Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Yates. Mainpiece: A Tragedy (Written by Voltaire) and translated by [Dr Thomas Francklin] the Author of The Earl of Warwick. Pit and Boxes will be laid together. Ladies are desired to send their servants by 4 o'clock. Mrs Yates will be particularly oblig'd to those Ladies, and Gentlemen, who have seats in the Pit, if they will be co kind as to come as early as possible to prevent confusion in getting their places. [Genest V, 242, conjectures the following assignment of parts: Orestes-Smith; Aegisthus-Bensley; Pammenes-Clarke; Pylades-Perry; Electra-Mrs Yates; Clytemnestra-Mrs Ward; Iphisa-Mrs Bulkley.] Charges #65 7s. 6d. Balance to Mrs Yates #39 1s. plus #180 10s. from 722 Box tickets (Account Book). Total House value #284 18s. 6d. Receipts: #104 8s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Prologue by Garrick; Epilogue by Cumberland, spoken by Foote and Mrs Jewell. A Comedy Never performed [by Foote]. [Audience included Dr Johnson, Mr Colman, Mr Garrick, Dr Goldsmith, Mr Macpherson, Mr Stevens, Sir Joshua Reynolds, Lord Littleton....So much applause that the audience stopped the play and required one speech repeated (Theatrical Intelligencer).

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Martyr. Public Advertiser, 7 May: Tickets to be had of Mrs Martyr, No. 32, St. Martin's-strcet, Leicester-fields. 1st piece [1st time; CO 2, by Horatio Edgar Robson. MS: Larpent 657; not published. Composer of music unknown]: The Music partly new and partly compiled. With a New Overture. Receipts: #181 i5s. (99/16; tickets: 81/19) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: 7th Time [i.e. in continuation of the reckoning for the previous season. Mrs Rivers was from cg]

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Bannister. 2nd piece [1st time; SAT 1, author unknown. Larpent MS 877; not published. Author of Prologue unknown]. [Monologue by George Colman, ynger (European Magazine, Aug. 1790, p. 151.] Gazetteer, 7 Aug.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Bannister, No. 2, Frith-street, Soho

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill retains Mrs Mattocks, but "Mrs Davenport undertook the part of Mrs Fancourt at a very short notice, on account of the sudden indisposition of Mrs Mattocks" (Morning Herald, 9 Dec.).] Receipts: #254 1s. (252.1; 2.0)

Event Comment: The United Company. The date of the premiere is not certain, but the fact that a song in the play, composed by Henry Purcell and sung by Mrs Hudson, is in the Gentleman's Journal, January@February 1693@4 (advertised in the London Gazette, No 2955, 5-8 Marcn 1693@4) suggests that the play had its premiere in February. The play was advertised in the London Gazette, No 2959, 19-22 March 1693@4. The music for additional songs was composed by Henry Purcell: The danger is over, sung by Mrs Hudson, is in Joyful Cuckoldom, ca. 1695; I sighed and owned my love, sung by Mrs Ayliff, is in Thesaurus Musicus, Book III, 1695. See also Purcell's Works, Purcell Society, XX (1916), i-iii. Two songs were composed by John Eccles: Still, I'm grieving, sung by Mrs Bracegirdle; and Give then royal maid your sorrows o're, sung by Mrs Cibber, are in Thesaurus Musicus, 1695. Gentleman's Journal, March 1694 (advertised in London Gazette, No 2964,5-9 April 1694): Mr Southern's new Play call'd The Fatal Marriage; or, The Innocent Adultery, has been so kindly receiv'd, that you are by this time no stranger to its merit. As the world has done it justice, and it is above my praise, I need not expatiate on that subject. [See also 22 March 1693@4.

Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the premiere is not known, but the second edition (1700) states: The first appearance of this Play was on a Wednesday in Lent; for then (it seems) the Town look for a bad Entertainment. [As the play was advertised in the Flying Post, 2 April 1700, the first performance probably occurred in early March.] A Prologue by Sir Charles Sedley which may have been intended for this play is in Sedley's Works, ed. V. de Sola Pinto (London, 1928), I, 46-47, 288-89. A song in this play, separately printed ca. 1700, indicates that the music was composed by Daniel Purcell and that the song was sung by Mrs Erwin

