Event Comment: Benefit Cibber Jun. Tickets for Mrs Chetwood will be taken

Event Comment: The Sixth Day...at the Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Daily Advertiser, 2 Oct.: Last Saturday Night the reviv'd Play of Romeo and Juliet...was acted...to a numerous and polite Audience, with Great Applause. There was an extraordinary fine appearance of Ladies in the Boxes; and every one allow'd Miss Jenny Cibber (who has given Proofs of an uncommon Genius) was greatly inprov'd in the character of Juliet. The Quality and Gentry were all safely guarded to the chairs and Coaches by the Lads of St. James's Market. [Hill was the stage name for Johnson.

Event Comment: Benefit T. Cibber?. Afterpiece with a variety of songs adapted to the several characters. The Music entirely new, composed by Lampe. The songs are printed and will be deliver'd gratis at the theatre

Event Comment: By Authority. Mainpiece: Written by the late C. Cibber, Esq; Poet Laureate. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Nothing under full price can be taken during the whole time of performance. No persons can be admitted behind the scenes. Doors to open at Five and Curtain rise half an hour after Six

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. Pepys, Diary: Against my judgment and conscience (which God forgive, for my very heart knows that I offend God in breaking my vows therein) to the Opera, which is now newly begun to act again, after some alteracion of their scene, which do make it very much worse; but the play, Love and Honour, being the first time of their acting it, is a very good plot, and well done. Downes (pp. 21-22): This Play was Richly Cloath'd; The King giving Mr Betterton his Coronation Suit;...The Duke of York giving Mr Harris his...and my Lord of Oxford gave Mr Joseph Price his...and all the other Parts being very well done: The Play having a great run, Produc'd to the Company great Gain and Estimation from the Town

Event Comment: Written by Shakespear. Receipts: #67 4s. 6d. Daily Journal, 27 Sept.: The Gilding, Painting, Scenes and Columns of Pier Glass, rais'd for the better illuminating the Stage and other Parts of the House, gave a general Surprize and Satisfaction to the Spectators

Event Comment: Benefit for the Author Tickets to be had as 9 and 14 Feb. [The Gentleman's Magazine this month gave a nine-column article to the Plan and Specimens of Irene a Tragedy by Mr Samuel Johnsin acted at Drury Lane from 6-20 February inclusive." In it plot was first retold, then excerpts from speeches were given which illustrated the beautiful expression of the moral values contained in the play: "To instance every moral which is inculcated in this performance, would be to transcribe the whole; but, however difficult I shall select a few." No comments are made upon the stage presentation, all is presented upon the basis of examination of the text. William Shenstone thought not much of it as a play. See Letter to Lady Luxborough 22 March.] Receipts: #110 (Cross); house charges, #63 (Powel)

Event Comment: Benefit for James Sturgis Adams (a Person in Distress) (Cross). Gave Xmas Box to Duke's Servts #1 1s. (Treasurer's Book). Tickets for Boxes to be had at the following Coffee Houses, St. James, St. James's St; Somerset in the Strand; Grigsby's behind the Royal Exchange; and the Union, Cornhill. Receipts: #205 (Cross); charges, #80 (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Both pieces by His Majesty's command. [John Pringle wrote to Blayney Townley on 14 Nov.: Great are the disputes at present between the rival theatres, vieing with each other in different characters which afford unusual entertainment to all frequenting the stage. His Majesty on Saturday night paid his first visit to Covent Garden in perference to the opera at Drury Lane, when Lady Townley by Pegg Woffington gave him great pleasure, with the addition of unusual huzzas in a part of the Miller of Mansfield." -Historical MS Commission, 10th Report, Appendix, Part IV (London 1887), p. 257.

Event Comment: By Command of the Prince of Wales. Present the Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince Edward, Lady Augusta, and Princess Elizabeth. Receipts: #219 1s. 6d. Paid Barry his one third of the surplus above #80 House Charges: #46 7s. 2d. Gave the yeoman of the Prince and Princess #1 1s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: [Puff for the afterpiece]: As this Pastoral was not originally designed for the theatre, it is thought proper to give the public some account of it, and by what means it has now found its way to the stage. The Chorusses and Airs were selected from Mr Handel, and several other eminent masters, by a gentleman whose taste and knowledge in music is perhaps his least merit. Having conceived the design of a musical entertainment of this miscellaneous nature he found himself oblig'd...to connect them [the airs] by a Recitative of his own composition: This naturally produced a kind of a little drama, and the ease and elegance of the whole is the more to be admired when it is considered that the words were of necessity composed in perfect subservience to the music. The piece has been several times performed at Salisbury and greatly admired by many of the first Rank. The author, upon Mr Norris being engaged at the theatre, was applied to for leave to bring it on the stage, to which he has most obligingly given his consent. [Cast given] After an agreeable Overture, the curtain rises and discovers a rural scene, and a troop of nymphs and shepherds assembled to celebrate the Spring. Their rejoicings open with a grand cheerful chorus. We cannot say enough of the taste and execution of Mr Vernon and Miss Young in this scene. The united sprightliness and simplicity of the duet was truly admirable. [Song given, followed by a brief description of the parting of the shepherds, the announcement of Peace so they won't have to part, and special commendation for the various songs of Mr Vincent, and Mr Norris.] We will venture to prophesy that it will be more and more admired at every representation; though perhaps it may not fall in with the Taste of the Groundlings, who, like Polonius, are for a Jig or a Tale of Bawdry, or they sleep (Public Advertiser)

