Event Comment: Mainpiece: By ParticUlar Desire. The Farce greatly hiss'd (Hopkins Diary). Paid Mr Slingsby's draft on the managers #14 13s. 6d. Receipts: #259 5s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: House Pacini's Night Bought by the Managers (Hopkins Diary). The last time of performing till Easter. Paid salary #416 4s. 4d.; Mr Smith for Abrams [sic] the Jew #21; Miss Abrahams [sic] #10 10s. Receipts: #262 8s. 6d

Event Comment: A New Comedy Written by Mrs Sheridan. This play was well Acted, but the subject seem'd to displease. The three first Acts pass'd off tolerably; in 4 Act they begun to hiss, & continued it to the End of the play. When Mr Havard went forward & Address'd the Audience &c. as follows Ladies & Gentn as Some passages in the play had given offence, they should be omitted the Next Night. Much hissing, & many Cry'd out No more! no more &c. (Hopkins). Much Hiss'd (Cross Diary). A new Comedy (The Dupe) wrote by Mrs Sheridan.--This play was very well acted,--but the subject much displeased.--in 4th act much hissing, and so on to the end. When Mr Havard told the audience as some passages in the play had given offence, they should be omitted the next night, much hissing and many cried out, "No more, No more." (Hopkins Diary-MacMillan). Receipts: #167 18s. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: Mrs Smith Polly (first time) very well (Hopkins Diary). Paid Salary list #513 17s. 6d.; Miss Mansell and Mr Dimon 5 guineas each per order, #10 10s.; Mr Clinch ditt, #5 5s.; Rec'd stopages #20 13s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #141 2s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Signor Martini danc'd for first time tolerable (Hopkins Diary). Paid Mr Park 1 boy 18 nights #6 15s.; Pryor (turner) #3 6d.; Mr Blanchard (tallow chandler) #43 17s. 2d. Receipts: #156 3s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Human Nature cannot arrive at greater Excellence in Acting than Garrick was possess'd of this Night All words must fall far short of what he did and none but his Spectators can have an Idea how great he was-The Applause was unbounded. House (Hopkins Diary). Receipts: #309 13s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Bills were put up for a Word to the Wise. As soon as the Curtain was drawn up a great hissing Mr Garrick went on the Stage Several Plays were propos'd to be done but Mr Kelly's Party would have none but a Word to the Wise & the other Party would not Consent, Mr Garrick offer'd to play himself but that would not satisfy them. at Length the House was dismiss'd about Nine O'Clock (Hopkins Diary). A Word to the Wise, Damn'd (Cross Diary). We stayed from 6 to past 10 in which time Garrick came out 6 or 7 times and talked to the audience, tho' often 5 or 6 minutes before he could be heard. Once he said the author was willing to withdraw his play, but then the party for Kelly [opposed by the Wilkesites] said he had no right to do so: they insisted on the play, the other that it should not be, etc.; the same about what play to be given out, one party calling for the new play and the other against it. When King came on, being called to speak the prologue, the hubbub forced him back, and one or two oranges struck him. The people came away in great numbers after ten and we amongst the rest, and had our money returned. Parson Horne [Horne Tooke] there but did not interfere, tho'at the bottom of it (John Baker, Diary, p. 189)

Event Comment: [Mainpiece in place of Semiramis, announced on playbill of 21 Dec.] Mrs Yates sent Word last Night that her Cold continued--she could not play in Semiramis to-night. [Note added by J. P. Kemble: I have not yet found the rest of Mr. Hopkins Diary for the Year] (Hopkins Diary). Receipts: #185 17s. 6d. (160.18.0; 24.2.6; 0.17.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 2 years. Vernon was so very drunk in the Farce that he could scarcely stand--a Man in the Gallery cryed out, Hold him up--a few hisses at the End of the Trio (Hopkins Diary). Receipts: #146 15s

