The London Stage Database team will be retiring the Legacy Search on May 1, 2025. Please take a moment before that date to reproduce any pre-2021 searches and export any resulting datasets you may wish to preserve for future use. We are making this change in order to free up computational resources for new features and data, currently in development with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Watch this space for more updates and, coming soon, new ways to keep up with the latest project developments!
SELECT * FROM london_stages WHERE MATCH('(@(authnameclean,perftitleclean,commentcclean,commentpclean) "Mr and Madam Bentley"/1) | (@(roleclean,performerclean) "Mr and Madam Bentley")') GROUP BY eventid ORDER BY weight() desc, eventdate asc OPTION field_weights=(perftitleclean=100, commentpclean=75, commentcclean=75, roleclean=100, performerclean=100, authnameclean=100), ranker=sph04

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We found 4246 matches on Event Comments, 1186 matches on Performance Comments, 553 matches on Performance Title, 37 matches on Author, and 0 matches on Roles/Actors.

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Earl Of Essex

Performance Comment: Essex-Ross, 1st time; Southampton-Havard; Burleigh-Burton; Raleigh-Bransby; Lieutenant-Walker; Rutland-Mrs Cibber; Nottingham-Mrs Cowper; Queen Elizabeth-Mrs Pritchard.
Cast
Role: Rutland Actor: Mrs Cibber

Afterpiece Title: The Reprisal

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr Foote for ye farce (Cross). Mainpiece:Not acted these 12 years. [See 20 Nov. 1745.] Austin did Bertran r(first time) (Indiff) (Cross). Tickets to be had of Foote at the Whalebone Warehouse in James St., Covent Garden, and of Varney at the stage door. Part of pit laid into boxes. Receipts: #200 (Cross)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Spanish Fryar; Or, The Double Discovery

Afterpiece Title: The Author

Event Comment: With new Music compos'd by Sig Nicola Conforto, and new Dances. A new Scene painted by Mr Mitermayer. [Repeated in the bills.

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Antigono

Event Comment: At the Great Room, Dean St., Soho. By Mr Handel. Benefit for Signora Frasi. Tickets Half a Guinea. Gallery 5s. To begin at 6:30 p.m

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Samson

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Clive. Tickets at her house in Henrietta St., and of Mr Varney at the Stage Door. Receipts: #260 (Cross)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Wonder

Afterpiece Title: The Author

Song: By particular Desire, Ellen@a@roon-Mrs Clive

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Every Man In His Humour

Afterpiece Title: The Englishman in Paris

Song: I: The Country Wedding-Beard; II: The Bonny Broom-Miss Young; III: By Desire, Music: Sir Watkins Delighton the Harp-Parry; IV: The Toast-Beard; V: A Duetto When Phoebus the top of the Hills does Adorn-Beard, Miss Young

Performances

Mainpiece Title: None

Event Comment: Benefit for Dyer. No Building on the Stage. Tickets of Dyer at Mr Eastgate's, Hosier, in Great Russel St., Covent Garden, and of Crudge at the Stage Door

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Beggar's Opera

Cast
Role: Player Actor: Anderson

Afterpiece Title: The Englishman Returned from Paris

Dance: FFingalian Revels, as17570329

Event Comment: Benefit for Lowe. [See following "puff" from the Public Advertiser. "Sir: Perhaps there never was a period when the members of the stage were more respected than at present; and this favour consequently proceeds from the decency of their behaviour, and an emulative pride to please that public, whose generosity is an ample reward for their assiduity and perseverance; and when we consider the many qualifications, as well natural as acquired, requisite to constitute a player, surely the most rigid judge will be of opinion that the encouragement is not more than equal to the excellence. An actor must feel, that is, have the most refined idea of his part, to make an audience feel likewise; and adequate to the pleasures he enjoys in the applause of his approvers, will rise his degree of unhappiness, if by accident or sickness he is obstructed in the execution of his Genius; and should this happen at the era of his benefit, it must then be his misfortune to supplicate that interest which otherwise his merit would have commanded. "I was led to these reflections by accidentally perusing an advertisement prefix'd to a bill for the benefit of Mr Lowe; a performer too well known to need encomiums here; from whom the Town receive no inconsiderable Satisfaction at the theatre, and whose harmonious performance at our deservedly frequented summer scene of pleasure, has long obtained their highest approbation. We are told that a severe cold and Hoarseness have hindered his performing for some weeks past, and that he is now incapable of going abroad." Follows an elaborate plea for Lowe's friends to excuse his not calling on them, and for them to support his Benefit Night. Signed Veritas.

