Event Comment: Miss Poole having a violent Cold and Hoarseness, LOVE IN A VILLAGE [advertised on playbill of 25 Oct.] is obliged to be deferr'd. [Afterpiece in place of THE MIDNIGHT HOUR, advertised as above.] Receipts: #173 8s. (138/5; 35/3)

Event Comment: Play never acted before. [This new tragedy by MacNamara Morgan is mercilessly scourged by Paul Hiffernan in Tuner No 1, (21 Jan.), pp. 41-61]: To Tune it in Lilliputian Score : @Such sighing@Such Billing@Such Flashing@Such Heeling@And Dying@And Killing@And Dashing@And Kneeling@Such Rizing@Surprizing!@Such Falling@And Bawling@Such Attitudes@And Flattitudes@Were ne'er exhibited before.@ In the representation Mr Barry spared no pains; Miss Nossiter and Mr Smith strained hard-Mrs Bland, as far as her part exposed itself, did it with alacrity, but vanished abruptly in a storm of Lust. Mrs Vincent put as good a face on wanton barbarity as possible-and Mr Sparks who can do justice to a more spirited character, supported his Arcadian Kingship with becoming equanimity...It is a Romance crush'd together without choice, unconnected and full of Exidents not Incidents. Musidorus and Pamela , are duplicates to Pyrocles and Philoclea , which lengthen by so much the play, with repetition of the same dull nauseous tale of love, stirr'd up now and then by a bounce and a cracker-many persons come on we know not why, and disappear we know not wherefore....This new piece is an outlaw from all rules of Criticism; the Unities of Time, Place, and Action are unobserv'd; Plot, Moral, Verisimilitude, or even Probability unknown: many scenes bid defiance to possibility....Mr Rich stopp'd at no expence as to the Dresses and Decorations, and reprieving the play's duration to the utmost extent of Managerian clemency

Event Comment: Paid Housekeeper's Bill #6 7s. 2d. (Treasurer's Book). [The Public Advertiser carried a two-column account of Sethona, telling the story of the play act by act. It concluded: Such is the Story of this new Tragedy which was received with universal Applause by a crowded and brilliant Audience and seems to bid fair to become a Stock Play. The Parts were judiciously cast, and the Performers did great Justice to their respective Characters. Perhaps Mrs Barry never appeared in a greater or more amiable Point of View than on Saturday Night. In short her Performance beggared Description; and it is impossible to form an adequate Idea of her Merit in Sethona without seeing her. Mr Barry was also very great in the Old Hermit, and exhibited as pathetic and as chaste a piece of acting as we remember to have seen. The Dresses, Decorations and Scenery of this Play are much superior to those of any modern Tragedy; they do ample Justice to the Author, and likewise do Honour to the Taste and Spirit of the Manager, who seems to have spared no Expence to furnish a splendid and rational Entertainment. The Scene of the Temple of Osiris, and the View of the Egyptian Catacombsv were particularly admired, and are worthy of the Brush of Mr Loutherbourg. The Prologue is a very classical Performance, and was well delivered by Mr Reddish, notwithstanding the noise and the frequent Interruption usual on these occasions. The Epilogue in the character of an Egyptian Fortune Teller was admirably spoken by Mrs Barry, and had an amazing effect. It contains some excellent Strokes of Satire on the Times and a rich vein of Humour which is finely sustained throughout. From several Circumstances we should suppose this Epilogue to be the Production of our English Roscius and it seems to be one of his best."] Receipts: #226 15s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: [For Cross' comment, see dl.] Receipts: #203 8s. 6d. Paid Barry one third of the surplus of this night's receipt over and above #80 allow'd for the charges:-#41 2s. 10s. Paid Lambert (Scene Painter) 3 month's salary to 16 Nov. last:-#25 (Account Book). [Lee, who seems to have entered earlier on a percentage-of-Box-Receipts: basis for his salary, received only one-third of receipts above a house charge of #100.] The Tragedy of King Lear was presented on this stage; King Lear by Mr Barry, and Cordelia by Mrs Bellamy; The latter was received with universal satisfaction; but on the former's appearance, after a thundering Peal of Applause, a few misguided persons made it necessary for Mr Barry to inform the audience that it ever had been his study to contribute his utmost to the entertainment of the town, and that all reports of his having been exorbitant in his demands were injurious and totally groundless. Upon this he was desired with one general acclamation to proceed in the play. The disturbers of the public were ordered to be silent or to be turned out of the house; and this great actor proved, by the improvement he has made in this character, that excellent as he is, he is still capable of reaching new strokes of perfection; and in the conclusion of the play the applause he met with was the tribute of hearts gratefully agitated through the whole performance with a variety of passions thrown into a ferment by powers most wonderfully suited to tenderness and compassion (London Chronicle, 3-6 Dec.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Barry. Pit and Boxes laid together, and Stage, for better accommodation of the Ladies, will be form'd into Front and Side Boxes. Tickets to be had of Barry at the corner of Bow St., and of Hobson at the Stage Door. [This month was printd The Town, a Satire by Wm. Kenrick, with especial attack upon Garrick and Garrick's plays. In Miss in her Teens, he boasts the strange pretense, To satire Coxcombs, while he murders sense." Kenrick is one of the few who criticizes Garrick (p. 21) for playing a low character Abel Drugger, rather than a king. He yields indirect praise to Janeton Auretti by blaming the town for cheering her dance, while neglecting the players: @Yet if Janeton shakes her slender feet@How loud the thunder clatters through the Pit.@ Prologue intended to have been spoken on the Revival of The Distress'd Mother, for the Benefit of Mr Barry, but omitted through some misunderstanding. Written by Mr Rolt, printed in Gentleman's Magazine, March 1748, p. 134.] Receipts: #270 (Cross); house charges, #60 (Powel); cash, #80 3s. 6d.; tickets, #118 5s. (Clay MS)

