Event Comment: FFoote play'd Ben , Miss Macklin Miss Prue , Mrs Clive Mrs Frail . Foote cou'd not sing ye Song in Ben, so said two or three times, I can't do it & upon a little Hissing, said, Gentlemen I have no talents for singing-ye whole play Hum (Cross). [Opposed to Cross's summary of the effect of the performance appeared in Gray's Inn Journal the Murphy account (19 Jan.): The excellent Comedy of Love for Love has been revived here this week, the humorous and diverting Part of Ben, the sailor, was performed with great pleasantry by Mr Foote, who showed by his manner and his looks, that he had entered into the secret of the character, tho' twas visible at the same time, that his powers were greatly suppressed by his solicitude for his first appearance in a new character. It may be said of Miss Macklin, tho perhaps better qualified for spirited genteel comedy, that she acquitted herself with great applause in a part in which Mrs Clive has displayed so many inimitable strokes of humour."] Receipts: #160 (Cross)

Event Comment: On Tuesday next a New Tragedy called Philoclea. On Monday 28 January will be a Benefit for Sga Nicolina Giordani, A comic Opera with dances. Tickets and places for the Boxes may be had at Sg Giordani's Lodging, at Mr Milbourn's Grocer, in James St. Covent Garden. To the Young Gentlewoman who has performed Hermione [see 19 Jan.]: @Great was th' Applause you met, great your desert,@You charm'd the Eye, the Ear, the Head, the Heart.@Amaz'd we saw you at the first appear,@Ev'n in the hardest part, a perfect play'r.@Your person, your deportment set to view,@The youthful princess that the poet drew.@All was propriety, and all was grace,@We read the author's meaning in your face.@Your elocution was both just and strong,@Mix'd with due ease, and not an accent wrong,@Such varied Musick in your voice we heard,@That in the Tones both Taste and Sense appear'd.@Love, Jealousy, and Rage so well expres't@Engag'd our souls, nor knew we which was best,@'Twas Nature all-she form'd you for the stage,@Follow her steps, and glad th' Admiring Age.-Public Advertiser@

Event Comment: By Command of the King (Cross). This day a new tragedy, entitiled Constantine the Great was read here to the actors for the first time. This piece is written by the reverend Mr Francis, from whose valuable translation of Horace it may be inferred that he is such a judge of all the graces of Language and every beautiful turn in writing, that it is not to be doubted but he will give the public a production abounding in elegancies. [See 23 Feb.

Event Comment: The Musick composed by Mr Handel. New Decorations

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Clive. A new Operetta. Farce dull & hiss'd at ye End (Cross). Music by D'Fesch. Part of Pit laid into Boxes. Amphitheatre on Stage. N.B. Tis hoped Gentlemen won't take it ill that they can't be admitted into the Orchestra, as it will be impossible to perform the Entertainment without the whole band of Music. Tickets to be had of Mrs Clive at her Lodgings at the Wheatsheaf in Henrietta St. and of Mr Varney at the Stage Door. Receipts: #240 [Cross)

Event Comment: [Not performed.] Last Night ththe new English Opera of Eliza was suppressed by an Order from superior Power, by which Means many Persons of Taste were deprived of a very elegant Entertainment, as it was universally acknowledg'd that this musical Performance was very extraordinary Merit, being a sensible Composition, calculated to convey the liveliest Ideas to the Fancy, and to awaken the Passions of very feeling Heart. It is said, that instigated by this Disappointment, Mr Arne will apply to P-t for a Bill to unnaturalize him, that he may then have the Privileges of an Englishman, as well as any Foreigner of them all (Gray's Inn Journal No 37, 8 June)

Event Comment: A New Comic Opera presented by Mr Giordani, with his Company, and La Signora Spiletta

Event Comment: By Authority. Not acted there before. Tickets delivered out by Miss Barton will be taken. Also an additional Reinforcement of Mr Bayes's new raised Troops

Event Comment: Acted there but once. By Authority. Tickets deliver'd out by Miss Barton which could not get in on Thursday last, will be admitted this Night. [An Epistle from Mr Theophilus Cibber, to David Garrick, Esq. London: 1755, dated Nov. 20, 1755: When Th. Cibber returned from Guilford last July, he found a discharge from Covent Garden (p.5) He got a license from the Duke of Grafton to open Little Haymarket (p. 6). He began and acted ten nights in three weeks, with some success, but when Drury Lane opened, Th. Cibber was ordered to stop (p. 7). He then petitioned the Duke of Grafton to have The Haymarket for two or three times weekly for the rest of the season. He hoped that the Little Haymarket might be a nursery for young performers, as well as for new pieces (p. 24). See dl 24 Nov.