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. Afterpiece: A New Musical Entertainment in 2 acts, words imitated from Rousseau, with his original Musick (Burney). Books of the entertainment at the Theatre, published for 1s. Paid Mr Chitty his coal bill #91 13s. and Mr Johnston's bill for guilt leather #24 19s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). [Advertisement to 2nd Edition, 1766: Upon rehearsing the music it has been thought necessary to retrench the Second Act for fear of satiety: for though the Airs and Dances after the reconciliation of Celia and Phoebe are by no means inferior to the rest in point of composition; yet as no other business remained to be done after that circumstance but that of mere festivity, the Editor, with some reluctance, submitted to the omission of such airs as are printed with inverted commas; which, however, are all publish'd with the music by Mr Bremner in the Strand."] Receipts: #150 13s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Receipts: #138 10s. 6d. Paid three days salary at #85 1s. 11d. per diem, #255 5s. 9d. [Paid the following items which occur regularly each Saturday pay day during the 37 weeks of the 1773-74 season: Lampmen #2 12s.; Billstickers #3 12s.; Handbills 8s.; Candlemen #3 18s.; Carpenter's Bills #8 14s. 6d.; Taylor's Bill #8 11s. 8d.; Mantua Maker's Bill #5 6s.; J. Stevens 18s; Mrs Abington's Cloaths #1; Mr Carver 11 days #11; Mr Royer 2 weeks #9; Mr J. French on act #8 8s.; Supernumeraries and Kettle Drummers #3 14s. (Treasurer's Book). N.B. This pay day was based on a three-day acting week. The average paid out for each of these items over the season, and the total for each computed on this average was as follows. [No further mention will be made of these items this season.] @ Average per week Total for season@Lampmen #3 2s. #113 14s.@Billstickers #2 14s. #99 18s.@Handbills 12s. #22 4s.@Carpenter's #5 10s. #203 10s.@Taylor's #10 2s. #373 14s.@Mantua Maker's #2 10s. #92 10s.@J. Stevens 18s. #33 6s.@Mrs Abington Cloaths #1 12s. 4d. #60@Carver at 1 per diem #189@Royer #4 10s. #166 10s.@Sups and Kettle Drum at #3 10s. per diem #661@Candlemen #7 14s. #277 4s.

Event Comment: New Music, Dresses, Habits and Decorations. Full Prices. [Which were maintained during run of this pantomime]. A New Pantomime. This Pant: was made by Mr Woodward & met wth great applause, Young Vernon sung for the first time very well. It is said some of the Scenes were bought from Sadler's Wells, wch is shut up by ye Law (Cross). Woodward Harlequin 1st time in three years. Pantomime a New Entertainment in Italian Grotesque Characters (General Advertiser). Receipts: #150 (Cross)

Event Comment: A new Musical Masque. This Masque was written by ye Author of the Chaplet (Mr Mendez) & set by Dr Boyce. Great Applause. I had the copy (Cross). [On this and all subsequent bills this season for The Shepherd's Lottery announcement is made of the composition of the music by Dr Boyce.] Receipts: #100 (Cross)

Event Comment: [Music] compos'd by Mr Arne went of with Great Applause (Cross). With Proper Dances and Decorations. Books of the Opera will be sold at the Theatre price 1s. [The cast is first listed 17 Jan. 1757.] Receipts: #130 (Cross)

