Event Comment: The Duke's Company. The date of the first production is not certain, particularly since an entry in L. C. 5@145, p. 120 (see also Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 349) lists this play for 8 March, the year uncertain. Since the entry follows one for The Souldier's Fortune which followed the premiere of The Female Prelate, 31 May 1680, the L. C. entry probably is one for 8 March 1680@1. That the premiere occurred near 1 Nov. 1680 is suggested by a letter of Anne Montague to Lady Hatton, 1 Nov. 1680: For I never see the towne fuller, for I was to see the new play, The Spanish Frier, and there was all the world, but the Court is a letell dull yet; the Queen being sick, there is noe drawing room (Hatton Correspondence, Camden Society, XXII [1878], 240). A song, Farewell ungratefull Traytor, with music by Captain Pack and sung by Mrs Crofts, is in Act V. For Leigh's and Nokes' acting, see Cibber, Apology, ed. Lowe, I, 143, 145-46. Downes (Roscius Anglicanus, p. 37): 'Twas Admirably Acted, and produc'd vast Profit to the Company

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of the first performance is not certain, but contemporary sources refer to the fact that William Smith, who died in the last week of December, fell ill on the fourth day of its run; hence, it probably was first presented in mid-December. One song, O take him gently from the pile, set by John Eccles and sung by Mrs Bracegirdle, is in Deliciae Musicae, The Fourth Book, 1696. Downes, Roscius Anglicanus, p. 44: The Grand Cyrus, wrote by Mr Banks; it was a good Play; but Mr Smith, having a long part in it, fell Sick upon the Fourth Day and Dy'd, upon that it lay by, and ne'er have bin Acted since. Gildon, English Dramatick Poets, p. 6: Tho' this Play had been formerly refus'd the Action, yet it held up its Head about Six Days together, and has been since Acted several Times. A Comparison Between the Two Stages: Sullen, p. 16: Banks's, which the Players damn'd and wou'd not Act of a great while, but at length it was acted, and damn'd then in manner and form

Event Comment: The Provoked Husband and Rival Candidates was given out for Tuesday. On Sunday Morning Mrs Yates sent word she was ill and could not play--sent to Miss Younge, and she sent word that she was ill in bed--King sent word he had a sore Throat, and could not play--so that we could do no Play but the Committee and Rival Candidates. On Monday the Managers met, but nothing was settled. At twelve o'clock Mrs Baddeley sent word she had a sore Throat, and could not play in the Riv[al] Can[didates] (Hopkins Diary). The Hypocrite and The Christmas Tale are obliged to be deferred. "[Smith] has a good figure, is gentlemanlike, and decent in everything he undertakes. When we allow that, we have said all; he wants both feeling to be affected, and powers to convey his feelings, if he had them. In fine, in spite of all the partiality of his friends, or the ignorant prejudices of those who never judge but at second hand, his performance of Richard was little more than a strong union of judgement and industry, unaided by nature. He should woo genteel Comedy oftener; and not that coy sister of hers, who certainly holds Smith at the point of her lance" (London Magazine, Oct. 1776, p. 511). Receipts: #186 18s. 6d

Event Comment: I Went With Mallet to breakfast with Garrick; and from thence to Drury-Lane house, where I assisted at a very Private rehearsal, in the Green-room, of a new tragedy of Mallet's, called Elvira. As I have since seen it acted, I shall defer my opinion of it till then; but I can't help mentioning here the surprising versatility of Mrs Pritchard's talents, who rehearsed, almost at the same time, the part of a furious Queen in the Green-room, and that of a Coquette on the stage; and passed several times from one to the other with the utmost ease and happiness. I dined with Darrel, saw The Way of the World afterward (Edward Gibbon's Journal, ed. D. M. Lowe (New York, n.d.) pp. 185-86). [Apparently Mrs Pritchard rehearsed Millamant in the morning.

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Macklin. Mainpiece [by John Ford]: Reviv'd not acted these Hundred years. Afterpiece: A New Farce never acted before by Charles Macklin. Note: Tickets deliver'd out for 22 April will be taken. Tickets to be had of Mrs Macklin in Bow St., and of Hobson at the Stage door. Cross: The play lik'd--farce not. Receipts: #93 (Cross); house charges, #60 (Powel); cash, #80 19s. 6d.; tickets, #12 15s. (Clay MS)

Event Comment: TThe Distrest Mother oblig'd to be deferr'd because of Indisposition of Mrs Yates. Receipts: #74 1s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. Pepys, Diary: To the Opera, and there saw Romeo and Juliet, the first time it was ever acted; but it is a play of itself the worst that ever I heard in my life, and the worst acted that ever I saw these people do, and I am resolved to go no more to see the first time of acting, for they were all of them out more or less. Downes (p. 22): Note, There being a Fight and Scuffle in this Play, between the House of Capulet, and House of Paris; Mrs Holden Acting his Wife, enter'd in a Hurry, Crying, O my Dear Count! She Inadvertently left out, O, in the pronuntiation of the Word Count! giving it a Vehement Accent, put the House into such a Laughter, that London Bridge at low-water was silence to it. This Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, was made some time after into a Tragi-comedy, by Mr James Howard, he preserving Romeo and Juliet alive; so that when the Tragedy was Reviv'd again, twas Play'd Alternately, Tragical one Day, and Tragicomical another; for several Days together. [No specific notices are known which would indicate when Howard's version appeared.

