Event Comment: Benefit Villeneuve, Mrs Kilby, Miss Hippisley, &c

Event Comment: MMrs Cibber to Garrick, 26 Feb. 1746: I despise your vanity when you imagine my danger was as great from Mrs Copin, as yours from Perkin Warbeck; my rival met with disgrace the first night of her appearance; and my not naming her when I writ you about Perkin Jan. 1746] was a piece of generosity scarcely to be met with in the female sex, for my rival was then dismissed the house.--Boaden, Private Correspondence of Garrick, I, 39

Event Comment: Profits subscribed to the Veteran Scheme at Guildhall. Mrs Cibber to Garrick, 11 Dec.: Though Mr Rich had no performance at his house...Drury Lane Playhouse was not above half full till the latter account. Then it was a good house but not near so great as we had all last winter to the Orphan. He had built up the stage, but as nobody came there he shut in a flat scene to hide it, and the next day he played the Tender Husband to fifteen pounds.-Boaden, Private Correspondence of Garrick, I, 46

Event Comment: Mainpiece written by Beaumont and Fletcher. Benefit Mrs Woffington. Not acted in 10 years. Servants admitted to keep places on stage

Event Comment: Benefit Mr and Mrs L. Hallam. L. Hallam having broken his ankle cannot solicit his friends in person. [Prices 4s., 2s., 1s.

Event Comment: At the Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Benefit Mrs Giffard. Tragedy not acted for 7 years. The Ballad Opera, by Mendez, never performed before. Servants admitted to keep places. Tickets at Mr Giffard's (No 11) in Craven Buildings, Drury Lane; and places for the boxes of Hobson, at the stage door

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Acted but twice these 30 years. By Particular Desire. Tickets deliver'd out by Taswell, Woodburn, Simpson, Delaboyde, and Mrs Sibilla for the Conscious Lovers, will be taken

Event Comment: [Full column in Daily Advertiser describing Barry's and Mrs Macklin's acting techniques.] Barry from the Theatre in Dublin, perform'd the part of Othello, at Drury Lane, before a numerous and polite audience; and met with as great Applause as could be express'd.--General Advertiser, 6 Oct. Thomas Gray to Horace Walpole: You have probably been there since I left you, and consequently have seen the Mr Barry you desired some account of; yet as I am not certain of this and should be glad to know whether we agree about him, I will nevertheless tell you what he is, and the impression he made upon me. He is upwards of six feet in height; wdll and prortionably made, treads well and knows what to do with his limbs; in short a noble graceful figure. I can say nothing of his face but that it was all black, with a wide mough and good eyes. His voice is of a clear and pleasing tone, something like Delane's, but not so deep-mouthed, not so like a passing bell. When high strain'd it is apt to crack a little and be hoarse, but in its common pitch, and when it sinks into any softer passion, particularly expressive and touching. In the first scene, especially when he recounts to the Senate the progress of his love and the means he used to win Desdemona, he was quite mistaken, and I took a pique against him; instead of a cool narration he flew into a rant of voice and action, as though he were relating the circumstance of a battle that was fought yesterday. I expected nothing more from him, but was deceiv'd: in the scenes of rage and jealousy he was seldom inferior to Quin in the parts of tenderness and sorrow far above him. These latter seem to be his peculiarly; his action is not very various, but rarely improper, or without dignity, and some of his attitudes are really fine. He is not perfect to be sure, but I think may make a better player than any now on the stage in a little while. However, to see a man in one character, and but once, is not sufficient, so I rather ask your opinion by this, than give you mine.--Horace Walpole's Correspondence with Thomas Gray, II, 6-7

Event Comment: Benefit for Raftor, Dickenson [Gallery Office Keeper], and Mrs Dickenson [Burton's Box Keeper]

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr Giffard and Mrs Giffard. Mainpiece [by Thomas Baker]: Not acted these 15 years. [See 11 July 1738.] At the Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Afterpiece: A Farce of Two Acts never performed before, taken from a Comedy of the Celebrated Mr Otway. Tickets to be had of Giffard at No. 11 in Craven's Buildings, Drury Lane, and at the stage door