Event Comment: Play never acted. 'Tis hoped no gentleman will take it ill that he cannot possibly be admitted behind scenes this night (General Advertiser). This play was wrote by Mr Whitehead Tutor to my Lord Jersey,--it was receiv'd with Extravagant applause--& it was Agreed Mr-(Cross). Paid Mr Ackman for writing voice parts in Don Severio #1 1s.; Salary list #305 6d. Norton 6 chorus #1 10s. (Treasurer's Book). [Of some interest is the fact that a ship plying between London and Dublin was named the Roman Father, perhaps in response to the popularity of this play. See note of its safe arrival in Crookhaven in General Advertiser 25 Oct. 1750.] Receipts: #190 (Cross); #191 7s. 6d. [Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. The date of the premiere is not known, but its Prologue indicates that it follows The Woman Captain. Like that play and The Virtuous Wife, Caius Marius was entered in the Term Catalogues, November 1679, but the large number of plays apparently presented earlier in the autumn suggests that this one could hardly have been brought on the stage before October 1679

Event Comment: G[arrick] This Night was advertis'd for Mr Barry's Benefit but he being ill his Benefit was deferr'd (Hopkins Diary). Garrick is removed from Southampton St. to Adelphi Terrace (Winston MS 10). This day is publish'd Theatrical Biography; or, Memoirs of the principal performers of the three Theatres Royal. Drury Lane: Garrick, Barry, Reddish, Aickin, King, Moody, Dodd, Love, Vernon, Parsons, Baddeley, Mrs Barry, Mrs Abington, Miss Younger, Miss Hayward, Mrs Baddeley, Miss Pope, Mrs Egerton, Mrs W. Barry and Mrs Jefferson. Covent Garden: Ross, Smith, Savigny, Woodward, Yates, Shuter, Bensley, Dyer, Mattocks, Clark, Mrs Yates, Mrs Mattocks, Miss Macklin, Mrs Bulkley, Mrs Green, and Mrs Thompson. Haymarket: Foote, Weston, Aikin, Didier, Davies, Mrs Gardner, Mrs Jewell, and Mrs Didier. Together with critical and impartial remarks on their respective professional merits. Printed for S. Bladon. Receipts: #265 18s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Never before acted. A tragedy written by Mr Henry? Jones, a Bricklayer of Ireland. This play has been delay'd for 3 Or 4 years. Went of with great Applause (Cross). All the Characters New Dress'd. None to be admitted behind the scenes

Event Comment: TTancred and Sigismunda deferred. Mrs Barry ill. I call'd upon Mr Barry. He was not at home. In the afternoon I sent him a note desiring they would send notice when they were able to perform. He sent me an angry note in answer on Fryday. I, by the managers [orders] answer'd it on Fryday morning, both which letters Mr Garrick has (Hopkins MS Memorandum Book)

Event Comment: Waited on Mr Barry to know if he should be able to play in the Conscious Lovers on Saturday. His answer was that he could not--& Mrs Barry consented to play it with Mr Reddish (Hopkins MS Memorandum Book)

Event Comment: By Command K. & Q. Ode, Mr Garrick (Cross Diary). Waited on Mr & Mrs Barry to know if it would be agreeable to them to go in the Pageant [The Jubilee] on Saturday--They both agreed they would & Mr Barry said he could be able to walk in the Pageant if he could not play. A rehearsal of As You Like It was call'd by Mrs Barry's desire at Ten. She sent word to have the Rehearsal put off for half an hour. The Performers staid for her till past Eleven, but she not coming they went away (Hopkins MS Memorandum Book)

