Event Comment: MMiss Williams made her first appearance this Night in Polly. Spoke some of the part tolerably well, wants power in her singing (Hopkins). Polly by Miss Williams. Great Applause (Cross Diary). Miss Williams made her first appearance this night in Polly--a Lady, I think, that has but few requisites for the stage--a very indifferent voice spoke some of the part tolerable,--some few hisses (Hopkins Diary--MacMillan). Receipts: #256 9s. 6d. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: This Night is for the Author of the Farce. There being a Command on the 6th Night was the Reason of its being deferr'd so long (Hopkins). Author of Farce (Cross Diary). Receipts: #64 4s. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: This Farce is taken From the Midsummer Night's Dream, by Coleman, & is a very pleasing Farce, & well receiv'd by the Audience (Hopkins). Songs of the Entertainment to be given at theatre. Mdsr Night's Dream Cut. Serious parts quite out. Went off well (Cross Diary). This Farce is taken from The Midsummer Night.-Mr Colman thought it was a pity so much pains and expense as was bestowed on the Midsummer Night's Dream should be thrown away,-he luckily thought of turning it into a farce, which alteration he made in one night,-and now I think as pleasing a farce as most that are done.-Miss Wright? is vastly great in her songs (Hopkins Diary-MacMillan). [See "A Midsummer Night's Dream in the hands of Garrick and Colman," PMLA, June 1939.

Event Comment: MMr Foote's Night as Author (Hopkins). Foote (Cross Diary). The New Comedy, The Dupe, deferred until Saturday. Receipts: #108 7s. 6d.; charges: #84. [Profits to auth. #24 7s. 6d. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: The Author's Night A very bad House much hissing & Groaning but got thro' & the play was not given out again (Hopkins). Author...Greatly Hiss'd, but play'd out (Cross Diary). A very bad house-much hissing and groaning, but got thro' and was not given out again (Hopkins Diary-MacMillan). Tomorrow The Conscious Lovers and High Life Below Stairs for the benefit of a Public Charity. Receipts: #55 5s. 6d. (MacMillan). [Charges?]

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Mr Love & Mr Sanderson's Night. as Authors of ye Pantomime (Hopkins). Benefit for Compo[ser]s Panto (Cross Diary). Mr Powell played much better than the first night. Princess Augusta married to the Hereditary Prince of Brunswick (Hopkins Diary-MacMillan). Receipts: #233 8s. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: This night a new Occasional Interlude call'd Hymen was introduc'd between the Acts; but not put in the Bills (Hopkins). [For cast, see 21 Jan.] An occasional Interlude on the Marriage of Princess Augusta to Prince of Brunswick call'd Hymen (Cross Diary). This night a new occasional Interlude called Hymen, but not in the bills. Hymen was written by Mr Allen (Hopkins Diary-MacMillan). [The Larpent MS 217 lists four characters and a Chorus: Hymen, Cupid, Venus, Mars, Chorus. The words of the Songs by Cupid, Hymen and Venus were published in the Public Advertiser, 23 Jan.] Receipts: #122 5s. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. The great concourse of people at this theatre before the usual time of opening the doors, having been so great as to overpower the persons who were placed to receive the tickets; and as many were forced into the Theatre without an opportunity of paying for their admittance, Mr Giardini is under the greatest concern lest offence should be taken by those not being able to get in, who had sent for tickets to this office. He has given orders that those tickets shall be admitted tomorrow, as the opera of Siroe (by particular desire) is to be performed (Public Advertiser, 23 Jan.). [Pickpockets, including one former soldier, took three diamond earrings, and one hair-ornament set with brilliants, from members of the audience on this night (Daily Advertiser). Found, a new Silver Sword in the Opera House Lobby on S. 21 Jan.; the Owner, by describing the Sword-Knot, may, on applying to the Orange-Woman at the House, have it restored (Daily Advertiser, 24 Jan.).] Lost on going to the Opera a Brilliant Diamond Cross composed of nine brilliants, by Lord Conyngham. Reward of 10 Guineas for Return (Public Advertiser, 23 Jan.)

