Event Comment: Mainpiece: A Tragedy never performed there. Mrs Yates first appearance this stage in 8 years. This Play is from the Orestes of Voltaire Mrs Yates who has been at Covent Garden these 8 years is now return'd & chose to make her first appearance in the part of Electra. Mr Garrick wrote an Excellent Prologue & Epilogue for the Occasion both of which were greatly receiv'd With great Applause. The Play is very dull & heavy & Mrs Yates wanted Spirit greatly in the part of Electra had but little Applause (Hopkins Diary). Paid salary list 5 days at #91 8s. 10d. #457 4s. 2d.; Mr French on acct #5 5s. (Treasurer's Book). [From Westminster Magazine, Oct. (of the mainpiece): From its want of business, it is a very heavy, tedious performance. Most of the scenes are mere declamations; and a certain air of coldness and apathy, which is the peculiar characteristic of French drama, runs thro the whole, which must ever render it unpleasing as well as uninteresting to an English Audience." Gave a severe comment on the Prologue with its theme "home is home be it ever so homely." Preferred the Epilogue. The perspective scenery of Argosv, the Palace of Aegisthusv, and the Tomb of Agamemnonv, designed by Loutherbourg, and painted by Messrs French and Roy, were warm and spirited, and the dresses elegant and characteristic."] Receipts: #243 17s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Bellamy. Mainpiece: Not acted these 3 years. "Mrs Bellamy was too much frightened to speak the address [written by Charles Stuart (European Magazine, May 1785, p. 354)], and Miss Farren spoke it--Mrs Bellamy herself added some few words in prose" (Genest, VI, 342). But Stuart's address was abandoned, and in its place Miss Farren spoke one written by Alexander Bicknell (Gentleman's Magazine, June 1785, pp. 449-50). This occurred at the end of the play; following the address the curtain rose, and Mrs Bellamy "succeeded in muttering a few words, expressive of her gratitude" (Reynolds, I, 282-83). [This was Mrs Yates's last appearance in London. In July of this year she was acting in Birmingham (Morning Chronicle, 18 July). Mrs Bellamy's last appearance on the stage was at CG, 1 June 1780.] Receipts: #306 4s. (188/1/0; 13/3/6; 0/14/6; tickets: 104/5/0) (charge: #113 8s. 10d.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Siddons. Part of the Pit will be laid into the Boxes. To prevent Confusion Ladies are desired to send their Servants by half past Four o'clock. Morning Herald, 1 May: Tickets to be had of Mrs Siddons, Gower-street, Bedford-square. "In the apparent assumption of madness [and] the express'd weakness and melancholy of the character Kemble is not equalled by any of his predecessors . . . Till [Mrs Siddons] there never was, in sensible discrimination, as there ought to be, the real madness of Ophelia from the feigned distraction of Hamlet. Till then the dignity, the love, even the pathos of the part [were] but poorly, if at all administered" (Public Advertiser, 17 May). Receipts: #326 14s. 6d. (137/3/0; 7/3/6; 0/4/0; tickets: 182/4/0)(charge: #109 16s.)

Event Comment: [In afterpiece the playbill assigns Euphrosyne to Mrs Crouch, but "illness prevented, and Mrs Bland...undertook the part" (Thespian Magazine, Nov. 1792, p. 125). Mrs Crouch is also listed as one of the Bacchants.] Receipts: #225 8s. 6d. (167.5.6; 57.7.0; 0.16.0)

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. This performance is on the L. C. list, 5@141, p. 2. See also Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 347. There is no certainty that this is the premiere, but the fact that the play was given again on 4 Dec. 1672 suggests that this was the first performance and that it was also acted on Tuesday 3 Dec. 1672. A song, How pleasant is mutual love, set by John Bannister for this play, is in Choice Songs and Ayres, First Book, 1673. See Cibber, Apology, ed. Lowe, I, 155, for Underhill's acting of Justice Clodpate. Downes (p. 33): This Play in general being Admirably Acted, produc'd great Profit to the Company. Note, Mrs Johnson in this Comedy, Dancing a Jigg so Charming well, Loves power in a little time after Coerc'd her to Dance more Charming, else where

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Clarke and Mrs Forrester. Receipts: money #19 15s.; tickets #75 16s

Event Comment: Benefit Bewley, Gallant, Mrs Keene, Mrs Atkins. Receipts: money #11 12s.; tickets #140 11s

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Roberts

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Taken from Plautus, Moliere. Egerton 2320: Receipts: #82. Hamlet Posted for a week but put off upon Mrs Cibber's refusing to do Ophelia for which she was forfeited five pounds--the Miser play'd instead of it

Event Comment: Benefit Miss Cibber and her sister, daughters of Mr Cibber by the late Mrs Jane Cibber. Mainpiece: At the Particular desire of several Persons of Quality. Tickets to be had of Bradshaw, &c., and of Miss Cibber and her Sister, at Mrs Brett's (their Aunt)in Berwick St., near Soho. Tickets deliver'd out by Mrs Boultby will be taken. Receipts: #78

