Event Comment: Benefit Nivelon. Mainpiece: Written by the late Mr Congreve. Afterpiece: Containing Variety of New Songs, to old Ballad-Tunes [By John Hippisley]. Receipts: money #84 2s. 6d.; tickets #53 8s

Event Comment: Benefit Mr Thurmond. At the particular Desire of several Persons of Quality and Distinction. Mainpiece: Written by the late Sir John Vanbrugh. [Tickets at Thurmond's House, Haydon Square.

Event Comment: Benefit Allen, the Numberer [Rich's Register adds: the late Mr Wilks' Nephew.] Mainpiece: Written by the late Sir John Vanbrugh. Afterpiece: Intermix'd with Songs; taken from Moliere

Event Comment: Benefit W. Grove, M.R. by Command of the Honourable Court of Non-Common-Pleas. The Gentlemen of the Society are desir'd to meet at their Court, at Sir John's, at 5 o'Clock exactly, from thence to proceed to the Theatre. 6 p.m. 5s., 4s., 2s

Event Comment: Benefit John Dennis. Daily Advertiser, 19 Dec: There was an exceeding crowded Audience of Persons of Distinction ... at Mr Dennis's Benefit, and his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales was pleased to send twenty Guineas as a present to that Gentleman

Event Comment: By John Lockman. Set to Music by Mr Boyce. By the Apollo Society in the Devil Tavern, Temple Bar. [See Deutsch, Handel, p. 404.]

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Alter'd from Beaumont and Fletcher by Sir John Vanbrugh and Mr Dryden

Event Comment: Benefit Leviez, Desse, and Powell (Deputy Treasurer). [The latter was probably John Powell, who later ingratiated himself with Lord Holland, became an accountant in the office of Paymaster General of His Majesties Forces and in 1783 was accused with Mr Bembridge of concealing a large sum in Accounts chargeable to Lord Holland, 1757-65. He committed suicide 26 May 1783, under the stress of the investigation, and the verdict of death as a result of Lunacy was issued. See account in Gentlemen's Magazine (1783) pp. 454, 539, 613. He is there described as having been a Teller in Drury Lane Theatre, a person who acts as a check upon the door keepers of the playhouse, by counting the number of people in the house, which he does from a small box, conveniently situated for that purpose.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: At the Desire of Several Persons of Quality. Benefit John Hippisley. [Receipts: #72 17s. 6d. plus #93 1s. from tickets without Stage (Account Books, Egerton 2268)]. Receipts: #165 18s. 6d. We hear Mr Hippisley is so far recover'd from his late illness, that, tho' considerably alter'd in his physiognomy, and lower'd in spirits, he persuades himself a crowded house on Thursday next, at the Stratagem for his benefit, will create a smile on his countenance, raise his spirits, and make him appear as much a Scrub as ever

Event Comment: Afterpiece: Being the most tragical tragedy that ever was tragedized by a company of tragedians. At the Particular Desire of Several Persons of Quality (General Advertiser). [The following unsigned statement of the financial condition of the theatre on 11 April is in the Harvard Collection of Documents dealing with affairs of Drury Lane, folio MS Thr. 12. This itemizes the outstanding liabilities to the amount of #8,808 14s. including #1,275 of arrears in actors' salaries]: I told Mr- the intended purchaser that the whole would not amount to #12,000. He said if it was more it should rest on me, for that was the utmost shilling he would give. But upon strict enquiry I find it will amount to #12,808 14s. This difference is not altogether owing to an error in calculation, but has been likewise heightened by a falling off of business, nor is it possible to ascertain the debt of a theatre for a day, it is of so fluctuating a nature. Q: whether this loss ought to light upon me, who have endeavored to get a purchaser & increased the value of the Estate to the utmost of my power? Errors excepted. [James Lacy or John Powel are the most likely authors of this statement. Whatever the authority, it is clear that settlement had not yet been made for transfer of ownership. For Powel, see G. W. Stone, Jr., The Authorship of Tit for Tat," Theatre Notebook, X (1955), 22-28.