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Woffington. As ye Curtain was rising for ye farce a Gentleman's sword was taken out of ye Scabbard & carry'd up with ye Curtain & there Hung to ye terror of those under it (least it shou'd fall) & ye Mirth of ye rest of ye Audience--a Scene man fetch'd it down (Cross). Four rows of the Pit will be rail'd into the Boxes; and the stage form'd into front and side boxes. Tickets and places of Hobson at the stage door. Receipts: #240 (Cross); house charges, #50 (Powel).This was also in her agreement to pay no more than the above sum (Powel). Cash, #84 19s. 6d.; tickets, #100 3s. (Clay MS)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Horton. [A "puff" for Leveridge's forthcoming benefit (31 March) in a letter to the General Advertiser, followed by 3 stanzas of verse]: Sir, The Remembrance of the pleasure I have often receiv'd, in a series of years, by hearing Mr Leveridge's Performances on the stage, occasion'd the following Lines: which however artless they are wrote, will I dare say give no offense to the good natur'd part of Mankind. I am your constant reader. T.H.: @I Whilst Garrick justly claims applause,@Old Leveridge humbly sues,@That you'll not quite neglect his cause@Nor now his suit refuse.@Whilst youthful vigor tun'd his voice@With song he rais'd the heart;@To cheer that voice, now chilled with Age@Becomes a noble part.@Then shew that faithful service past@Your thoughts does still employ;@And by your num'rous Presence grac'd@Revive old age with joy.

Event Comment: Benefit for James, Stoppelaer, Mrs Bland

Event Comment: At Lee and Yeates Sen and Jun great Theatrical Booth...will be reviv'd that celebrated Droll, call'd The Unnatural Parents; or, The Fair Maid of the West. Shewing the Manner of her being forced to wander from Home, by the Cruelty of her Parents and beg her Bread; and directs her to a Nobleman's House: How she was there taken in as a Servant; and, at length, for her Beauty and modest Behaviour, married to a Gentleman of great Fortune; with her Return to her Parents, and their happy Reconciliation. Also the Comical Humours and Adventures of Trusty her Father's Man, and the three Witches. The Scenes and Cloaths are entirely new; and the Droll the same that was perform'd by Mrs Lee 15 Years ago with great Applause. Boxes: 2s. 6d. Pit 1s. 6d. First Gallery 1s. Upper Gallery 6d. To begin each Day at Twelve o'Clock. [Notice repeated 25, 26, 27 Aug.

Event Comment: At Cross and Bridges' Booth, opposite the Hospital Gate. A new Dramatick Droll...being founded on a Story in Real Life, as related in the Memoirs of the celebrated Mrs Constantia Phillips. In which will be introduc'd a New Scene of Bedlam...Interspers'd witn a Merry Interlude call'd The Jovial Tars...with the Comical Humours of Nurse Prate and Will Bowling the Jovial Tar; as also of Jack Hanspite, Nick Hatchway, and Simon Bucket, Sailors; with Mary the Chambermaid, Susan of the Dairy, Kate of the Kitchen, and Nan the Spinster. To begin each day at noon. An extraordinary band of music is provided. Prices: 1s. 6d., 1s., 6d

Event Comment: The Play of Hamlet is oblig'd to be deferr'd. [An extra notice appeared in the General Advertiser: This evening the Play of the Provok'd Wife will be perform'd at Drury Lane, the parts of Sir John and Lady Brute to be performed by Garrick and Mrs Pritchard."] Receipts: #140 (Cross)

Event Comment: Paid Mrs Rogers for wax & Brickdust 3s. 10d.; Norton for 3 Chorus 15s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #60 (Cross); #63 16s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: A concert, etc. Benefit for Mrs Rachel Hooper, who perform'd Six Years ago at the Theatre Royal in Lincoln's Inn Fields. [Earlier bills listed The Recruiting Officer for this night. Today's bill calls only for a concert.] To begin at six o'clock. (Daily Advertiser)

Event Comment: Benefit for Ackman, Paddick, Roger and Mrs Toogood. Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Hilliard, and Mrs Storer

Event Comment: Benefit for Legge, Desse and Mrs Chambers. Tickets deliver'd out by Madam Petite will be taken

Event Comment: Benefit for the Author of the Prologue, Epilogue and Pastoral Dialogue. Mainpiece: Written by Mr Addison. A New Pastoral Dialogue for the benefit of ye Author of ye Dialogue, Cook ye Poet (Cross). [The Prologue was on comic poetry (spoken by Ryan); the Epilogue was on the Comic Characters of Women (spoken by Mrs Bland). See published version (London, 1753 "to which is prefixed an Ode to John Rich, Esq:"--British Museum 11795 K 31).

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Elmy. [The Public Advertiser included a full-column quotation from Henry VIII, Act V, scene iii, as a "true and lively image of Conscious Virtue' injuriously attacked." Cranmer: I humbly thank your highness...along with a paragraph of praise of Shakespeare.

Event Comment: MMrs Midnight's Concert Vocal and Instrumental Music after which for one night only will be given [Sack Posset, &c.] gratis. Benefit for Mrs Midnight. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. To begin exactly at 7 p.m

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Hamilton