Event Comment: This play is alter'd by Mr Cumberland was very well receiv'd Mr & Mrs Barry play'd very well Alcibiades was perform'd by Mr Crofts being his first appearance upon any Stage bad figure bad voice & Play'd bad (Hopkins Diary). New Scenes, Decorations &c. Mr Crofts-a stationer in the Temple (Winston MS 10). Theatrical Review, 4 Dec.: We think ourselves oblig'd to declare that this gentleman (Crofts), by no means answered the expectations we had formed, from the accounts we had heard of him.--His voice is not bad, though it is not much above the level of common conservation; --his deportment is aukward and void of grace to an extreme; and he labors under the disadvantage of having a face destitute of expression. His gestures are extremely ungraceful, and the whole of his execution is glaringly untutored, and misconceived. His persons is very ill formed, and therefore it makes greatly against him, especially as he is the representative of Alcibiades, who was the handsomest man in all Athens, and we never remember any one's attempting to set out as a capital performer with so few requisites for the support of such an undertaking as this gentleman appears to have. Paid Dr Nares & Mr Cooke's 8 boys in the Garter, 12 nights (30th ult. incl.) #36; Master Brown 7 nights (2nd inst. incl.) #2 12s 6d.; Licence for Timon, #2 2s. (Treasurer's Book). [Larpent MS 328 of Cumberland's Timon, is one of the earliest to include scenic descriptions: "A Hall in Timon's House. The Flat Scene represents stately Folding Doors. Scene two, the Back scene is hastily drawn back and discovers a magnificent Levee Room or Salon. &c."] Receipts: #243 1s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: By Desire. The New Tragedy of Zobeide deferr'd on account of Indisposition of Mrs Yates. Zobeide publish'd at 1s. 6d. (Winston MS 10). Paid Younger #2 2s. for license for Zobeide. Advanc'd Cushing as per note #37 10s., and Gardner #30 (Account Book). Receipts: #148 10s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not Acted these 2 Years. [See 6 May 1771.] Paid Mrs Yates, the Balance of the Author's 3 Nights of Zobeide #237 19s. Paid one year's Rector's Rate for theatre due Xmas last #8 15s.; and Watch rate #17 10s. Paid one year's Rector's rate for House in Bow Passage 6s. 3d.; and watch for same 12s. 6d. Paid Mrs Keys for a gold and silver sack coat #14 14s. (Account Book). Receipts: #148 19s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for King. Part of Pit laid into Boxes. Paid Tallow Chandler's 6th bill #30 17s. 4d.; Mrs Bowness for women's cloaths #10 10s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #260 19s. 6d. Charges: #65 13s. Profit to King: #195 6s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mr Garrick Bays 1st time these four years Very fine House (Hopkins Diary). Mrs King many years actress and dancer will leave the stage at her Benefit. Garrick [will] play for her (Winston MS 10). Paid Marshall & Co. (plumbers) #11 9s. 6d.; Mr Racket (taylor) #20 6d.; Mr Hatsell (mercer) #29 6d.; Mr Ireland (upholsterer) #34 7s.; Barrow & Co (oil merchants) #88 10s.; Printer's Bill #8 12s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #280 6s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Egerton. Afterpiece: Not acted in 3 years. [See 3 April 1769.] [Genest in Volume of News Clippings (Harvard Library) quotes Edinburg Evening Courant of 29 April: Last night between the play and the farce at Drury Lane Theatre, a disturbance arose which continued for a full hour. Mr Weston it appeared was in debt to the managers a considerable sum of money, on which account they had impounded all the cash received on his benefit night. This the comedian did not like, and therefore yesterday evening sent word that he could not play, that he was arrested and detained in a springing house, but desired that no apology should be made of his being 'suddenly ill' (the usual stage plea) as it would be an egregious falsehood. After the play Mr Vernon came forward and inform'd the audience that Mr Weston 'was suddenly taken ill' and could not perform. Weston instantly started up in the front of the upper Gallery, and inform'd the house that he was not ill, but in the custody of an officer, and if the audience would have patience he'd inform them of the whole affair. A long altercation ensued. The Managers sent on Mr Vernon repeatedly; and after much pro and con Weston came down and played his part of Sneak." The article must have referred to the 24th of April, when Weston play'd Sneak in The Mayor of Garratt. The Managers promis'd the Town a publication of the whole affair."] Paid Mr Brathwait for men's cloaths #33s. Receipts: #200 8s. Charges: #70 12s. Profit to Mrs Egerton: #129 16s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Fitzgerald. Paid 2 extra hautboys in Rehearsal 31 March, 10s.; 8 extra trumpets in The Garter 4th March, #3. Receipts: #66 19s. 6d. Charges: #70 8s. 6d. Deficit to Mrs Fitzgerald: #3 9s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mr G very fine-Voice clear to the last great Applause. House (Hopkins Diary). Ladies and Gentlemen requested to come early to prevent confusion. Rec'd Stopages #6 5s. 6d.; from Mr Clutterbuck #100; Paid salary list #494 18s. 6d.; Mrs Abington's cloaths acct #2; Mr S. French #1 10s.; Signora Vidini, 1 day in full of this season 16s. 8d. Receipts: #268 8s. 6d. (Treasurer#s Book)