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Pritchard. Mainpiece: Not acted these 7 years [see 2 May 1744]. Tickets and places of Mrs Pritchard, at her house next the chapel in Great Queen St., Lincoln's Inn Fields, and of Hobson at the Stage Door. Five rows of Pit will be rail'd into the Boxes. [Stage as of 10 March.] Paid Blandford (Tallow Chandler) #18 17s. 3d.; Paid Blakes for 2 wiggs #3 3s.; Paid Mrs Pritchard for a ticket as per agreement #10 10s.; Norton 1 chorus 5s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #220 (Cross); charges, #60 (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Woodward. The Whole Pit will be laid into the Boxes, where servants will be admitted to keep places, and upon the Stage, which will be formed into an Amphitheatre and divided into Boxes. The Pit doors will be opened for the Ladies to pass to their places there, without incommoding those in the Front Boxes. Box, Pit and Stage at 5s. Nothing under full price will be taken during the performance. Ladies send servants by 3 o'clock (Public Advertiser). [The Larpent MS 130 indicates the intended cast, and suggests Dizzy-Mrs Dotterel-$Mrs Bennet.] Receipts: #320 ($Cross">Oliver; Ruffle-$Yates; and Mrs Dotterel-$Mrs Bennet.] Receipts: #320 ($Cross)

Event Comment: MMiss Pritchard did the Lady-Oh! for Mrs Pritchard's Benefit. She advertised Jane Shore, but Mrs Cibber being ill it was changed (Cross). Benefit for Mrs Pritchard. Part of the Pit will be laid into the Boxes. Tickets delivered for Jane Shore will be taken. Mainpiece: From Shakespear. Afterpiece: Never acted there. Receipts: #280 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Palmer. Mainpiece: Not acted these 12 years. Rec'd Mr Stevens 1 year's rent to Lady Day last (taxes deducted #13 3s. 8d.) #3 6s. 4d. (Treasurer's Book). Mrs Barry Isabella (1st time) great Applause (Hopkins Diary). Burton died on Sunday 3 May (Winston MS 10). Receipts: #158 15s. Charges: #64 17s. Profit to J. Palmer: #93 18s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: The 4th Night (see 25 Nov.). [The playbill retains Mrs Baddeley, but on the Kemble playbill her name is deleted and a MS annotation substitutes Mrs Farren's. After 1 Dec. Mrs Baddeley never acted again in London.] Receipts: #84 3s. (61.5.0; 22.7.6; 0.10.6)

Event Comment: By Authority of the Lord Chamberlain. At the request of several of the Scotch Nobility. Benefit for Raeburn. Mainpiece: In its original state, as it was written by Allan Ramsay in 1724 [recte 1725]. The Characters to be entirely new dressed. The Doors to be opened at 5:00. To begin at 6:00. No persons to be admitted behind the scenes, nor any money returned after the curtain is drawn up. Ladies are requested to send their servants by Five to keep places. Tickets to be had of Raeburn, No. 4, Gloucester-court, St. James's; of Walker, the Globe, Pall-mall; of Mackintosh, the George, East Harding-street, Shoe-lane; of Watson, the Fleece, Little Windmill-street (being the original Scotch house); of Mrs Shaw, the St. Andrew, near the Armitage-bridge, Wapping

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Bland and Mrs Powell. Afterpiece: 1st Time this Season [see 9 Oct. 1790]. Morning Chronicle, 4 May: Tickets to be had of Mrs Bland, No. 93, Strand; of Mrs Powell, No. 12, Little Russel-street, Covent-Garden. Receipts: #248 9s. (59.17; 21.19; 3.7; tickets: 163.6) (charge: #115 16s. 10d.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Mountain. 1st piece: Not acted these 4 years [acted 22 May 1789]. 3rd piece: Not acted these 18 years [acted 3 June 1783]. Morning Herald, 27 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Mountain, No. 9, Bow-street, Covent Garden. Receipts: #119 10s. (117.12.6; 1.17.6; tickets: none listed) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Powell. "If we make allowances for embarrassment and imperfect study, the performance of Mrs Powell was by no means indifferent" (Monthly Mirror, May 1796, p. 50). Afterpiece: Not acted these 4 years. Morning Herald, 2 May: Tickets to be had of Mrs Powell, No. 22, Henrietta-street, Covent-Garden. Receipts: #466 11s. 6d. (189.3.6; 53.1.6; 4.14.6; tickets: 216.15.0) (charge: #212)

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Knight

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Baker. At the particular Desire of several Ladies of Quality

Event Comment: Benefit Davenport and Mrs Shireburn. Mainpiece: Alter'd from Moliere by Mr Betterton. [Tickets at Davenport's in Brownlow Street.

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Porter. By Their Majesties' Command. Pit and Front Boxes together at 5s

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Giffard. At the Desire of several Persons of Quality

Event Comment: As 4 Dec. 1740. Benefit Mrs Porter. Pit and Front Boxes together at 5s. N.B. All imaginable Care will be taken to keep the House warm; in order to which only one Door will be open in the Front-Boxes, where Tickets will be delivered. Receipts: money #90 16s. 6d.; seals #78 10s. (Account Book); #180 (Rylands MS.)