Event Comment: DDrugger, Mr Garrick (Cross Diary)

Event Comment: DDrugger, Mr Garrick (Cross Diary)

Event Comment: Drugger, Mr Garrick (Cross Diary). Cymbeline Deferr'd on account of Mrs Barry's indisposition

Event Comment: Before the Play began, Reddish went on, and addressed the Audience as follows, which was drawn up by Mr Sheridan, "Ladies and Gentlemen, having in my Address to the Publick on Tuesday Night last accounted for my Omission in the Part of Vainlove in a manner which appeared to reflect highly on the Managers, I now beg Permission to ascribe it to the Confusion I was in from the Displeasure of the Audience, and, as the Managers are satisfied with my Assurance that this was the Case, I humbly hope for the Indulgence of the Publick, whom I never meant to offend, and whom I will ever study to please" (Hopkins Diary). Raceipts: #119 17s. 6d

Event Comment: Rec'd Stopages #18 14s. Paid Salary list--#496 18s. 6d; Mrs Abington on cloaths acct #2; Paid balance of Mr D. Garrick's Night 2nd inst. #118 14s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #183 7s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [acted in place of The First Floor, advertised on playbill of 22 Sept.]: With Alterations and Restorations, particularly the admired Shades and Transparencies, representing the Amusements of Harlequinv and the Destruction of the Pantomimical Fleetv. The Way to Keep Him [advertised on playbill of 22 Sept.] is obliged to be deferred on account of the Indisposition of Dodd. Paid Renter's Interest [this paid daily throughout season] #30; Properties 8s. 4d.; Supernumeraries #1 8s. 6d.; Lampmen #7 8s.; Scenemen #5 4s.; Carpenters #5 10s. 9d.; Appleby, messenger, 6s. 9d. Receipts: #140 5s. (95.9; 43.4; 1.12)

Event Comment: A Sacred Oratorio composed and conducted by Dr Arnold at the Society of Artists Exhibition-Room in the Strand. A Benefit for repairing a Chapel Crispin St, Spittalfields. At 12:00 noon. First seats 7s. 6d. Second seats 5s. Back seats 3s. 6d. The Performers are so obligingly generous as to give their Services to promote the Charity. And Mr Leoni having obtained Leave to sing, the Public may be assured of his performing his Part in this Oratorio. A Stove is already fixed in the Great Room, and will be continued to prevent any Inconveniencies from the Coldness of the Season. Mr Fischer being ill, Mr Barthelemon will perform in his Room

Event Comment: Daily Advertiser, 6 Nov.: The King, the Prince of Wales and Princess Amelia, were again to . . . Artaxerxes, in which Signor Farnelli continues to sing to a crowded Audience, with all imaginable Applause. Egmont, Diary, II, 132: Went to the opera, where I heard the finest voice that Europe affords, Faranelli, lately come over. Norwich Gazette, 9 Nov.: We hear that both Operas (occasion'd by their dividing) are at a vast expence to entertain the Nobility and Gentry for the ensuing Season; the Opera House in the Haymarket are reckon'd to stand near 12000l. and Mr Handell at near 9000l. for the Season

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted in two years. [See 15 May 1771.] Paid Mr Weston per Mr G. G's note #18 7s. Receipts: #148 3s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: House (Hopkins Diary). Garrick's last time of performing Benedict . In the Farce the whole set of Clouds fell down upon the Stage but did no Damage (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly.] King was hoarse. Spleen deferr'd. Receipts: #270 10s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Memorandum: Mrs Baker, actress, died this day at Coventry on her Journey from Liverpool to London. Paid Mr J. Rich on Account #10. [This is Account or ledger Number 1 (Account Book).] Receipts: #71 11s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: By Permission. Benefit for Palmer

