Event Comment: Benefit for Mons and Mme Bithmere, and Le Baruf, Composers and principal Performers of the Dramatic Romance of The Rival Knights. Gazetteer, 7 May: Tickets to be had of Mons and Mme Bithmere and of Le Boeuf at Stacy's, colourman, corner of Long-acre. Receipts: #101 8s. 6d. (73/0/6; tickets: 28/8/0) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 3 years [acted 8 May 1784. Mrs Abington's 1st appearance as Lady Sadlife was at DL, 16 Jan. 1770]. Receipts: #193 9s. (189/15; 3/14)

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for The Literary Fund. [In this performance the male parts were acted chiefly by amateurs; the female parts were acted by professionals. Prologue and Epilogue by Thomas Morris (Morning Herald, 17 Apr.).] The Committee for the Management of the Literary Fund respectfully inform the Public that affecting instabces of Merit in distress exceed their power of relief by the ordinary Subscription; and that they wish to have recourse to every honourable expedient to increase that power. The Admission will be by Tickets, at the Opera Prices. Boxes and Pit 10s. 6d. 1st Gallery 5s. 2nd Gallery 3s. No more Company will be admitted than the House will hold with perfect convenience; and when the proper number of Tickets is issued, no means of admission can be obtained. The Doors to be opened at 6:00. To begin at 7:00 precisely. Registers: Thomas Dale, M. D.; Mr Deputy Nichols. Treasurers: Thomas Morris, Esq.; Mr E. Brooke. "In the course of the play we observed several restorations of Shakespeare's text, with some interpolations. The boldest of the latter was the introduction of Richard's son to him in the tent, the night befiredthedbefore the Battle of Bosworth field. This scene was borrowed, as we believe, from Thomas? Hull's Legendary Tale of Richard Plantagenet. It was well written, and produced a considerable degree of effect. The Ghosts were banished, and the start and stagger of Richard, heretofore the theatrical trick of the scene, necessarily omitted" (Diary, 17 Apr.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 4 years [acted 11 May 1791]. Receipts: #182 18s. (173/1; 9/17)

Event Comment: Original Weekly Journal, 21 Dec.: 'Tis Said Mr Cibber hath clear'd already by this Play near one thousand Pounds....Its observable the Play House has not been so Crowded for many Years, as since the Performance of this Play

Event Comment: Benefit Ryan. At the Desire of several Ladies of Quality. As revis'd with Alterations, by Mr Cibber, from Shakespear. Receipts: money #47 5s.; tickets #32 12s

Event Comment: As revis'd with Alterations, by Mr Cibber, from Shakespear. Receipts: #23 13s

Event Comment: Benefit Ryan. At the particular Desire of several Persons of Quality. As Revis'd with Alterations, by Mr Cibber, from Shakespear. Receipts: money #27 2s. 6d.; tickets #17 1s

Event Comment: Written by Mr Cibber. Receipts: #25 1s. [Genest, English Stage, III, 74, thinks that Griffin probably did not act on this day, for he was at dl most of the season

Event Comment: As revis'd with Alterations by Mr Cibber from Shakespear. Receipts: #16 1s. 6d

Event Comment: As reviv'd with Alterations by Mr Cibber, from Shakespear. Receipts: #31 2s. 6d

Event Comment: As Reviv'd with Alterations by Mr Cibber, from Shakespear. Receipts: #53 16s

Event Comment: Benefit R. Williams and Mrs Haughton. At the particular Desire of several Gentlemen and Ladies. Mainpiece: Written by Mr Cibber, Poet-Laureat to His Majesty

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Plomer. At the particular Desire of several Gentlemen and Ladies. Mainpiece: Written by Mr Cibber, Poet-Laureat to his Majesty

Event Comment: By the Company of Comedians of his Majesty's Revels. Mainpiece: Written by the late Mr Congreve. All the Characters entirely new drest. With new Scenes and Decorations. [This is the opening of HAY by the dissenting actors under Theophilus Cibber. For a Prologue intended to be spoken on this night, see The Honeysuckle (1734), pp. 113-15.] At Common Prices. 6 P.M

Event Comment: At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. Afterpiece: Set to Musick by Mr Arne

Event Comment: Benefit Turbutt, Topham, Miss Oates. Afterpiece: Written by Mr Cibber. Tickets for Gray taken

Event Comment: Benefit Giffard. At the particular Desire of several Persons of Quality. Mainpiece: Written by Colley Cibber, Esq; Poet-Laureat. Afterpiece: a new Dramatic Satire. [By David Garrick.] Tickets at Giffard's Lodgings [Mr Bolney's) in Great Queen Street

Event Comment: Benefit a Gentlewoman under Misfortunes. Mainpiece: Written by the late Mr Farquhar. Receipts: money #74 5s.; tickets #46 14s. (Account Book); #120 (Rylands MS.). [According to the Account Book, the individual for whom it was a benefit received half the value of the ticekts.]

Event Comment: Profits subscribed to the Veteran Scheme at Guildhall. Mrs Cibber to Garrick, 11 Dec.: Though Mr Rich had no performance at his house...Drury Lane Playhouse was not above half full till the latter account. Then it was a good house but not near so great as we had all last winter to the Orphan. He had built up the stage, but as nobody came there he shut in a flat scene to hide it, and the next day he played the Tender Husband to fifteen pounds.-Boaden, Private Correspondence of Garrick, I, 46

Event Comment: Benefit for LaLauze. Mainpiece: Acted but once this season. Afterpiece: Never performed there before. In it will be introduced the Scene of Harlequin Restored. The Decorations entirely new. N.B. That the entertainment may not be interrupted in the performance, there will be no building on the Stage: And as Mr LaLauze has been at some expence in bringing this Entertainment on the stage, he humbly hopes that the Town will not take it amiss, that nothing under Full Price will be taken

Event Comment: Benefit for Ridout. Afterpiece: Acted for the last time but one. Tickets deliver'd out by Mr Stephens will be taken