Event Comment: Mainpiece: [By Mrs Eliza Haywood.] By Reason of the Indisposition of an Actress, the Part of the Wife is to be perform'd by Mrs Haywood, the Author. Afterpiece (Daily Post, 10 Aug.): A new Dramatic Entertainment...design'd by Mr Theo. Cibber, with new Music compos'd and adapt'd by Mr Jones, which proper Judges allow to be the best of the kind now extant

Event Comment: [Benefit on one-half value of tickets basis to nine ticket holders. The General Advertiser notice lists beneficiaries as Harrington (Prompter); Stede, Carr, Mrs Bland, Mrs Rowley.] Tickets deliver'd by Mrs Daniel, Mrs Dumont, &c will be taken. /For Box Pit Gallery Value Half-Value/Harrington 7 29 22 #8 6s. #4 3s./Stede 7 52 59 #15 9s. #7 14s. 6d./Carr 6 53 46 #14 1s. #7 0s. 6d./Mrs Rowley 27 77 44 #22 14s. #11 7s./Mrs Dumont 36 31 32 #16 17s. #8 8s. 6d./Mrs Bland 9 56 91 #19 15s. #9 17s. 6d./Mrs Dupre 5 33 42 #10 8s. #5 4s./Mrs Daniel .. 45 109 #17 13s. #8 16s. 6d./Mrs Hitchcock 34 58 31 #20 6s. ........./Totals 131 434 476 #145 9s. #62 11s. 6d./ [Mrs Hitchcock seems to have received the full value of her tickets.] This Day is Publish'd A Treatis on the Passions so far as they regard the stage, with a critical inquiry into the Theatrical Merit of Mr G k, Mr Q n, and Mr B y, the first considered in the part of Lear, the last two oppos'd in Othello. By S. Foote, Esq

Event Comment: Benefit for Legg, Mrs Lampe, Mrs Jones. Afterpiece: For the last time this season. Tickets deliver'd for Hamlet will be taken. The Dragon of Wantly cannot be perform'd on account of indisposition of Mrs Pinto. Charges #67 9s. 6d. [Profit to each beneficiary #2 19s. 6d. plus income from tickets: Legg #84 2s. (Box 129; Pit 251; Gallery 142); Mrs Lampe and Mrs Jones combined #74 15s. (Box 102; Pit 219; Gallery 164).] Paid Bryan a bill for writing parts #1 1s. 6d. Paid Cooper (printer) #27 2s. Paid Condell for Coach hire, the last command by order of Mr Beard 2s. (Account Book). Before 5 went to ye Play...It was played tolerably well; Cleopatra very well by Mrs Bellamy, Octavia (for ye 1st time) by Mrs Mattocks, Antony by Smith, Vent. by Gibson not badly. We had ye Dances, Rural Love and ye Wapping Landlady (Neville MS Diary). Receipts: #76 8s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: [Alter'd from +Lionel and Clarissa. Mrs Wrighten made her first appearance in the Stage in Diana. A very fine Voice--Aukward & Clumsy figure--Well faced (Hopkins Diary). Mrs Wrighten's first Appearance (Cross Diary). New Scenes, Dresses and Decorations. Greater part of the Music entirely New (playbill)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; BO 3]: Being the Sequel to The Beggar's Opera, Written by Gay, with Alterations [by George Colman elder; the overture (a compilation of airs from The Beggar's Opera) and 6 new airs by Samuel Arnold]. Books of the Opera to be had at the Theatre. [Mrs Colles is identified on playbill of 9 July.] Public Advertiser, 20 June: This Day is published Polly (1s.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Bradshaw, Mrs Love, Mrs Booth & Miss Field. Mainpiece: With the Grand Triumphal Entryv. Afterpiece: View of the Grand Campv as 6 Nov. 1779. Tickets delivered by Collins will be taken. Public Advertiser, 4 May: Tickets to be had of Mrs Bradshaw at Nichole's, baker, Bridges Street; of Mrs Love at Mrs Baker's, Gerrard-street; of Mrs Booth and Miss Field, No. 10, corner of Martlet Court, Bow-street, Covent Garden. Receipts: #201 6s. (41.13.0; 15.8.6; 3.0.6; tickets: 141.4.0) (charge: #93 7s. 10d.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Altered from [The Scornful Lady, by] Beaumont and Fletcher [1st time; c 5, by William Cooke; incidental music by Michael Arne. Prologue by the alterer. Epilogue by George Colman, the elder (see text)]. Public Advertiser, 27 Jan. 1783: Wednesday Morning [29 Jan.] will be published The Capricious Lady (price not listed). "The costume of James's reign was strictly attended to in the dresses of the characters; and I remember the enjoyment of Mrs Abington, in a high ruff and a rich silver silk edged with black velvet" (Boaden, Siddom, I, 371). Receipts: #228 4s. 6d. (218/10/6; 9/14/0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Mattocks. Tickets delivered for the 24th of April will be taken. Public Advertiser, 16 Apr.: Tickets [for 24 Apr.] to be had of Mrs Mattocks, No. 7, King-street, Covent Garden. Mainpiece: Written by Richard Steele. 3rd piece [1st time; ENT I, author unknown. Larpent MS 830; not published]. Receipts: #253 17s. 6d. (159.12.0; 8.9.6; tickets: 85.16.0)

