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: At the New Wells, Goodman's Fields. Mr Cibber will deliver two Dissertations on Theatrical Subjects: with a Prefatory Address to the Anti-Gallicans, for the Benefit of Mr Hallam. None to be admitted but by Tickets at 1s. 6d. each, which entitles each Person to a pint of Wine. Places in the boxes may be had of Mr Hallam at 2s. each, Wine, etc. To begin at 6:30 p.m. N.B. As I have been lame for some Time, I hope my friends will excuse my not waiting on them. W. Hallam

Event Comment: Written by the late Mr Congreve. [According to the Craftsman, 29 March, Cibber removed this passage from the play: Foresight , 'Pray what will be done at Court?' Valentine , 'Scandal will tell you; I am Truth, I never come there.'

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by the late Mr Congreve. [For a long comment on Cibber Sr as actor, see Prompter, 19 Nov.]

Event Comment: The New Theatre in the Haymarket will speedily be open'd with Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, by Permission, according to Act of Parliament. This Piece, it's said, has not been played these hundred years. The character of Juliet is to be acted by Miss Jenny Cibber, a young daughter of Mr Cibber, by his first wife....A new Comedy, call'd the Prodigal; or, Recruits for the Queen of Hungary, will soon after be brought on that Stage.-Daily Advertiser

Event Comment: t foot of Bill]: Whenever a Pantomime or Farce shall be advertised, the advanced prices shall be returned to those who do not choose to stay; and on Thursday next will be published the Manager's reasons for his conduct in the present dispute. Winston MS.: Fleetwood, the manager, and servants driven from doors & all rushed in. Genest, IV, 137-38: A country gentleman was taken from an upper box and carried before a magistrate. This step when known by the audience occasioned much mischief. Acting the play not allowed. General Advertiser, 22 Nov.: An Address to the Public, dl Theatre 20 November. As the extraordinary disturbances which have lately happened at this theatre greatly affect the diversions of the publick, as well as the property of the manager, he thinks it incumbent on him to justify his conduct by giving a fair statement of the case....The reasons of complaint assigned, he apprehends, are the exhibition of Pantomimes, Advanced Prices, and Insults on the audience--as to the first, he submits it to be considered that however distasteful such pieces may be to the delicacy of some judgments, yet there are others to whose taste they are suited; as the playhouse may be considered as the general mart of pleasure, it is only from the variety of entertainment, the different tastes of the public can be supplied--of this the receipts of the house are a sufficient evidence, it being notorius, how necessary the addition of such pieces is towards procuring the best play a numerous audience. With regard to the advanced prices, the Manager hoped he should in some measure be justified by the great increase of the charges of the theatre which, notwithstanding any reduction that has been made, are still at least a fourth part greater than usual--but as in this point he has already submitted, he conceives it can no longer remain the subject of their displeasure, especially as by an advertisement handed about the theatre it was said that every objection would cease, when the manager consented to return the advanced prices to those, who did not choose to be tortured with entertainments. As to insults on the audience...last week upon some persons flinging the sconces and candles on the stage a quarrel arose, in the confusion of which a Gentleman was secured, but by whom the Manager knows not, nor ever gave any order, or was any acquainted with the affair till after he was discharged, for the truth of which he refers to the affidavit annexed. As to the accusation of several bruisers (as they are termed) being employed on Saturday night to insult Gentlemen, the Manager declares, that there was none but the Peace Officers, Carpenters, and Scene-men (which on account of the Entertainments are very numerous) and other servants belonging to the theatre; nor did they appear till urged by the tumult, by tearing up benches and threat'ning to come on the stage and demolish the scenes; nor could the Manager apprehend this legal precaution to prevent mischief and defend his property would ever be construed as an infringement on the liberty of an audience, especially when it is considered, what great damages he sustained some years ago on an attempt of the like nature--if any such persons appeared in the pit, the Manager presumes, they must have come in with the multitude, after his doorkeepers were drove from their posts, and the house was open to all; which was evident from several hundred persons more being present at the disturbance than were at the performance that night, who then came to a determination to prevent any performance on the Monday. After this impartial account of his conduct, the manager appeals to the judgment of the publick what foundation he has given for the outrageous disturbance on Monday night; and cannot help thinking, the real injuries he has sustained, too severe a punishment for an imaginary offence, having lost several hundred pounds already, by people being terrified from frequenting the theatre. A total exclusion is now insisted on, the Manager to resign his property, the Publick to be deprived of their diversions and the players of their subsistence; And all this after every concession, becoming one gentleman to ask, or another to make, has been submitted to. [Affidavit of Constable followed. See Genest, IV, 139-40.] The following three pamphlets came out expressing points of view concerning Fleetwood and his policy and management: I. The Disputes between the Director of d.l. and the Pit Potentates, 20 Nov. As a Letter to a Friend it tells the resolution: not to have old Pantomimes (so execrably bad that they were damn'd when new) imposed on them, unless the manager would take no more than common prices; reports how Fleetwood stocked the pit with Men of doughty valor...disguised in the habits of Gentlemen, to throw out all who protested; protests the system of casting employed whereby 2nd rate actors appeared in good parts; discusses hardship cases of certain actors (Mrs Roberts, Mrs Horton, Mrs Mills) and asks why Theophilus Cibber is not on the stage. 2. An Impartial Examen of the Present Contests, by Mr Neitherside, 1744: harks back to Fleetwood's finacial policies of the previous year, deploring his relations with the actors and with manager of cg; scourges him for miscasting his plays around one prominent actor, rather than giving a balanced performance; deplores his paying Mrs Cibber, Mrs Clive so much; revives the 1743 dispute which led to secession; dislikes the casting for 2 Nov. of Love's Last Shift; suggests better casts for many plays; scores the Licensing Act for reducing players to slavery; hopes for resumption of balanced performances. 3. Stage Policy Detected, or some Selcet Pieces of Theatrical Secret History Laid Open, in a Letter to a Certain Manager, 1744: takes apart Fleetwood's Defense, statement by statement, giving him the lie at each point. Suggests the real money from the house comes from Pit and Box, which are protesting his pantomimes; shows full attendance at Rehearsal and Macbeth with no afterpieces. Especially dislikes the hired bruisers, and the cast of the Alchemist for 6 Nov

Event Comment: Ladies desired to send servants by three o'clock to keep places. [This note repeated for each performance of this play.] Paid Mr Smart the lace man on account #50. Paid Mrs Cleater (Mrs Cibber's Dresser) 5 days last week, 7s. 6d. Receipts: #178 14s

Event Comment: Paid Mrs Furnival for her performing the part of Alicia this night, Mrs Cibber being ill...#5 5s. (Account Books, Egerton 2268) [Mrs Cibber's name was in the General Advertiser notice.] Receipts: #156 17s. We hear that there is now in Rehearsal a new Comedy called The Rake, which Character is to be represented by Mr Garrick

Event Comment: TThe Suspicious Husband deferr'd on account of Garrick's Indisposition (General Advertiser). Paid Quin on Acct. #42; Mrs Cibber on acct. #42. Paid Mr Wainwright [apothecary] in full of a Bill #41 17s. Receipts: #162 19s

Event Comment: Benefit for Leviez, Ballet Master. Tickets deliver'd for Romeo and Juliet will be taken. Mr Leviez is oblig'd to change the play on account of Mrs Cibber's illness. Romeo advertis'd but Mrs Cibber's illness chang'd it (Cross). Tickets to be had of Leviez at his house in Great Queen St., and of Hobson at the Stage Door. Receipts: #180 (Cross); house charges, #63 (Powel)