Event Comment: By Permission. Benefit for Thomas Barry. Neville MS Diary: Mr Barry having obtained permission to play 3 nights after the time at which Foote by his patent is obliged to shut his house

Event Comment: Comedy from Moliere and Cibber. Hopkins Diary: This comedy [Hypocrite] is the Non Juror altered, and two new characters introduced,--went off very well,--some few hisses,--but the play will do.--The alterations are by Mr Bickerstaffe. [Full account of the mainpiece, but without critical observation, appeared in the Lloyd's Evening Post, Nov. 18-21.

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. The date of the first performance is not known. An entry in L. C. 5@145, p. 120 (see also Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 349) lists a performance for 4 April, once thought to be 4 April 1680; but as this date falls on Sunday, it more likely represents a revival on 4 April 1681. As the Epilogue appears to appeal to Parliament (which existed from 15 Oct. 1680 to 18 Jan. 1680@1) to vote funds for King Charles, "Our King of Poets," it seems likely that the play was first performed before the close of Parliament. The play was not entered in the Term Catalogues until June 1681. A song, Phyllis whose heart was unconfined, set by Thomas? Farmer; and another, A pox upon this cursed life, set by Captain Pack, are in Choice Ayres and Songs, The Fourth Book, 1683

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Cibber. Afterpiece: A Dramatic piece of one act taken from the French. Never perform'd before. The characters in it to be newdress'd. Pit and boxes laid together and amphitheatre on stage. Tickets deliver'd for 3 March will be taken. [See, 20 March. The note in Have at you all; or, The Drury Lane Journal (19 March) seems to comment on this performance: Those heroic full-bottomed perukes, whose bushy expanse is spread over the whole back of the wearer, have lately been exploded on the stage, and a more natural, I mean a less enormous covering for the head substituted in its stead. Unfortunately Mr Barry this night chose to appear in one of the most curiously frizzled out and of the fullest tragical flow I ever saw: When in the last act it was our heroes turn to be kill'd, honest Ryan being eager to dispatch him, just as he was to plump down upon the carpet, entangled his hand in the vast profusion of Macbeth's hair; and by jerking back his sword after the concluding stab, away came poor periwig along with it, while our hero was left expos'd, in the last agonies of death-bare headed. Ryan in the meanwhile with some confuconfusion contemplated Full-Bottom, which he held dangling in his hand, but sadly tumbled out of curl; at length he good naturedly adjusted it on the bald pate of the tyrant, who was then enabled to make his dying speech with proper regularity and decorum."

Event Comment: Benefit for Sowdon. Tickets to be had of Sowdon at Mr Haymer's in James St., Covent Garden, of Hobson at the Stage Door; at Will's Coffee House, Cornhill, and of Mr Thomas Sowdon, in Blackman St., Southwark. Receipts: #160 (Cross); no house charges. N.B.: A present was made to him of the charge of the House, because he had acted this season and receiv'd no salary (Powel)

Event Comment: Paid Charlotte Lane for making a white cloth coat and blue sattin waistcoat, loop'd and bound with silver for Mr Dyer, 18s.; for sewing silk and twist, 4s. 6d. Buckram and stays, 3s.; Hair cloth and wadding, 4s. dimety sleevelining & linnen pockets, 2s. 6d.; 2 doz. & 4 rich silver wire buttons at 8d.-18s. 6d. 19 breast buttons ditto at 4d.-6s. 4d. Dimety body lining to waistcoat and cuffs at 12s.-#1 13s.; 8 yds blue allopeen at 21!2 d.-17s. 4d. 21!4 yds white serge desoy at 5s.-11s. 3d. Also for Mr Dyer for making a yellow sattin waistcoat & cuffs, and mending a coat for Ranger, 8s.; sewing silk and twist, buckran & stays 4s.; three quarters yds white shallbon and interlining at 4d.-6s. 4d. Dimety body lining to waistcoat, 3s. 4d.; Stuff to make the backs 1s. 2 and 3!4 yds Blue Sattin for ye n silver'd buttons at 1s. 6d.-4s. 6d.; 11!2 doz. breast buttons ditto at 9d.-1s. 11!2d; For new buttoning and lacing a coat for Mrs Vincent 6s.; 2 doz. and 4 coat silver'd buttons at 1s. 6d.-3s. 6d.; 11!2 doz. breast buttons at 9d.-1s. 1 1!2d.; Sewing silk &c., 1s. 6d. (MS list in Davies, Life of Garrick, II, 322)