Event Comment: We hear that Mrs Cibber is so extremely ill at the Bath, that her life is despaired of (General Advertiser). Receipts: #107 4s. 6d

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A Tragi-Comi-Pastoral Farce not acted these 5 years. [See 13 Nov. 1746.] Tomorrow Othello. The Part of Othello by Barry, Desdemona by Mrs Cibber

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Cibber. Play By Command of Prince & Princess of Wales. Play taken from the French of M de Voltaire. Never acted there before.' Pit and boxes to be laid together, where the Ladies and Gentlemen will be admitted as at the Oratorios. And for the better accommodation of the Ladies the Stage will be form'd into an amphitheatre (with particular care to keep it warm) where servants will be allowed to keep places, as also in the Pit. Ladies send servants by three o'clock

Event Comment: On Friday the 22nd a Benefit for Mrs Allen, Daughter of the late Thomas Allen, Barrister at Law, and Niece to the late Col. James Allen, who has for many years lost the use of her limbs by Palsy,--The Suspicious Husband, with entertainment as will be express'd in the Bill of the Day. Tickets to be had at Searle's Coffee House, Lincoln's Inn; at the Rolls, Chancery Lane; at George's Temple Bar; at Grigsby's behind the Change; at the Southsea Coffee House, Bishopsgate St.; and at the stage door, where places may be taken

Event Comment: [Concerning Mrs Elmy's acting of Desdemona, the Gentleman's Magazine (Oct., p. 493) quotes the Monitor: And no part has been better represented in our memory, and indeed we scarce knew what it was before she acted it."

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Woffington. Mainpiece: By N. Rowe, Esq. Not acted these 20 Years. [The Young Gentlewoman possibly Miss Condill. See 1 Nov. 1756.] Afterpiece: Taken from Dryden and Colley Cibber, Poets Laureate

Event Comment: Benefit for Sparks. Receipts: #83 2s. 6d. plus Tickets #184 12s. (boxes 335; pit 551; gallery 182). Advanced Mrs Bellamy on her salary #105. Two new Renters came in at 1 share each: Sir Thomas Robinson and Robert Hassell (Account Book). Mr Smith takes this earliest opportunity to return thanks the Ladies and Gentlemen who honoured him with their presence at his Benefit on Tuesday Night, and is very sorry for any interruption that might happen in the performance. The indulgence of his friends that night far exceeded his most sanguine exceptations; otherwise he should have provided proper accomodations for them on the stage (Public Advertiser). [See Theatrical Review, 1757 and Beginning of 1758, for contemporary comment on mainpiece: "It is not paying it a very great, much less an underserved compliment to give it the preference over all the dramatic pieces that have been presented at either house these six or seven years...Tears were the first praises I gave it...no play except Lear ever make such a strong constant impression on my feelings."

Event Comment: Benefit for Clarke. Mainpiece: Not acted these 8 years. [See 22 March 1750.] No building on the Stage. Receipts: #49 4s. 6d. Charges: #63. Deficiency covered by #114 14s. from tickets (boxes 160; pit 394; gallery 156). Rec'd from John Rich, #300, being part of the sum paid Mrs Finny on account of the New Building. Paid out for sundries from the theatres and sum, to Barry and Lee, #284 14s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Elmy. Receipts: #46 7s. Charges: #63. Deficiency covered by #80 15s. from tickets (boxes 169; pit 162; gallery 142) (Account Book). Mainpiece: Not acted there these 4 years. [See 28 Jan. 1755.

Event Comment: Afterpiece: Scene of the Drawing in Guild-Hallv. Receipts: #69 1s. 6d. Rec'd of Mrs Bellamy #10 7s. 8d. for 6 nights deducted for last season on death of Princess of Orange

Event Comment: Benefit for Shuter. Mainpiece: Not acted in 10 years. Receipts: #194 10s. in cash, plus #147 18s. from tickets (Boxes 378; Pit 356). Charges #64 5s. Advanced to Mrs Ward #30. [Shuter called for imaginative participation of his audience in his Medley Skit (see Larpent MS 171): @"Suppose my dress alter'd with each exhibition....@If I speak like a Dutchman, or Brogue it like Paddy,@Or mimic Monsieur, or lisp like a Lady"@ Parts for The English Sailors in America (by G. A. Steevens) are listed in Larpent MS 172: Indian King , English Captain , Irishman , Sailor Ned and Sailor Ben , a Black Messenger , Guards , White Savage Lady , Black Woman , Image .

Event Comment: Memorandum: Mrs Baker, actress, died this day at Coventry on her Journey from Liverpool to London. Paid Mr J. Rich on Account #10. [This is Account or ledger Number 1 (Account Book).] Receipts: #71 11s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit Bencraft, James, Ridout, and Carr

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr and Mrs Barrington. [No Buildings on stage. Salarino-Usher, according to $Hogan, based on a Havard playbill.

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Bellamy. Tragedy reviv'd and never acted there before. Afterpiece: Written by Foote

Event Comment: Benefit Turbutt and Ridout. At the Desire of Several Ladies of Quality

Event Comment: Benefit Ridout, Dupre, Goodall, Stede. Tickets deliver'd out for Tuesday will be taken this day

Event Comment: Benefit Ridout, Dupre, Goodall, and Mlle Fabres

Event Comment: Benefit for Foley and Veil. We borrow Ridout for Ld Morelove (Cross). Receipts: #200 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Ridout and Barrington. On Wednesday 24 April for the Benefit of Leveridge, The City Wives Confederacy: @To all generous Britons I sound this endeavour,@To beg that this season my play you ll promote,@By granting as usual your bountiful favour,@Which by Old Silenus shall ne'er be forgot.@Whilst Life I'm enjoying, and health do inherit,@With grateful Remembrance all thanks I'll renew@Still raising my voice to the Heighth of my Spirit,@Then swan-like will sing out my final adieu. tickets fbr the play, with the Musical note printed on them may had of Leveridge at his Lodging over against the Red Lion in Brownlow St., by Drury Lane, and of Mr Page at the Stage Door. Tickets for the 17th will be taken

Event Comment: Receipts: #224 18s. 6d. Advanc'd to Mrs Ward #20. Paid Sarjant on acct of salary #5; Paid Ridout one third of the surplus of this night's receipt being #144 18s. 6d. than the #80 allow'd for the charge: #48 2s. 6d. This morning I was at Mr Shadwell's for his Orders [for free theatre tickets] & took all my sisters to Covent Garden Gallery to see the Jovial Crew & Rape of Proserpine, which was full of noisy holiday people (Hailey, Brietzcke Diary, Vol. 197, p. 544)