Event Comment: [Benefit for Berry and Mrs Green. Stage form'd into Front and Side Boxes. Tickets of Hobson at stage door; or Berry at his lodgings in Little Bridges St., Covent Garden; and Mrs Green at her Lodgings at the Green Canister in Great Shier Lane, Carey St., Lincolns Inn. [This day one B. B. (presumably Macklin) inserted a letter to the author of the General Advertiser in that paper framing the historical background for the Lover's Melancholy, to be performed as benefit for his wife on 22 April. It gave a short account of the author (John Ford), his works in general, and of that dramatic piece in particular, and sought to align Ford as an intimate and profess'd admirer of Shakespeare. See comment for 23 April]. Receipts: #207 (Cross); house charges, #63 N.B.: Mr Berry paid, but at the rate o 60 pounds for his benefit, therefore I must make a draw back of #1 10s. for his half (Powel); cash, #88 9s. tickets, #118 12s. (Clay MS)

Event Comment: MMr Garrick did Richard (Cross). This day is publish'd, Dedicated to the Right Honorable John, Earl of Orrery, Sejanus a Tragedy, as it was intended for the stage, with a Preface; wherein the Manager's reasons for refusing it are set forth. By Mr Gentleman. Printed for R. Manby and H. S. Cox on Ludgate Hill. [Garrick turned it down and Gentleman accepted his judgment without animosity.] Receipts: #210 (Cross)

Event Comment: An Apology in ye Bills for deferring K. John on Account of Mr Garrick's Indisposition (Cross). Receipts: #100 (Cross)

Event Comment: By Particular Desire. Benefit for Cibber. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. To begin at 6:30 p.m. To prevent any interruption in the Performance, there will be no Building on the Stage. Afterpiece: The Dramatick Piece of Two Acts...is taken from the inimitable comic Scenes of Shakespeare, which contain the Humours of Antient Pistol, Justice Shallow, Sir John Falstaff, Justice Silence, the Hostess Doll Tearsheet, and the Recruits, etc. (Daily Advertiser). On Tuesday the 2d of July Mr The: Cibber had a play at Drury Lane, ye Busy Body, & farce from ye 2d pt of Henry 4th. & had 140 pounds in Money & 66 in Tickss (Cross)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Beaumont and Fletcher, acted but once these 15 years. Afterpiece: At the particular Desire of several persons of Quality. Benefit for my Self & Wife (Cross). [See The Spouter; or, The Triple Revenge, farce in two acts attributed to Mr Murphy, satirizing John Hill, Theophilus Cibber, Samuel Foote. Discussed by Genest, IV, 459-61.] Receipts: #214 (Cross)

Event Comment: Receipts: #146 1s. Paid John Rich on account #10 10s.; Lent Mr Buck #5 5s. and paid him for tambourines #1 4s

Event Comment: Benefit towards the Increase of a Fund, established by the Performers of the Theatre Royal Covent Garden for the Support of Decayed Actors and their Families. This Fund having been begun by voluntary contributions among the performers, improved by a proportionable Weekly Deduction on their salaries, and intended as a reciprocal Provision for them their widows and children, in sickness and infirmity, it is humbly hoped and appeal to the Generosity of the Public will not be taken amiss. Such of the Nobility, Gentry, &c. who are pleas'd to favour this Undertaking, are desired to send for places, Box or Pit tickets, to Mr Sarjant, at the Stage Door. Mainpiece [by John Banks]: Not acted these 20 years. Occasional Prologue, written by Hull [printed in the Jester's Magazine, May 1766, p. 241]

Event Comment: Paid Mr Wegg 3 quarter's rent due Mich. last past #52 10s.; Paid John Bottomly for scarlet cloath #4; Miss Berkley on note #11 11s. Rec'd stoppages #4 11s. (Treasurer's Book). Thespis publish'd at 2s. Receipts: #261 10s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Paid John Doe for sticking black bills #4 19s. Paid Mr Masefield (paperhanger) as per bill #1 4s. (Account Book). Receipts: #117