Event Comment: The United Company. The date of the first performance is not certain, but it lies between Saturday 9 and Saturday 16 April. Luttrell, A Brief Relation (II, 413) stated on 9 April that the Queen had prohibited its being acted; on 16 April (II, 422) he reports that it has been acted. Luttrell, A Brief Relation, II, 422, 16 April: Mr Dryden s play has been acted with applause, the reflecting passages upon this government being left out. The Gentleman's Journal, May 1692 (licensed 14 May): I told you in my last, that none could then tell when Mr Dryden's Cleomenes would appear; since that time, the Innocence and Merit of the Play have rais'd it several eminent Advocates, who have prevailed to have it Acted, and you need not doubt but it has been with great applause. Preface, Edition of 1692: Mrs Barry, always Excellent, has, in this tragedy, excell'd Herself, and gain'd a Reputation beyond any Woman whom I have ever seen on the Theatre. [See also Cibber, Apology, I, 160, for a discussion of Mrs Barry in Cleomenes.] A song, No, no, poor suffering heart no change endeavour, the music by Henry Purcell, is in Comes Amoris, The Fourth Book, 1693, and also, with the notice that it was sung by Mrs Butler, in Joyful Cuckoldom, ca. 1695. See also Purcell's Works, Purcell Society, XVI (1906), xviii-xix; Epistolary Essay to Mr Dryden upon his Cleomenes, in Gentleman's Journal, May 1692, pp. 17-21. When the play was revived at Drury Lane, 8 Aug. 1721, the bill bore the heading: Not Acted these Twenty-Five Years

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Mr Holland but coolly receiv'd in Oakly, at first. The last Scene in the Genii the Wings did not change on Account of the Barrel being broke (Hopkins). Oakly by Mr Holland, First time (Cross Diary). Receipts: #124 18s. 6d. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. Mr Packer being hoarse, Mr Aickin played Young Belmont (Hopkins Diary)

Event Comment: This Comedy was written by Mr Kelly as soon as the Curtain was drawn up they began to hiss--a party was made against it--because he was suspected of Writing for the Court party. Much hissing. Mr Garrick call'd for. No play &c. Cry'd out, at last the play was got thro' with much hissing and Groaning When the play was given out again One Party was for it no more and Kelly's party was for it again so that no play at all was given out (Hopkins Diary). [See Criticism in "British Theatre" article, London Magazine, March, also an extended account of the attack upon the piece. This occurs also in the Town and Country Magazine, which mentions that since the curtain was not drawn up for the farce the audience received a refund.

Event Comment: House. This was to have been Mr Weston's Night but Miss Younge being ill he desired to have it deferr'd (Hopkins Diary). The School For Wives iS oblig'd to be deferr'd till Saturday, on acct of Mr Weston's indisposition (playbill). Receipts: #250 10s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mrs Abington's First appearance in Clarinda . She was very easy and like the Character. Mr G. as Usual play'd finely (Hopkins Diary). Rec'd of Mr Parker in full of note #30. Receipts: #279 16s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of this performance, which coincides with the opening of the playhouse in Lincoln's Inn Fields by Betterton's Company, is established by Downes, Roscius Anglicanus, pp. 43-44: [Betterton, Mrs Bracegirdle, Mrs Barry, and others] set up a new Company, calling it the New Theatre in Lincolns-Inn-Fields; and the House being fitted up from a Tennis-Court, they Open'd it the last Day of April 1695, with a new Comedy: Call'd, Love for Love....This Comedy being Extraordinary well Acted, chiefly the Part of Ben the Sailor, it took 13 Days Successively. Three songs in the play were published separately: I tell thee, Charmion, the music by Finger, sung by Pate and Reading, is in Thesaurus Musicus, 1696, The Fifth Book. A Nymph and a Swain, the music by John Eccles and sung by Pate; and A Soldier and a Saylour, the music by John Eccles, and sung by Dogget, are in Thesaurus Musicus, The Fourth Book, 1695. Cibber, Apology, I, 196-97: After we had stolen some few Days March upon them, the Forces of Betterton came up with us in terrible Order: In about three Weeks following, the new Theatre was open'd against us with veteran Company and a new Train of Artillery; or in plainer English, the old Actors in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields began with a new Comedy of Mr Congreve's, call'd Love for Love, which ran on with such extraordinary Success that they had seldom occasion to act any other Play 'till the End of the Season. This valuable Play had a narrow Escape from falling into the Hands of the Patentees; for before the Division of the Company it had been read and accepted of at the Theatre-Royal: But while the Articles of Agreement for it were preparing, the Rupture in the Theatrical State was so far advanced that the Author took time to pause before he sign'd them; when finding that all Hopes of Accomodation were impracticable, he thought it advisable to let it takes its Fortune with those Actors for whom he had first intended the Parts. A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702), p. 10: Ramble: You know the New-house opened with an extraordinary good Comedy, the like has scarce been heard of. Critick: I allow that Play contributed not a little to their Reputation and Profit; it was the Work of a popular Author; but that was not all, the Town was ingag'd in its favour, and in favour of the Actors long before the Play was Acted. Sullen: I've heard as much; and I don't grudge 'em that happy beginning, to compensate some part of their Expence and Toil: But the assistance they receiv'd from some Noble Persons did 'em eminent Credit; and their appearance in the Boxes, gave the House as much Advantage as their Contributions. Ramble: Faith if their Boxes had not been well crowded, their Galleries wou'd ha' fallen down on their Heads. Sullen: The good Humour those Noble Patrons were in, gave that Comedy such infinite Applause; and what the Quality approve, the lower sort take upon trust. Gildon, The Lives and Characters (ca. 1698), p. 22: This Play, tho' a very good Comedy in it self, had this Advantage, that it was Acted at the Opening of the New House, when the Town was so prepossess'd in Favour of the very Actors, that before a Word was spoke, each Actor was clapt for a considerable Time. And yet all this got it not more Applause than it really deserv'd. An Essay on Acting (London, 1744), p. 10: The late celebrated Mr Dogget, before he perform'd the Character of Ben in Love for Love, took Lodgings in Wapping, and gather'd thence a Nosegay for the whole Town