Event Comment: The Last New English Opera, Taken from Shakespeare's Midsummer-Night's Dream. The Music compos'd by Mr Smith. Nothing under full prices will be taken during the whole performance. [See Genest, IV, 407.] Receipts: #140 (Cross)

Event Comment: Particularly the Lilliputian Sailors-Sg Baletti, Mr Lauchery, Miss Noverre, Mrs Vernon. New Dances by Sigr Baletti, Monr Lauchery, &c. from france (pretty well receiv'd) (Cross). Receipts: #130 (Cross)

Event Comment: Speedily will be publish'd at 1s. 6d. Dedicated to David Garrick Esq a New Edition of the Orphan of China...acted at Paris with great applause. [A weekly writer says of this performance: "I could wish that our modern Play-wrights would endeavor to imitate this author in the judicious choice and dispositions of their Fable; and further think this very piece not unworthy the notice of our managers. The Translator has indeed, with great propriety, laid his version at Mr Garrick's door, since there is nobody so well qualified to take the orphan under their protection."] Printed for R. Baldwin in Paternoster Row. Receipts: #220 (Cross)

Event Comment: Written by Mr Hume. Author of Douglas. Went off wth. great Applause (Cross). A New Tragedy. The Music composed by Dr Boyce. As this is the 1st night of representation, and much depends upon keeping the scenes clear, 'tis hoped no gentleman will be offended that he cannot be admitted upon the stage or into the orchestra. [See Theatrical Review, 1757 and Beginning of 1758 for contemporary comment on source, and at act-by-act progress of play. Judicial but appreciative. Finds some rant and bombast, as well as inconsistency, in Lysander 's characterization: "If...not...known that the author of Agis is the same to whom we are indebted for Douglas, one would not have suspected those two tragedies to have sprung from the same pen...Agis inspires us with admonition; Douglas speaks forcibly to our softer feelings. In Douglas he has shown himself perfect master of nature and the human heart: in Agis of contrivance in point of plot and incidents. What a masterpiece may not we expect from such talents when united in one tragedy!"] Receipts: #200 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Sparks. Receipts: #83 2s. 6d. plus Tickets #184 12s. (boxes 335; pit 551; gallery 182). Advanced Mrs Bellamy on her salary #105. Two new Renters came in at 1 share each: Sir Thomas Robinson and Robert Hassell (Account Book). Mr Smith takes this earliest opportunity to return thanks the Ladies and Gentlemen who honoured him with their presence at his Benefit on Tuesday Night, and is very sorry for any interruption that might happen in the performance. The indulgence of his friends that night far exceeded his most sanguine exceptations; otherwise he should have provided proper accomodations for them on the stage (Public Advertiser). [See Theatrical Review, 1757 and Beginning of 1758, for contemporary comment on mainpiece: "It is not paying it a very great, much less an underserved compliment to give it the preference over all the dramatic pieces that have been presented at either house these six or seven years...Tears were the first praises I gave it...no play except Lear ever make such a strong constant impression on my feelings."

Event Comment: Benefit for Mossop. Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Farce wrote by Mr Murphy. Went off Indiff (Cross). [It was sent to Licenser one year before, 16 March 1757 (Larpent MS 131).] Garrick first announced for Ghost [Hamlet] which he afterwards declined having new part in the farce. Part of Pit into Boxes. Amphitheatre on stage (Winston MS 9). Receipts: #280 (Cross)

Event Comment: PPublic Advertiser: The Uncommon Applause of the new Entertainment...has excited the curiosity of a great many of the Nobility and Gentry that had never seen Marybone before. Sga Seratina and Mr Reinhold have distinguished themselves surprisingly; and though this Entertainment is performed in the English Language, clearly proves, that it is in the Power of an Englishman, to excel even the Italians in that kind of performance; Sga Seratina (though an Italian) expresses the English Dialect with all the Graces, and proper Expressions, which that kind of performance requires. [Books of the performance to be had at the Bar 6d. each.

Event Comment: [Not listed in Public Advertiser, but notice of continuation at admission price of 1s. is given.] Before the performance Sga Seratina and Mr Reinhold and others will sing several new songs

Event Comment: At Yates@Shuter Booth. [The Daily Advertiser notes: "the pleasure Mr Shuter gives to every Audience by an unwearied Display of that masterly Genius...and notwithstanding his laboring thro' so many Drolls daily with uncommon Spirit, yet his executing the London Cries at the end of Interlude, and each time new to the hearers."

Event Comment: For the Benefit of Mr Crisr Smart, an Ingenious young Man In poetry, but now confin'd in a Mad house the farce had universal applause (Cross). Afterpiece: A new Comedy in 2 Acts. Part of Pit laid into boxes. Tickets delivered out for the 26th of January will be taken. Receipts: #285 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr and Mrs Davies. Tickets of Davies at No 16 in New Crown Court, Russel St., Covent Garden; and at the Stage Door. Receipts: #170 (Cross); charges #63 (Winston MS 8)

Event Comment: A Tragedy written by Mr Murphy went off with great applause (Cross). Scenes, Habits, and Decorations entirely New. No Gentlemen can possibly be admitted behind the Scenes or into the Orchestra. Full prices. Receipts: #170 (Cross); #158 3s. (Winston MS 8)