for the Masque. Tho' Mr Havard's long and severe indisposition has prevented his personal solicitation, yet he hopes it will not deprive him of the preference of those Persons of Quality, &c. who used to favour his Benefits. N.B. Those ladies and gentlemen who applied for places and were disappointed the last time the Masque was performed, may have them for this night, by sending to Mr Hobson at the stage door, by whom tickets will be deliver'd; As also at the Bedford Coffee House, and at Mr Havard's in Broad Court, the upper end of Bow St., Covent Garden. Tickets hitherto deliver'd will be taken. Receipts: #200 (Cross)