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A New Comedy (never performed) [by George Colman]. Paid Miller for performing 11 nights in The Sylphs #2 15s. Paid Mr Anderson for 2 suits of women's cloaths #21 (Account Book). [The mainpiece received a scourging review in the Westminster Magazine for Feb. 1774. Gibbon attended, "We dined at the Shakespeare and went in a body to support it....Though we got a verdict for our client his cause was but a bad one. It is a very confused miscellany of several plays and tales" (John Hampden@Journal, p. 18).] Receipts: #258 3s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A New Comedy [by R. B. Sheridan] never perform'd. New Scenes and Dresses. [Gentleman's Magazine for Jan. states: "Tuesday 17, Was performed for the first time at Covent Garden a comedy call'd The Rivals, said to be written by Mr Sheridan. Some objections being made both to language and character, the author has thought proper to withdraw his piece for correction, and it has since been played with applause." See 18 and 28 Jan. The Westminster Magazine, Jan., remarked: "This comedy was acted so imperfectly, either from the timidity of the actors on a first night's performance, or from an improper distribution of parts, that it was generally disapproved....The author promised some alterations, which implied that he would be glad the Town would suspend judgment till a farther hearing" See 28 Jan. John Hampden quotes from Lloyd's Evening Post, 18 Jan., the Morning Chronicle and Morning Post of the same date, and the London Chronicle of 19 Jan. articles damning the casting and the imperfectness of the actors, the impudence of Shuter in particular, and the fatigue of the audience.

Event Comment: Benefit for the Widow and Three Orphan Children of the late Mr Benson. [Address by John Taylor, Poems, I, 62.] "Benson [who committed suicide on 19 May] was remarkable for a very retentive memory, which enabled him on the slightest notice to become a substitute for almost any performer who might be suddenly disabled from appearing" (European Magazine, June 1796, p. 397). The house was a very good one, but it has been said that Sheridan went to the Treasury and carried off the money, so that Benson's widow and children never got a sixpence" (Genest, VII, 245). Receipts: #678 10s. 6d. (319.8.0; 66.3.6; 2.19.0; tickets: 276.6.0; odd money: 13.14.0) (charge: #212 15s.)

Event Comment: Post Man, 5-8 Sept. 1696: At Mr Barns's Booth in Southwark Fair, near St Georges Church, will be seen the only English, Dutch, Spanish, High German and Indian Companies of Rope-Dancers, who are all five joined together, and will perform such variety of Dancing, Walking, Vaulting and Tumbling; the like was never seen in England before. 1st, You will see the famous Indian Woman and her Company. 2. You will see the High German Company. 3. You will see the Spanish Company dance excellently well on the Low Rope. 4. You will see the two famous Dutch Children, who are the wonder and admiration of all the Rope Dancers in the World of their Sex and Age. 5. You will see the two famous Englishmen, Mr Edward Barns of Rederiff, and Mr Appleby, who are the only two Master Ropedancers and Tumblers in the old world; also you may see Mr Edward Barnes dance with a Child standing on his shoulders, and with 2 children at his Feet, in Jack-boots and Spurs, and cuts Capers a yard and a half high, and dances a Jig on the Rope with that variety of steps, that few, or no Dancing Masters can do the like on the ground: He likewise walks on a slack Rope no bigger than a penny Cord, and swings himself 6 or 7 yards distance. Afterwards you will see the famous Indian Woman Vault the High Rope with great dexterity. Likewise you will see the famous Mr Appleby, who is the only Tumbler in all Europe, fling himself over 16 mens heads, through 12 Hoops, over 14 Halbards, over a Man on Horseback, and a Boy standing upright on his Shoulders. You will likewise the entertained with good Musick. The merry Conceits of Harlequin and his Son Punch. You will see the English and Dutch Flag on the top of the Booth. Vivat Rex. We shall play in this place 12 days

Event Comment: Post Boy, No 482, 4-7 June 1698: At York Buildings this Day, being the 7th of June, will be performed an Entertainment of New Musick, Vocal and Instrumental, Mr Pate, Mr Leveridge, Mr Freeman, Mr Bowen, and all the best Masters perform their Parts. Composed by Mr Daniel Purcell for his Benefit

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of the first production is not known, but the Prologue refers to "this Winter," suggesting a date before March 1700. A song, Ah Belinda I am pressed, in this play, appeared in Orpheus Britannica, 1698, the music by Henry Purcell, who had died some years before its appearance in this collection. A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702), pp. 26-27, referring to the rivalry between lif and dl in reviving Shakespeare and Jonson: The Battel continued a long time doubtful, and Victory hovering over both Camps, Batterton Sollicts for some Auxiliaries from the same Author, and then he flanks his Enemy with Measure for Measure