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: Mainpiece: A New Comedy [by R. B. Sheridan] never perform'd. New Scenes and Dresses. [Gentleman's Magazine for Jan. states: "Tuesday 17, Was performed for the first time at Covent Garden a comedy call'd The Rivals, said to be written by Mr Sheridan. Some objections being made both to language and character, the author has thought proper to withdraw his piece for correction, and it has since been played with applause." See 18 and 28 Jan. The Westminster Magazine, Jan., remarked: "This comedy was acted so imperfectly, either from the timidity of the actors on a first night's performance, or from an improper distribution of parts, that it was generally disapproved....The author promised some alterations, which implied that he would be glad the Town would suspend judgment till a farther hearing" See 28 Jan. John Hampden quotes from Lloyd's Evening Post, 18 Jan., the Morning Chronicle and Morning Post of the same date, and the London Chronicle of 19 Jan. articles damning the casting and the imperfectness of the actors, the impudence of Shuter in particular, and the fatigue of the audience.

Event Comment: Tickets deliver'd by Mrs Lampe, Mrs Jones, Mrs Morris, Miss Cranfield and Mr Hollingsworth will be admitted. Doors opened at half past 5. To begin at half past 6

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by John O'Keeffe; MS: Larpent 577; not published. The following season this was altered, and acted successfully as The Castle of Andalusia]: With new Scenes, Dresses and Decorations. A new Overture, and the whole of the Music under the Direction of Dr Arnold. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Public Advertiser, 29 Nov.: The admirable first scene, the subterraneous Receptacle of the Banditti, is the production of the ingenious Mr Richards. Receipts: #182 10s. (180/12/6; 1/17/6)

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. This performance is on the L. C. lists at Harvard. See VanLennep, "Plays on the English Stage", p. 16. Whether this is the premiere is not known. A song, Amintas that true-hearted swain, with music by John Bannister, is in Choice Ayres, Songs, and Dialogues, 2d. Ed., 1675. Downes, Roscius Anglicanus, p. 34: The Jealous Bridegroom, Wrote by Mrs Bhen, a good Play and lasted six Days; but this made its Exit too, to give Room for a greater. The Tempest. Note, In this Play, Mr Otway the Poet having an Inclination to turn Actor; Mrs Bhen gave him the King in the Play, for a Probation Part, but he being not us'd to the Stage; the full House put him to such a Sweat and Tremendous, Agony, being dash't, spoilt him for an Actor

Event Comment: Benefit of a Young Orphan-Child of the late Mr Verbruggen and Mrs Verbruggen

Event Comment: Benefit Betterton. At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. The Boxes to be open'd to the Pit, and No Person to be admitted but by printed Tickets at half a Guinea each. Note, That the Tickets deliver'd out for the Moor of Venice, and Great Mogul, will be taken at this Play. [Receipts: possibly #154 6s. 7 1!2d., according to Baggs.] For a comment on this occasion, see Tatler, 12 April. Whincop (pp. 175-76) states: But Mr Betterton being new past Seventy Years of Age, and lame with the Gout, seemed but to burlesque the Part of youthful Valentine

Event Comment: Written by the ingenious Mr Shadwell, late Poet Laureat. Carefully revis'd. With all the original Decorations of Scenes, Witches, Songs, and Dances proper to the Drama

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Rogers. Written by Mr Steele. N.B. The Tickets deliver'd out for King Lear will be taken at this Play

Event Comment: The Letter Sign'd J. K. was receiv'd by Mr Giffard, and the Request shall be comply'd with if the Person thinks fit to make himself known

Event Comment: At the particular Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Benefit Mrs Hervey and Miss Pattison. Written by Mr Farquhar

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by the late Mr Congreve. Egerton 2320: Berry, Oats & Shepard discharg'd much noise in ye Pit for ye restoring of Oats. Griffin at Rotterdam, Jack Ray did his part. Milward's [?] a good one--the first night of Beard's playing--his success great. Receipts: #115. [For performances at the Fairs, see season of 1736-1737.] Daily Advertiser, 22 Aug.: The House [dl] is neatly decorated, and a very large Lobby prepar'd for the Servants that keep Places, with two Fire Places, Seats, near the Boxes, where a Person is to attend to call them, whe wanted by their Masters or Ladies. There is also a new Passage to the Pit, which will make it much more convenient for the Audience