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Merry Wives Of Windsor

Afterpiece Title: The What D'ye Call It

Cast
Role: Steward Actor: Anderson

Dance: As17570103

Event Comment: Benefit for Clarke. Tickets to be had of Clarke at Mr Settree's Cap Warehouse, Catherine St. and of Crudge at the Stage Door

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Orphan

Cast
Role: Chaplain Actor: Anderson

Afterpiece Title: Harlequin Statue; or, The Jealous Farmer Outwitted

Dance: FFingalian Revels, as17570329 Hornpipe-Poitier Jr

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Hilliard. Tickets to be had at Mr Pervil's Auctioneer in Bow St., Covent Garden, and of Crudge at the stage door

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Recruiting Officer

Cast
Role: Kite Actor: Anderson

Afterpiece Title: A Duke and no Duke

Cast
Role: Barberino Actor: Anderson

Dance: I: Hornpipe-Poitier Jr; II: Old Scotch Dance-Leppie, Miss Hilliard; III: Fingalian Revels, as17570329 V: Louvre and Minuet-Leppie, Miss Hilliard

Song: IV: A song-Mrs Chambers

Event Comment: Benefit for Burton and Philips. Last time of performing the Afterpiece this season. Tickets deliver'd by Mr Hayes will be taken. Mainpiece: Not acted these 6 years. [See 2 Feb. 1753.] This month was published An Answer to that Important Question Whether it is lawful for the Professors of the Christian Religion to go to plays (32 pp.) [Advises members of the Congregation to read Scriptures instead.] Also published A Letter of Abuse to David Garrick. Receipts: #160 (Cross)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: A Bold Stroke For A Wife

Afterpiece Title: The Tamer Tam'd

Song: I: Miss Young

Dance: II: A Comic Dance [dancers unspecified]-; III: A Hornpipe-Harrison; IV: A New Comic Dance-

Event Comment: By Mr Handel. Benefit for Jonathan Snow. Pit and Boxes 5s. Gallery 3s. To begin at 6:30 p.m

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Acis And Galatea

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Hamlet

Performance Comment: As17561213, but Hamlet-Holland, 1st time; Polonius-Taswell; Ophelia-Mrs Cibber.
Cast
Role: Hamlet Actor: Holland, 1st time

Afterpiece Title: The Lying Valet

Event Comment: Gentleman are desired to come without Swords and Ladies without Hoops

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Messiah

Performance Comment: Signora Frasi's part by Mr Savage's celebrated Boy (Deutsch, Handel, from Jackson's Oxford Journal).

Performances

Mainpiece Title: None

Event Comment: Benefit for Morgan, the Oldest Actor in England. Last time of the company's performing this season. Tickets to be had at the Bedford Coffee House and of Mr Crudge at the Stage Door. [This charitable performance included a composite group from Drury Lane and Covent Garden.

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Beggar's Opera

Afterpiece Title: The School Boy

Dance: I: Country Lass, as17570512; II: Dutch Sailor, as17570525; III: Dutch Peasant, as17570512

Performances

Mainpiece Title: A Medley Concert And Auction

Afterpiece Title: Harlequin's Frolic

Cast
Role: Blander Actor:
Role: Mother Demdike Actor: Madam Chise
Event Comment: The Decorations of the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane are new finished and the House will certainly open on Saturday next, being the 10th instant. Places for the Boxes are to be had of Mr Varney at the Stage Door of the Theatre

Performances

Mainpiece Title: None

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Beggar's Opera

Afterpiece Title: The Anatomist

Event Comment: Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Mr Crudge at the Stage Door. [This notice appears on subsequent bills and will not be repeated further.] Receipts: #32 6s. [Paid] Dall (scene painter) a week's salary, #1 10s. (Account Book)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Country Lasses; Or, The Custom Of The Manor

Performance Comment: Modely-Dyer; Heartwell-Ridout; Lurcher-Anderson; Vulture-Cushing; Double Jugg-Dunstall; Constable-Redman; Sir John-Arthur; Freehold-Gibson; Carbuncle-Marten; Sneak-Costollo; Timothy-Collins; Longbottom-Bencraft; Aura-Mrs Vincent; Flora-Mrs Hamilton; With a Country Dance- incident to the play; and the original Sheep Shearing Ballad-Lowe.

Afterpiece Title: The Contrivances

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Rehearsal

Afterpiece Title: The Chaplet

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Conscious Lovers

Performance Comment: Young Bevil-Ross; Sir John-Burton; Cimberton-Taswell; Indiana-Mrs Cibber; Lucinda-Miss Minors; Myrtle-Palmer; Tom-Woodward; Phyllis-Mrs Clive; Mrs Sealand-Mrs Cross; Isabella-Mrs Bennet; Sealand-Berry; Humphrey-Blakes; In Act II, Singing-Beard.
Cast
Role: Mrs Sealand Actor: Mrs Cross
Role: Sealand Actor: Berry

Afterpiece Title: The Chaplet

Dance: II: The Italian Peasants, as17571004

Event Comment: [The customary notice refusing admittance of Gentlemen to the Orchestre-see 7 Oct.-appears in connection with all subsequent performances and will not be noted further this season.] We are assured the report industriously spread of Mr Barry's having quitted the English Stage, and being engaged this winter in Dublin, is entirely groundless. Receipts: #80 (Cross)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Recruiting Officer

Afterpiece Title: Mercury Harlequin

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Venice Preserv'd

Afterpiece Title: The Devil to Pay

Dance: II: The Italian Peasants, as17571004