Event Comment: This Night a New Song was Introduc'd in the Pantomime upon the Prs Augusta's leaving England (well receiv'd) (Hopkins). New occasional Song in the Pant (Cross Diary). Receipts: #208 11s. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: By Command King & Queen (Cross Diary). Hymen was perform'd but not put in the Bills (Hopkins). [For Hymen, see 23 Jan.] Receipts: #262 6s. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: HHamlet, Mr Garrick (Cross Diary). Hamlet-Holland (Winston MS 10 and playbill). The Revenge deferred. Reddish ill

Event Comment: [Messrs Vincent and Gordon beg the Nobility and Gentry that intend honouring them with their protection the ensuing season of Opera will pay their subscriptions to Messrs Drummonds, Bankers, Charing Cross. The subscription is for 50 nights only. A letter from Timotheus in the Public Advertiser: "I repeatedly see in your paper an advertisement from the managers of the opera to solicit subscriptions from the Nobility and Gentry to enable them to carry it on. Surely, from the specimin they have already given us of their performance in the serious way, never had managers less claim to the countenance and favour of the public. In the whole company but one voice, and that just tolerable and no more; compared indeed to the rest a nightengale. Then, Sir, for their dancers, they seem so perfectly so well suited to the singers, that 't is difficult to pronounce to which of them the palm should be allotted. For the Figurers, one only excepted, they seem in that article to have paid a due attention to their want of every Talent requisite, by reducing them to so small a number that they look like so many mice scudding about an empty barn. In short, Singers, Dancers, Figurers, Cloaths, Decorations, etc., etc., are all so much of a piece, that if the directors either can't or won't engage better performers, the sooner an end is put to the exhibition of Operas the better it will be." See comment in reply, 8 Nov.

Event Comment: [N.B. The Cross Diary lists Wit's Last Stake as afterpiece, but playbill seems to be correct in listing The Padlock.

Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. K. & Q.; Kitley, Mr Garrick (Cross Diary)

Event Comment: Benefit for Steevens. Othello Advertis'd. Deferr'd. Mr Barry Ill (Cross Diary)

Event Comment: By Command. K. & Q. (Cross Diary)

Event Comment: MMr Holland Dyed this Morning (Cross Diary). [Born 1733 came to dl 1755 (Winston MS 10).

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Felix-Mr Garrick (Cross Diary)

Event Comment: KKing Henry, Mr Garrick (Cross Diary)

Event Comment: KKing Henry, Mr Garrick (Cross Diary)

Event Comment: DDrugger, Mr Garrick (Cross Diary)

Event Comment: Benefit for the Author of Lionel (Cross Diary). Mainpiece: By Particular Desire

Event Comment: Bills were put up for a Word to the Wise. As soon as the Curtain was drawn up a great hissing Mr Garrick went on the Stage Several Plays were propos'd to be done but Mr Kelly's Party would have none but a Word to the Wise & the other Party would not Consent, Mr Garrick offer'd to play himself but that would not satisfy them. at Length the House was dismiss'd about Nine O'Clock (Hopkins Diary). A Word to the Wise, Damn'd (Cross Diary). We stayed from 6 to past 10 in which time Garrick came out 6 or 7 times and talked to the audience, tho' often 5 or 6 minutes before he could be heard. Once he said the author was willing to withdraw his play, but then the party for Kelly [opposed by the Wilkesites] said he had no right to do so: they insisted on the play, the other that it should not be, etc.; the same about what play to be given out, one party calling for the new play and the other against it. When King came on, being called to speak the prologue, the hubbub forced him back, and one or two oranges struck him. The people came away in great numbers after ten and we amongst the rest, and had our money returned. Parson Horne [Horne Tooke] there but did not interfere, tho'at the bottom of it (John Baker, Diary, p. 189)

Event Comment: LLear. Mr Garrick (Cross Diary)

Event Comment: OOde, Mr Garrick (Cross Diary)