Event Comment: Both pieces By Command of their Majesties. Afterpiece: Not acted these 7 years. [See 27 Nov. 1760.] Present their Majesties, Dukes of Gloster and Cumberland, Princess of Brunswick and Lady Louisa. Gave Yeomen of the guard #2 2s.; Paid Mr Cousins for hair dressing in the Fairy Favour #1 4s. and Mr Thompson for the same #1 12s. Paid Ellis (scourer) a bill for the Men's Wardrobe, #1 4s. 6d. Paid for the license of Love in the City #2 2s. (Account Book). Receipts: #231 16s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 12 years. [See 24 Jan. 1758.] Prologue written by Paul Whitehead. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Mr Sarjant (only) at the Stage-Door. No persons can be admitted behind scenes, nor any Money returned after curtain is drawn up. To begin exactly at 6 o'clock. [Customary note in succeeding bills.] Receipps: #190 14s. (Account Book). @The New Occasional Prologue@As when the merchant to increase his store@For Dubious seas, advent'rous quits the shore;@Still anxious for his freight, he trembling sees@Rocks in each buoy, and tempest in each breeze@The curling wave to mountain billow swells,@And every cloud a fancied storm fortells:@Thus rashly launch'd on this Theatric main,@Our All on board, each phantom gives Us pain;@The Aatcall's note seems thunder in our ears,@And every Hiss a hurricane appears;@In Journal Squibs we lightning's blast espy,@And meteors blaze in every Critic's eye.@Spite of these terrors, still come hopes we view,@Hopes, ne'er can fail us--since they're plac'd--in you.@Your breath the gale, our voyage is secure,@And safe the venture which your smiles insure;@Though weak his skill, th' adventurer must succeed,@Where Candour takes th' endeavor for the deed.@For Brentford's state, two kings could once suffice;@In ours, behold! four kings of Brentford rise;@All smelling to one nosegay's od'rous savor@The balmy nosegay of--the Public favor.@From hence alone, our royal funds we draw,@Your pleasure our support, your will our law.@While such our government, we hope you'll own us;@But should we ever Tyrant prove--dethrone us.@Like Brother Monarchs, who, to coax the nation@Began their reign, with some fair proclamation,@We too should talk at least--of reformation;@Declare that during our imperial sway,@No bard shall mourn his long-neglected Play;@But then the play must have some wit, some spirit,@And We allow'd sole umpires of its merit.@For those deep sages of the judging Pit,@Whose taste is too refin'd for modern wit,@From Rome's great Theatre we'll cull the piece,@And plant on Britain's stage the flow'rs of Greece.@If some there are, our British Bards can please,@Who taste the ancient wit of ancient days,@Be our's to save, from Time's devouring womb,@Their works, and snatch their laurels from the tomb.@For you, ye Fair, who sprightlier scenes may chuse,@Where Music decks in all her airs the Muse,@Gay Opera shall all its charms dispense,@Yet boast no tuneful triumph over sense;@The nobler Bard shall still assert his right,@Nor Handel rob a Shakespear of his night,@To greet the mortal brethren of our skies [upper galleries]@Here all the Gods of Pantomime shall rise:@Yet midst the pomp and magic of machines,@Some plot may mark the meaning of our scenes;@Scenes which were held, in good King Rich's days,@By sages, no bad epilogues to plays.@If terms like these your suffrage can engage,@To fix our mimic empire of the stage;@Confirm our title in your fair opinions,@And crowd each night to people our dominions.@--(Poems and Miscelaneous Compositions, Ed. Capt. Edward Thompson, 1777) Covent Garden opened with the Rehearsal with alterations. I was in the Pit. Powell, from Drury Lane, one of the new managers who have bought the patent from Rich's heirs, spoke an occasional Prologue. Shuter did Bayes pretty much to my liking, adding many crochets of his own.... Entertainment The Mock Doctor,...Young Jasper pretty well by one Massey, being his first appearance on that stage (Neville MS Diary)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Command of Their Majesties. Present Their Majesties. Gave Yeomen of the Guards #2 2s. (Account Book). Receipts: #230 6s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Both pieces By Command of Their Majesties. Man and Wife Publish'd at 1s. 6d. (Winston MS 10). Gave Yeomen of Guards #2 2s. (Account Book). Receipts: #178 12s. 6d

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Macklin. Part of Pit will be laid into the Boxes. Come as early as possible to avoid confusion. Charges #64 10s. Balance to Miss Macklin #79 18s., plus #146 from Tickets (584 Box & Pit at one price of 5s. each); Paid Mr Monk #2 12s. 6d. for mending the Owl & a new Spring (Account Book). [The bonus value of the benefit to an actor or member of the company staff may be seen when one considers that Miss Macklin's regular salary was #7 per week, or about #28 per month. On this one benefit performance she made a profit in book value equal to her previous eight month's salary. Book value because the Account Book records, for the tickets which she delivered, only the face value of 5s. each. It is probable that many a wealthy theatre-goer gave her on this occasion, by way of appreciation for the pleasure of her performances, much more than the face value of the ticket.] Receipts: #144 8s