Event Comment: Mainpiece: A Tragedy [by Hugh Kelly] never perform'd. The performance of Mrs Yates alone could have counteracted, for nine nights, its natural tendency towards damnation....A gentleman being asked, after one of the representations of this play, if he did not hiss it, replied "How could I? A Man can't hiss and yawn at the same time." (Biographia Dramatica.) [The advertisement to the 1771 edition thanks Mrs Yates, Bensley, Wroughton, "for their great good nature in undertaking their respective characters at the short notice of a week, when Mr Ross unexpectedly returned the part of Anselmo, which had been in his possession above a fortnight." This circumstance, continues the advertisement oblig'd Mr Bensley, cast for Palermo to undertake Mr Savigny's part, orginally Granville, Savigny taking Anselmo, and Wroughton Palermo." The play was brought on anonymously to avoid political repercussions associated with the name of the author.

Event Comment: Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Drury Lane--New Painted and Decorated. Miss Pope's good acting is said to have made up for her deficiency in singing (Genest, V, 314). On Sept. 19 Fisher, Musician, married the widow of the late Powell, Patentee of cg (Winston MS 10). Rec'd Mrs Johnston's 1 year's rent to Lady Day Last #6; Paid Mr French on Acct per order Mr G. G. #20. Paid Renters #8. [This payment occurs each playing night throughout the season, and is not noted further.] The total amounted to #1576 (Drury Lane Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #188 15s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: Not acted in three Years. [See 17 Dec. 1768.] Paid Printer's Bill #8 12s. (Treasurer's Book). #1500 given for 3 tragedies to author of Grecian Daughter (Winston MS 10). Receipts: #266 17s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mr Diamond made his first appearance upon the Stage in the Part of Romeo he is very younge a Smart Figure good Voice & made a very tolerable first appearance he met with great Applause (Hopkins Diary). [Macmillan's note from Kemble differs slightly.] Paid Chorus 2 nights (this inc.) #5 1s.; Paid Mr French on acct #20; Paid printer's bill #11. Paid Mr Garland, for copper plate printing #10 17s. 6d.; Paid Mr Weston, per order #18 17s. 4d. [The printer's bill was paid regularly each Thursday, averaged #8 19s. per week, and will not be further noted. Total payments this season #353. See Town and Country Magazine for favorable review of Miss Mansell as Juliet and of Diamond as Romeo.] Receipts: #208 13s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 3 years. [See 20 Dec. 1769.] Paid half year's Land Tax for theatre due Mich. last #35; ditto for Widow Lights #6 10s. 6d.; ditto for House in Bow Passage #1 5s., and for its window lights 15s. (Account Book). [The reviewer for The Town and Country Magazine the following month was disappointed with Miss Barsanti as Estifania.] Receipts: #134 7s. 6d

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted for 14 years, altered from Shirley. [See 7 Feb. 1758.] Characters New Dress'd in the Habits of the Times. This Comedy is reviv'd with Alterations. It is well perform'd & had great Applause (Hopkins Diary). Paid Half year's paving &c. to Mich. last for Drury Lane & Russel St. #14. Mr Godfrey for women's cloaths, #15. Mr Clutterbuck's last summer's balance #57 15s. 2d.; Mrs Foster for men's cloaths, #25 (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #121 9s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A Comedy [by Richard Cumberland] never performed there. Paid John Doe for sticking Black Bills #3 12s. Paid Cooper (printer) as per bill #20 2s. (Account Book). [The Westminster Magazine held in reserve its judgment on Lewis as an actor until the reviewer could see him in another part.] Receipts: #137 4s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Bannister. Mainpiece: By Desire. Rec'd stopages #12 7s. Paid salary list #566 6s.; J. French on acct #5 5s. (Treasurer's Book). Mrs Smith's Benefit for 2 May advertised as Cymbeline and a new Comic Opera (in 2 Acts) call'd the Wish. The Music entirely new, the principal characters by Vernon, Bannister, Davies, Mrs Wrighten and Mrs Smith. With a New Occasional Prologue spoken by King. [But this was changed on 27 April.] Receipts: #212 1s. Charges: #66 3s. Profits to Bannister #145 18s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: By Permission. Benefit for Mrs Gardner