Event Comment: The House Open'd September. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places at Stage Door from Johnson No money taken at Stage Door or after the curtain is drawn up. Doors to open at 5 p.m. To begin at 6 p.m. [Repeated in all Season's bills.] Rec'd from Mrs Groath 1 year's rent to Xmas last, #3; Paid Supernumaries & Kettle Drum #2 8s. Taylor's Bill #1 #10 11s. 1d.; Carpenters #10 2s. (Treasurer's Book). [These payments were constant during the season. The weekly average and season totals will be set forth as follows and no further itemization will be made.] @Item Weekly Average Season Total@Supers & K. Drum #13 13s. #477@Taylor #7 #250@Carpenter #7 #250@ Receipts: #156 15s. 6d

Event Comment: The Farce was Much Applauded Mrs Barry play better than the Night before (Hopkins Diary). Paid 6 day's salary list at #85 7s. 11d. per diem, #512 7s. 6d.; Mr French on Acct #5 5s.; Rec'd Stopages #18 10s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #177 5s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Miss Biddy by Miss Jarratt (an apprentice to Mr Jefferson) a pretty little figure & met with Applause. Not much of an Actress (Hopkins Diary). [Macmillan note from Kemble differs slightly.] Paid Mr L. Frederick for sattin, #57 18s. 6d.; Mrs Sykes for women's cloaths #13; Mr Vernon on note #9 9s. (Treasurer's Book). [Reviewer for Town and Country Magazine (Treatre, XL) writes of Miss Jarratt, she has been under the tuition of Mr Jefferson and promises to be become an agreeable actress in parts (such as Biddy").] Receipts: #224 11s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: With the Stockwell Scenes. [For Stockwell Scenes, see 2 Nov.] Paid Frederick for Sattin #9 11s. 11d., Mrs Gisbitysky for a Lady's white and gold suit of cloaths #9 9s., and Mrs Barbaroux for gilt lea[the]r as per bill #2 9s. (Account Book). Receipts: #185 19s

Event Comment: Paid Mr Weston per Mr G. Garrick's 3 notes #19 11s. 6d.; Mrs Robinson in full of salary #32. Receipts: #218 16s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mr Aickin, Evander well receiv'd (Hopkins Diary). Benefit for Mrs Barry. Pit and Boxes laid together. Send servants by 4 o'clock. Othello and Irish Widow deferr'd, for Barry's Illness. Paid salary list (4 days) #348 5s.; Mr Lutherberg on Acct, #80; Mr J. French's Draft on the managers, #50 (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #281 18s. 6d. Charges: #65 19s. Profits to Mrs Barry: #215 19s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr Vernon. Rec'd Mrs Heath's one yrs. rent to Xmas last #10. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #196 16s. Charges: #64 19s. Profits to Vernon: #131 17s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Smith. Paid one year's Watch Rate, St Martin's to 14 Feb. last #10 13s.; Chorus 2 nights (this incl.) #5 1s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #217 19s.6d. Charges: #70 9s. Profits to Mrs Smith: #147 10s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A new Comedy [by Francis Gentleman, first perform'd at Chester, 1760 (Biographia Dramatica)]. By Permission. Benefit for Mrs Williams. Note: For performances at dl and cg 18 and 20 September, see Season of 1773-1774, p. 1745

Event Comment: Mainpiece by Command. Mrs Jefferson made her first appearance upon this Stage in Miss Grantham a Small figure not Handsome no Spirit & not at all like the Character. Some applause (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly in wording.] Masque of Alfred oblig'd to be deferr'd till Saturday next. Paid Mr Nicoll for lines #10 (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #230 14s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid Mrs Rich andCo. one year's rent for House in Bow Passage due Mich. last #40. Receipts: #140 11s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Waldron and Dimond. Rec'd stopages #15 16s. Paid salary list #525 12s.; Mr King's extra salary #3; Mrs Canning in full of salary not on list (10 Guineas paid 20 Nov. last deducted)-#32 10s.; Mr G. Garrick on Acct in full for this season #50; Mr J. French ditto #5 5s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #188 11s. 6d. Charges: #64 11s. Profits to Waldron & Dimond: #124 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: [The 1st appearance note seems to apply only to Miss Macklin and Mrs Melmoth.] The Characters dressed in the Habits of the Times

Event Comment: [The Gentleman who played Hamlet identified by Winston MS 11 (from O. Smith) as Lewis Hallam, from America, brother to Mrs Mattocks.

Event Comment: Matilda deferr'd Reddish Ill. Matilda was advertis'd for this Night but Mr Reddish came Yesterday as Mad as a March Hare, Said he had all the Terrors of the Damn'd upon him, & that he had not had a Wink of Sleep all Night. Call'd the Great Gods & the dear Woman (Mrs Canning) that lay by his Side to Witness the Truth of this Assertion & behav'd like a Man in Despair (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble delicately omits reference to Mrs Canning.] Paid salary list 4 day #378 10s. 8d.; J. French on acct #5 5s.; Mr. J. Johnston Music bill #10 1s. Receipts: #180 3s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: The Tragedy of Jane Shore oblig'd to be deferr'd on account of the sudden indisposition of Mrs Barry