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: Mainpiece: not acted 6 years. [See 21 April 1752.] Afterpiece: By Desire. Benefit for Mrs Hamilton. Receipts: #87 15s. 6d. Plus Tickets #167 13s. [box 229; pit 514; gallery 333). Charges #63 Mrs Pudsey entered as a New Renter for 1 share (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire, Afterpiece: By Desire. [Mrs Copin's name spelled Copen until 12 Nov.

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Clive. Part of Pit will be rail'd into the Boxes. Servants allow'd to keep places. Send servants by 3 o'clock. Tickets and places to be had of Mrs Clive at the Naked Boy in Henrietta St., Covent Garden. Mainpiece: Not acted these 7 years [see 18 Nov. 1754]. Afterpiece: With alterations and an additional scene. Mr Havard's benefit play, which should have been acted some day this month, is deferr'd on account of his Indisposition, to the 12th of April, when the new Masque of Alfred will be perform'd, with its proper Scenes, Dances, Music, and Machinery. Receipts: #230 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Bellamy. Mainpiece: Never acted there. Thomas and Sally oblig'd to be deferr'd on account of Indisposition of Mrs Pinto (playbill). Charges #64 5s. balance to Mrs Bellamy #62 15s. plus #110 8s. in tickets (Box 293; Pit 231) (Account Book). Receipts: #127 (Account Book)

Event Comment: [Last time of performing till the Holidays. Miss Brown identifield by Winston MS 10 and playbill for 29 Oct. 1772 as the young lady, although Miss Potts and Mrs Woodman would seem likely candidates too.] Paid Dunstall the Balance of Theatrical Fund profit #68 1s. 6d. (Account Book). Receipts: #209 17s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Wild, Miss Madden and Miss Garman. Afterpiece: By Particular Desire. Tickets deliver'd by Francis, Symonds, the Widow Trott, Mrs Hitchcock, Mrs Paddick, and Abbot will be taken. Receiv'd deficiencies from Mahon #1 6s. 9d.; Aldridge #6 5s. 6d.; Davis #12 13s. 9d. @Tickets Box Pit Gallery Value 1!2 Value @Wild 6 40 67 #14 4s. #7 2s. @Miss Madden 9 19 25 #7 12s. #3 16s. @Miss Garman 2 24 72 #11 6s. #5 13s. @Francis 1 43 44 #11 2s. #5 11s. @Symmonds 3 20 52 #8 19s. #4 9s. 6d. @Mrs Trott 28 7 7 #8 15s. #4 7s. 6d. @Mrs Hitchcock 32 39 20 #15 17s. #7 18s. 6d. @Mrs Paddick 6 20 21 #6 12s. #3 6s. @Abbot 2 47 50 #12 11s. #6 5s. 6d. @Total 89 259 358 #96 18s. #48 9s.@ [There were no charges. The House receiv'd 1!2 the value of the tickets (Account Book).] Receipts: #38 11s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Dunstall. Mainpiece: Not acted these 7 years. [See 29 Nov. 1764.] Afterpiece: Not acted these 3 years. [See 2 Dec. 1769.] Charges: #64 5s. Profit to Dunstall #1 1s. 6d., plus #170 17s. from tickets (Box 433; Pit 410; Gallery 36). Paid Whitefield a quarter year's salary #25, and Sarjant ditto, #10. Paid Mrs Carne half year's salary #15 all due Lady Day last (Account Book). Receipts: #65 6s. 6d

Event Comment: St Patrick's Day oblig'd to be deferr'd on account of Indisposition of Mrs Pitt. The Slip now converted into Boxes at 5s. Was only 2s. (Folger News Clipping, and Winston MS 11 note from the Morning Post of 9 Oct.)

Event Comment: House open'd Sept 16th. Mrs Ward engag'd from Covent Garden-Mrs Cibber not intending to play this Season. The first time I ever remember ye Company to play every Day so soon in ye Season (Cross). Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places to be had of Hobson at the stage door be repeated here.] Receitps: #120 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Green. Tickets of Mrs Green in Broad Court, Bow St., Covent Garden, and at the stage Door. Tickets deliver'd out for the Provok'd Wife will be taken. Paid Blandford (Tallow Chandler) #12 15s. 9d. Cash rec'd #77 2s., plus #79 8s. from tickets. Total #156 10s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #170 (Cross); charges, #63 (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: OOccasional Prologue call'd for. Mr Griffith (Son of Griffith an Actor in Ireland) play'd Barnwell: Toll: [erable] (Cross). This day at Noon will be publish'd and sold by the proprietor and the print shops, two portraits of those celebrated Comedians, Mr Woodward and Mrs Clive, in the characters of the Fine Gentleman and Lady in Lethe (as they are to perform them tonight, at Drury Lane) curiously engraved (in Miniature) from Original drawings of the same size. By J. Brooks, Engraver of Silver and Copper plate. N.B. The above prints may be had together or separate (General Advertiser).Receipts: #140 (Cross)