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. The date of the first performance is not known. Luttrell, however, dated the copy he purchased 6 July 1680 (VanLennep, Two Restoration Comedies, pp. 57-58) and attributed it to Mrs Aphra Behn. If copies were available in early July, the play was most probably performed in June 1680. Langbaine (English Dramatick Poets, p. 547) had heard that Mrs Behn was the author, but A Comparison between the Two Stages (p. 11) attributed it to Thomas Betterton. For a discussion of the authorship, see also Ten English Farces, ed. Leo Hughes and A. H. Scouten (Austin, Texas, 1948), pp. 203-4

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Nokes

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Hamilton, and the Little Chimney-Sweepers, her Sons. At the Desire of several Ladies of Quality

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Mills. At the particular Desire of several Ladies of Quality. [Part of the Stage will be formed into Side-Boxes.

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Woffington. Six rows of the pit will be laid into the Boxes, and Boxes will be built on stage. Tickets of Hobson at the stage door

Event Comment: A Concert, etc. As translated into French from The Beggar's Opera. [According to the Daily Advertiser of 17 Feb. the play was performed. N.B. Mrs Knight played three parts.

Event Comment: A New Pantomime of Mr Messinks went off with great Applause (Hopkins Diary). Music By Dibdin. New Scenes, Habits, and Machines. Nothing under Full Prices will be taken. [Repeated.] Paid 4 days salary list at #85 12s. 11d., #342 11s. 8d.; Miss Mansell on acct #5 5s.; Mr Clinch ditto, #6 6s.; Dr Arne for Mrs Bradley 2 nights per order #5 5s.; Stopages nil (Treasurer's Book). [Full description of the New Pantomime is given in the Westminster Magazine (January 1773): Harlequin born to the Pigmies comes to manhood, gets a job from the Register Office in a Nobleman's family where he meets Colombine. They love, and elope, a chase ensues through several noted places in London, which are detailed in the review. The union of the lovers is finally consended to, and all closes with dancing. "Some of the paintings in the scenery are well executed; and the generality of Mr Dibdin's music deserves equal praise." In it Mrs Wrighten gives a ludicrous imitation of Miss Catley's manner of singing. The reviewer's general thesis about the London stage of this period, given first in the preliminary number, 1 Jan. 1773 continues: "The Stage seems now buried in universal darkness...The Publick for several weeks, has been fed with the lean carcass of two villainous pantomimes."] Receipts: #162 13s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Bulkley. Mainpiece: A New Comedy [by a Lady] never perform'd in this Kingdom. As performed with Universal Applause at the Theatre Royal in Dublin. [The Edition of 1774 lists the Irish Actors. The characters are: Mowbray, Sir Thomas O'Shaughnesy; Admiral Swivel; Leslie; Egerton; Capt. Egerton; Issacher; Donald M'Pherson; Strap; Elfrida Audley; Henrietta Egerton; Mrs Ornel; Mrs Issacher; Jenny, a Mantua Maker, a Maid; French servants and porters. Genest suggests a casting for ten of the characters.] Charges: #66 6s. 6d. Profit to Mrs Bulkley #33 17s., plus #93 13s. from tickets Box 232; Pit 177; Gallery 91). Paid Mrs Carne half year' salary due Lady day last #15. Paid half year's water rent due Xmas last #4. Receipts: #100 3s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 3, by Sarah Gardner. Prologue by the author (London Chronicle, 11 Aug.). Larpent MS 435; not published; synopsis of plot in London Magazine, Aug. 1777, p. 433. For a description of the difficulties attending the reception of this play, from a recently discovered MS by Mrs Gardner, see Theatre Notebook, VII, 76-81]