Event Comment: The Provoked Husband and Rival Candidates was given out for Tuesday. On Sunday Morning Mrs Yates sent word she was ill and could not play--sent to Miss Younge, and she sent word that she was ill in bed--King sent word he had a sore Throat, and could not play--so that we could do no Play but the Committee and Rival Candidates. On Monday the Managers met, but nothing was settled. At twelve o'clock Mrs Baddeley sent word she had a sore Throat, and could not play in the Riv[al] Can[didates] (Hopkins Diary). The Hypocrite and The Christmas Tale are obliged to be deferred. "[Smith] has a good figure, is gentlemanlike, and decent in everything he undertakes. When we allow that, we have said all; he wants both feeling to be affected, and powers to convey his feelings, if he had them. In fine, in spite of all the partiality of his friends, or the ignorant prejudices of those who never judge but at second hand, his performance of Richard was little more than a strong union of judgement and industry, unaided by nature. He should woo genteel Comedy oftener; and not that coy sister of hers, who certainly holds Smith at the point of her lance" (London Magazine, Oct. 1776, p. 511). Receipts: #186 18s. 6d

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; PAST 2, by Richard Josceline Goodenough, altered from his unacted play The Cottagers]: The Overture and Music composed by Baumgarten. [Baumgarten used this overture again in Robin Hood (see cg, 17 Apr. 1784).] Books of the Pastoral to be had at the Theatre. [Wordsworth is identified in the playbill of 22 Dec. Mrs Webb was from the Hay.] Public Advertiser, 24 Nov. 1779: This Day is published William And Nanny (1s.). Receipts: #122 15s. (116.15.6; 5.19.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Lamash and Mrs Hedges. Receipts: #201 5s. 6d. (48/9/0; 26/1/0; 0/0/6; tickets: 126/15/0) (charge: none listed)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Wells. 2nd piece: With the Manual Exercise by Mrs Wells

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Mattocks. Public Advertiser, 4 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Mattocks, No. 29, Bow-street, Covent Garden. Receipts: #228 1s. (137.0.6; 5.2.6; tickets: 85.18.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Crouch. Morning Herald, 12 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Crouch, No. 6, Leicester-street, Leicester Fields. Receipts: #280 9s. 6d. (92.2.0; 15.14.0; tickets: 170.18.0) (charge: #106 12s.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Brooks. Public Advertiser, 18 July: Tickets to be had of Mrs Brooks, at Mr Woodmason's, No. 68, Pall-mall

Event Comment: [Iliff was from the Edinburgh theatre; Mrs Farren from the York theatre.] Afterpiece [1st time; F 2, by John O'Keeffe]. Public Advertiser, 30 Aug. 1788: This Day is published The Prisoner at Large (1s. 6d.)

Event Comment: [Adams was from the Crow Street Theatre, Dublin; Mrs Henry's 1st appearance on the stage was at cg, 25 Jan. 1788.

Event Comment: On Account of the numerous Complaints [etc., exactly as on dl playbill, 16 Sept.] [Mr and Mrs Duncan were from the Chester theatre.] Receipts: #193 10s. 6d. (190.11.6; 2.19.0)

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill assigns Yarico to Mrs Billington, but "The Director is extremely sorry to be under the Necessity of making such frequent Apologies for unavoidable Disappointments [see 18, 20 Feb.]; Mrs Billington being this Afternoon taken extremely ill, it is hoped Miss Chapman will be honoured this Evening with the usual Indulgence of the Public, in the Part of Yarico" (printed slip on BM playbill, cg, Vol. VI).] Receipts: #196 9s. (185.6; 11.3)