Event Comment: [Pantomime new by Woodward] Went off with great Applause. ye Cyclops Dance encored (Cross). New Habits, Scenes, and Decorations. Full Prices. As the performance greatly depends upon the Music and Machinery, no gentleman can possibly be admitted into the Orchestra or behind the Scenes. [This prohibition repeated in all subsequent performances, will not be further noted here.] N.B. The Play of the Revenge oblig'd to be deferred on account of Mossop's indisposition. Receipts: #210 (Cross)

Event Comment: Great applause again--& he mended (Cross). Receipts: #150 (Cross)

Event Comment: Went off with applause (Cross). Afterpiece: a New Pantomime after the Manner of the Italian Comedy, with New Scenes, Habits, Decorations. Nothing under Full Prices will be taken. No Gentleman can possibly be admitted behind the Scenes or into the Orchestra, on account of the Machinery and Music. The Music composed by Dr Boyce. The Songs will be printed, and deliver'd at the doors. Receipts: #200 (Cross)

Event Comment: Public Advertiser, 3 Mar.: "A new Prologue was spoken by King on Saturday Evening, and received with uncommon Applause." [Mrs Sherborn is identified in Lysons, Collectanea.] Receipts: #215 16s. 6d. (187.12.0; 25.17.0; 2.7.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 6 years [not acted since 28 Apr. 1773]. With new Scenes [by French and Carver (text)] and Dresses. [In the Vocal Parts the playbill lists Sga Prudom, but "at the end of the second act, Smith came forward and apologized for the absence of Signora Prudom, and begged that Mrs Wrighten might be permitted to take her part . . . Mrs Wrighten was received with applause" (London Chronicle, 20 Oct.). Sga Romanzini was from the Royal Circus.] Receipts: #123 8s. 6d. (92/15/0; 29/11/0; 1/2/6)

Event Comment: Income from Boxes #70 13s. 6d. Paid Performers' salary [50]-#181 5s. 10d.; Servants [50] #20 14s. 6d. [Six new actors were entered.] Paid scenemen #10 17s. this night, and for incidentals #8 6s. 3d., and to Richards for painting a scene #5 5s. [Detailed pay scale listed by Winston.] Receipts: #153 17s. (Winston Theatrical Record)