Event Comment: Benefit for Wells. Public Advertiser, 9 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Wells, No. 417, Strand. Afterpiece [1st time; F 2, by Edward Topham, with incidental music by James Hook. Prologue-Epilogue by Edward Topham {Public Advertiser, 21 Apr.)]. Morning Herald, 25 Apr. 1786: This Day is published The Fool (1s.)-Receipts: #174 15s. 6d. (45/3/0; 20/14/6; 0/2/0; tickets: 108/16/0) (charge: #108 13s. 9d.)

Event Comment: The Earl of Warwick deferred. Mrs Yates Ill. Paid Mr Wynn for leases #3 13s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). [The lawyer who drew them.] This Day Publish'd The Rational Rosciad, on a more extensive plan than anything of the kind hitherto publish'd Price 1s. 6d. Receipts: #144 3s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: [The Duke's Company. For Harris' role, see Pepys, 11 May 1668. For Angel as Stephano, see An Elegy Upon...Mr Edward Angell, reprinted in A Little Ark, pp. 38-39: @Who shall play Stephano now? your Tempest's gone@To raise new Storms i' th' hearts of every one.@ For Underhill as Trincalo, note his nickname of Prince Trincalo. (For Mary Davis as Ariel and Mrs Long as Hypolito, see J. H. Wilson, All the King's Ladies, pp. 140, 166.) Downes (Roscius Anglicanus, p. 33): The Tempest...Acted in Lincolns-Inn-Fields...alter'd by Sir William Davenant and Mr Dryden before 'twas made into an Opera. Pepys, Diary: At noon resolved with Sir W. Pen to go see The Tempest, an old play of Shakespeare's, acted, I hear, the first day; and so my wife, and girl, and W. Hewer by themselves, and Sir W. Pen and I afterwards by ourselves; and forced to sit in the side balcone over against the musique-room at the Duke's house, close by my Lady Dorset and a great many great ones. The house mighty full; the King and Court there: and the most innocent play that ever I saw; and a curious piece of musique in an echo of half sentences, the echo repeating the former half, while the man goes on the latter, which is mighty pretty. The play [has] no great wit, but yet good, above ordinary plays. Thence home with Sir W. Pen, and there all mightily pleased with the play

Event Comment: Benefit for Dunstall. Afterpiece: A Burlesque traged)'by Colley Cibber. Not acted in 20 years

Event Comment: The New Tragedy is deferr'd on account of Mrs Cibber's illness. Receipts: #80 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Buck, Crudge, Plummer. Tickets deliver'd out by Mrs Gould, Mrs Gwinn, &c. will be taken

Event Comment: LLondon Evening Post, 1 Jan. 1737: Last Night the Beggar's Opera (about the Playing of which, as much Noise has been made, as about several of our Modern Treaties) was perform'd...to a crowded Audience; the House being full by Four. There was a prodigious uproar, with Clappin, Hissing, Catcalls, &c. Mrs Clive, who play'd the Part of Polly, when she came forward, address'd herself to the House, saying, Gentlemen, I am very sorry it should be thought I have in any Manner been the Occasion of the least Disturbance; and then cry'd in so moving a Manner, that even Butchers wept. The she told them, She was almost ready with the Part of Lucy, and at all Times shou'd be willing to play such Parts as the Town should direct, and desir's to know if they were willing she should go on with the Part of Polly; she behaving in so humble a Manner, the House approv'd of her Behavious by a general Clap. [For Occasional Prompter XI, see Daily Journal, 31 Dec.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: by Shakespeare, in 5 acts. With New Music, Scenes, Dresses and Decorations. Public Advertiser, 6 Jan.: The Shipwreck, which opened the Piece, was designed and executed under the Direction of DeLoutherbourg. The new Airs and Chorusses are composed by Linley Jun. The Musical Instrument (played behind the Scenes) is the Invention of Merlin. Morning Chronicle, 6 Jan.: Caliban is by much the best performed character in the piece... The dresses were rich, but to our amazement those of Ferdinand, Sebastian, &c. were in the Spanish taste. [Ibid., 8 Jan., remarks that the entire omission of I. i is to be regretted. Miss Field and Mrs Cuyler are identified by MS annotations on Kemble playbill.] Receipts: #231 9s. 6d. (211.19.0; 17.5.6; 2.5.0)

Event Comment: NNeville MS Diary: Went to ye Pit to see ye Beggar's Opera-oblig'd to stand till ye play was over-Read some parts of ye Opera which I borrowed at Davies's, before it began and between the acts. Barry is a good Macheath, but most persons who have seen him when young observe that he has not ye activity and fire he then had. He sings tolerably as does Mrs Dancer; but both are greatest in ye acting part. Mrs D. is ye best Polly I ever saw, having that sensibility which your mere singing Pollys generally want. Mrs Mahon did Lucy with great ease and propriety, and has a good deal of expression in her countenance. Thomson has a force and mellowness of voice very suitable to ye character of Lockit. I do not think Weston excels in Filch. Shuter raised vast applause by adding, after Trapes has said "done under the Surgeon's hand'--"Oh dreadful and in such weather too!" Bannister in Mat added--"Die hard"--and Palmer in Budge--"Die game--" Mrs Slam is new. We had at ye end of Act 2 the Fing., of Act 3 a New Hornpipe, and at ye end of ye Opera the H. Peasant by $Miss Froment">Mrs Gardner's pretending to get drunk in Mrs Slam is new. We had at ye end of Act 2 the Fing., of Act 3 a New Hornpipe, and at ye end of ye Opera the H. Peasant by $Miss Froment, with Duke and No Duke-of which I am tired

Event Comment: Account-Book: Paid Mrs Booth, washing bill, #1 14s. 7d. Receipts: #283 3s. (188.19; 94.1; 0.3)

Event Comment: By Permission of the Right Hon. the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for Mrs Pinto, formerly Miss Brett [recte Brent]. Afterpiece: With an additional scene, written by the author of the farce [Isaac Jackman], never performed in London. The Doors to be opened at 5:00. To begin precisely at 6:30. Tickets to be had of Mrs Pinto at Mrs Golden's, milliner, Blackmoor-street, Clare-market

Event Comment: Mainpiece: At the Particular Desire of several persons of Quality. [Mrs Macklin doubled in Mrs Peachum and Diana Trapes.] Afterpiece: Containing his Surprizing Victory over Glumdalca, Queen of the Giants; His Magnificent reception in King Arthur's Courtv; His Marriage with the Princess Huncamunca; With the fatal Jealousy of Queen Dollalolla. And many other Historical Passages