Event Comment: Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Drury Lane--New Painted and Decorated. Miss Pope's good acting is said to have made up for her deficiency in singing (Genest, V, 314). On Sept. 19 Fisher, Musician, married the widow of the late Powell, Patentee of cg (Winston MS 10). Rec'd Mrs Johnston's 1 year's rent to Lady Day Last #6; Paid Mr French on Acct per order Mr G. G. #20. Paid Renters #8. [This payment occurs each playing night throughout the season, and is not noted further.] The total amounted to #1576 (Drury Lane Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #188 15s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: After the play on Saturday Night Mr Yates sent me the part of Bottom in the Fairy Tale & Said he would play it no more the part was given to Mr Baddeley & he play'd it to Night (Hopkins). Mr Yates sent me the part of Bottom, and said I must give it to somebody else, for he would do it no more.-Mr Baddeley Played it tonight, and very well (Hopkins Diary-MacMillan). Songs in the Entertainment given at the theatre. Receipts: #124 6d. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: An alteration by Cumberland from his Summer's Tale (Genest, V, 321). Theatrical Review, 14 Dec.: We confess we pitied the situation of the performers, who all exerted their utmost efforts to support it in the representation; but it is not the eminent abilities of a Vernon, a Parsons, a Hunt, or a Fitzgerald, that can render a piece worthy of notice, which has nothing interesting in it, and is absolutely devoid of merit. Paid Salary list, #501 3s. 6d.; Mr S. French 6 days #1 10s.; Mrs Abington for cloaths #2; Rec'd stopages #13 18s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipt2: #128 17s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: MMr Reddish played Lord Townly, being his first appearance in London, --was well received and met with Applause, --but an indifferent figure, --will be useful (Hopkins MS Notes)

Event Comment: This Farce is taken From the Midsummer Night's Dream, by Coleman, & is a very pleasing Farce, & well receiv'd by the Audience (Hopkins). Songs of the Entertainment to be given at theatre. Mdsr Night's Dream Cut. Serious parts quite out. Went off well (Cross Diary). This Farce is taken from The Midsummer Night.-Mr Colman thought it was a pity so much pains and expense as was bestowed on the Midsummer Night's Dream should be thrown away,-he luckily thought of turning it into a farce, which alteration he made in one night,-and now I think as pleasing a farce as most that are done.-Miss Wright? is vastly great in her songs (Hopkins Diary-MacMillan). [See "A Midsummer Night's Dream in the hands of Garrick and Colman," PMLA, June 1939.

Event Comment: This night a new Occasional Interlude call'd Hymen was introduc'd between the Acts; but not put in the Bills (Hopkins). [For cast, see 21 Jan.] An occasional Interlude on the Marriage of Princess Augusta to Prince of Brunswick call'd Hymen (Cross Diary). This night a new occasional Interlude called Hymen, but not in the bills. Hymen was written by Mr Allen (Hopkins Diary-MacMillan). [The Larpent MS 217 lists four characters and a Chorus: Hymen, Cupid, Venus, Mars, Chorus. The words of the Songs by Cupid, Hymen and Venus were published in the Public Advertiser, 23 Jan.] Receipts: #122 5s. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: The part of the Widow by Mrs Greville being her 1st appearance upon this Stage. So, So (Hopkins Diary). Paid Properties 14s. 2d.; Mr King (glassman) #5 15s. 2d.; Chorus 2 nights (this incl.) #4 1s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #163 4s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: The Bills were posted for the School for Wives but Mr King sent word about Eleven o'clock that he was so ill he could not play & fresh bills were put up for Zara. Mrs Barry being out of Town Miss Younge play'd Zara & was very well receiv'd (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly in wording.] Paid Chorus 2 nights (this incl.) #4 1s. Receipts: #195 10s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Lusignan by Mr G. as Usual very fine (Hopkins Diary). [Judgment confirmed by statement in London Chronicle, 14 Oct.] The Comedy of As You Like It, obliged to be deferred. Paid a cotton bill #2 11s. 4d. Receipts: #219 12s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mrs Abington Phillis first time-Very well (Hopkins Diary). Paid 5 days salary list at #104 4s.; #520 1s. 8d.; Mrs Jewell 11 days not on list #5 10s.; Mr Johnston 4 days not on list #1 6s. 8d.; Blurton 11 days additional salary 18s. 4d.; Carpenter 11 days additional salary 18s. 4d. Receipts: #240 14s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Leonora by Miss Abrams first time-so, so (Hopkins Diary). Paid Machin (chorus singer) #3 10s.; Mr Lalonese for men's cloath's #13 13s. Receipts: #188 9s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)