Event Comment: Mainpiece: Acted but once these five years. Mr Dexter has given us in the character of Oroonoko the greatest first essay that perhaps any stage has produced. He has great feeling, and equal expression; a fine figure, a vast deal of grace in his deportment and uncommon tenderness in his manner, and a voice formed by nature for expressing it (Inspector No 201, in Daily Advertiser and Literary Gazette). Receipts: #140 (Cross)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: Not acted these 7 years. [See 31 Dec. 1744.] The Tragedy of the Siege of Damascus is now in rehearsal at Covent Garden, in which Mr Barry will perform the part of Phocyas , being his first appearance in that character. And a Gentleman who never performed on any stage, will soon appear in the Character of Richard III

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. We are assured that Mr Barry is so well recover'd from his late illness, that he will appear on Thursday next, in the character of Lord Townly in the Provok'd Husband; and that Mrs Cibber will perform the part of Lady Townly

Event Comment: MMr Garrick did Richard (Cross). This day is publish'd, Dedicated to the Right Honorable John, Earl of Orrery, Sejanus a Tragedy, as it was intended for the stage, with a Preface; wherein the Manager's reasons for refusing it are set forth. By Mr Gentleman. Printed for R. Manby and H. S. Cox on Ludgate Hill. [Garrick turned it down and Gentleman accepted his judgment without animosity.] Receipts: #210 (Cross)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Acted but thrice these six years. [See 13 April 1748.] Written by Shakespear. Music composed by the late Mr Lampe. Afterpiece: A Mock Opera not performed these five years

Event Comment: TThe Sorcerer, a Pantomime Entertainment, originally performed at the Theatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields, is preparing, with alterations, at Covent Garden (The scenes painted by Mr Lambert) and will be performed one day next week. [Another letter appeared in the General Advertiser on innocent entertainment for the lower classes (see 29 Jan. 1752), but severely criticized the existence of Prize fights, Cock-pits, and Gambling houses as the real nuisances and nurseries of theft and disorder."] It is whispered that the Townwill shortly be entertained with a phenomenon of the Monosyllable Fun,--the match between Sir Alexander Drawcansir, Kent. and their Lownesses of Grub Street, being certainly to be decided on the Stage; great bets depending on this Battle, it is thought the Knowing ones will be taken in (General Advertiser)

Event Comment: RRichd 3d (by Mossop) & Anatomist was put up but: Mossop being taken ill, after many Messages it was resolv'd to do ye Con. Lovers & Harl. Ranger. Small bills were printed & deliver'd at ye Doors to signify the Change & all went well. Mr Rich's Ent: of ye Sorcerer came out this day (Cross). Receipts: #120 (Cross). [The small bill referred to by Cross read as follows:] @Theatre Royal in Drury Lane@This night being the@11th of February@Richard the Third@(On Account of the Indisposition of a Principal Performer)@Is Oblig'd to be Chang'd to@The Conscious Lovers@and@Harlequin Ranger@with Dancing@By Mad Auretti@

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A Pantomime entertainment not performed these 20 years. The Scenes painted by Mr Lambert. Nothing under Full Prices will be taken during the performance. Ladies send servants by three o'clock. [The note about full prices is repeated throughout the run of this pantomime this season. A rather detailed description of the action in this pantomime appeared in the Drury Lane Journal, reprinted in the Gentleman's Magazine for Feb. 1752, pp. 52-53.

Event Comment: This day is publish'd Judas Macchabaeus: a Sacred Drama as it is performed at Covent Garden. Set by Mr Handel. Printed for J. Watts. This day Publish'd The Oracle, a Comedy of one act as it is perform'd at Covent Garden, at 1s. By Mrs Cibber printed for R. Dosdley in Pall Mall, &c

Event Comment: On Tuesday last Information was laid before Justice Fielding by a Tradesman in Westminster, that one of his Apprentices had robbed him, in order to equip himself for acting a Play, and that the said Play was to be acted that Evening by several Apprentices, and other idle Persons, at the old Tennis-Court in James St. Upon this the Justice despatched Mr. Welch in the Evening with a Party of Soldiers to apprehend the Persons concerned in the Representation of the Play, which was the Tragedy of Venice Preserved. Jaffier, Pierre, Belvidera, and most of the principal Characters, were taken, and some of them, particularly Belvidera, were brought in their Theatrical attire before the Justice. The Men all appeared to be young Apprentices and the Woman a young Milliner; wherefore the Justice was unwilling to proceed against them as Rogues and Vagabonds, as they are made by the last Vagrant Act; in which case they must have been committed to Bridewell, which might have proved their Ruin; He treated them therefor as guilty of an unlawful assembly, and a common Nuisance; for which they were either bound for their good Behavior, or committed for want of Sureties, and soon after discharged. It was sworn before the Justice that Sunday had been the usual Day of rehearsing their Parts (General Advertiser, 17 Aug.)

Event Comment: Places for Boxes to be taken at the stage door of the theatre. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. To begin exactly at 6 o'clock. [Customary notices repeated throughout the season.] Mr W. Giffard and Mrs Bland from the Theatre in Dublin, are arrived in London, and will shortly make their appearance at Covent Garden (General Advertiser 14 Sept.)

Event Comment: A concert, etc. at the Great Tiled Booth, Bowling Green. Prices 2s. 6d., 1s. 6d., 1s., 6d. Positively, The last night of performing. Tickets to be had of Mr Phillips at His House in Snow Fields. [Beginning 25 Nov. the General Advertiser becomes the Public Advertiser.

Event Comment: By Command of the Prince of Wales. In the afterpiece Being the Last time of Mr Maddox's performing

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. Mr Woodward's Night for the New Entertainment, will be on Monday next, the 15th instant. Receipts: #200 (Cross)

Event Comment: This night [see Public Advertiser 13 Jan.] about the middle of the play at Covent Garden, a Gentleman who sat in one of the gallery boxes, ask'd another who sat next him if he could lend him a knife; on being told he could not, the former pull'd out a small pen-knife and stabb'd himself; which occasioned some commotion in that part of the house; he was immediately carried to the Shakespeare's Head, and Mr Baker the surgeon dress'd the wound, which the gentleman suffer'd with great constraint; He would not tell who he was, nor what was the cause of this rash action

Event Comment: Full Prices. Afterpiece with a New Scene of a Fountain introduc'd. [See Cross's note for dl 14 Dec. 1752.] [Harlequin Sorcerer] With the loves of Pluto and Proserpine. The scenes painted by Mr Lambert. As any obstruction in the movements of the Machinery will greatly prejudice the performance, it is hoped no persons will be displeased at their not being admitted behind the scenes (Public Advertiser). [Nonadmittance note repeated.

Event Comment: MMr Woodward's Night for Making ye Genii (Cross). There was such a Prodigious crowd to get into the Pit and Galleries at Drury Lane, being Mr Woodward's Night, that many of the females who came there with aprons, Handkerchiefs, caps and Capuchins, returned home without them; it was the most numerous and brilliant Audience that has been seen for some time(Public Advertiser, 16 Jan.). Receipts: #206 (Cross)