Event Comment: Mainpiece: A New Comedy of 3 Acts [by George Colman] never performed. [In the Shakespearean Pageant, with figures from seventeen of his plays, the chief effectiveness lay with the Musicians who ushered in each group with appropriate music: Martial Music-The Roman Characters of Coriolanus and Julius Caesar; Soft Music-Antony and Cleopatra; Grand Music, Old English Characters-King John, Richard III, Henry VIII: Magical Music, "above, about, underneath" for Prospero; Macbeth's Music; Fairy Music-Oberon and Titania; Solemn Music for Tragic Muse accompanied by Othello, Hamlet, the Ghost, Mad Ophelia and Lear with Cordelia; Dead March in Saul-Juliet's Bier with attendants; Allegro for the Comic Muse-Falstaff, Touchstone, Launcelot, Malvolio; Andante-Florizel and Perdita, Portia Antonio and Bassanio; Flourish-for Car drawn by the muses carrying Shakespeare's Bust; Final Song by Mrs Mattocks, "Sweetest Bard that Ever Sung, Nature's glory, Fancy's Child--." The Prelude is, in print, entirely favorable to Garrick's effort at Stratford. But it could be rendered in a mercilessly ironical manner if the three participating actors so chose. Mainpiece reviewed in the Freeholder's Magazine, Oct.] Receipts: #224 10s

Event Comment: Mainpiece [by Oliver Goldsmith]: Never Perform'd Before. [Quick, mentioned by Genest, does not appear on the playbill. The Edition of 1768 casts Mrs White as Landlady, and Cushing as Butler. It does not include Morris or Morgan, but adds Post@Boy-Quick; Bailiff-R. Smith; Dubardieu-Holtom. (See 1 Feb.) The Theatrical Monitor, No XI (6 Feb.), reviews the mainpiece in a lukewarm, judicial manner.] Receipts: #227 4s. 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 Woodward. Mainpiece: Not acted in 20 years. [See 27 Jan. 1744.] With the Humours of Sir John Falstaff. Pit and Boxes laid together, and the Stage formed into a commodious amphitheatre. Boxes, pit, and Stage 5s. Ladies send servants by 3 o'clock; otherwise, Woodward cannot be responsible for any mistake. Places with tickets to be had of Woodward at his house in the Piazza, cg. This Day Publish'd, The Dramatic Execution of Agis. Price 6d. Receipts: #300 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Pritchard (Cross). Mainpiece: Not acted these 30 years. This day publish'd. Price 1s. Reflections upon Theatrical Expression in Tragedy. [By Roger Pickering. This is a defense of the theatrical profession, "which in all countries is considered low and contemptible." Author's thesis: "A master of theatrical expression in all its extensive significancy must be possess'd of such accomplishments, as to set the profession above all contempt." Garrick is mentioned as best example. True tragic expression "requires Genius, Education, Reading, Experience...and a solidity of thought which never accompanies abject morals" (p. 11). Includes an interesting treatise on acting-sections on figure, voice, ear, memory, management of feet and legs. Comments on costume: "Taste in dress demands that an actor be conversant in the mode of dress ancient and modern, in other countries as well as in our own...Alexander and Cato were not masters of the snuff box, nor Greek women of French heels." The appendix asks why all our plays are not dressed in character in point of time and place, and why they do not contain at least one "scene" proper to the country. The author (p. 61) sees need for variety in acting same role, especially when a play has a continuous run of several nights. He calls (p. 77) for creation of appropriate mood for the play by selection of proper music between the acts. Wants a softening of the prompter's bell. Concludes by damning contemporary audience manners, especially those of the stage loungers (pp. 79-81).] Receipts: #314 (Cross)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: Not acted these 4 years. Full prices. [See 10 March 1750.] Mr Maddox ye Ballance Master perform'd [on the rope] in it. Great Expectations not answer'd (Cross). [See ridicule of this afterpiece at dl 6 Nov. and the summary account of the disturbance it produced, as recorded in the Gentleman's Magazine (Nov. 1752, p. 535): The Town had been allured to Covent Garden by a wire dancer and some strange animals, which the manager brought together from Sadler's Wells and the Fair. Mr Garrick ridiculed this perversion of theatrical entertainment, by exhibiting a mock entertainment of the same kind. At this the town was offened, and a party went one evening determind to damn it; a person of some distinction [Fitzpatrick] who was very busy in this laudable attempt threw an apple at Woodward and hit him. Woodward resented the blow by some words, which, by the gentleman's account, implied a challenge, but by Woodward's no such thing. Woodward's account is confirm'd by the affidavits of many; that of the gentleman only by his own, though the box in which he sat was full. The Inspector espoused the cause of the Gentleman; and the Covent Garden Journalist of the comedian.'

Event Comment: [T+The Occasional Prologue is Larpent MS 214 wherein Woodward crosses the stage sneakingly, "Behold the Prodigal return'd quite tame..." and apologizes for his recent venture in Ireland.

Event Comment: Benefit for Woodward. Mainpiece: Not acted these 10 years. Places (with Tickets) to be had of Mr Sarjant at the stage Door. [See 31 Jan. 1760.] Charges: #68 9s. Profit to Woodward of #123 3s. 6d. plus #61 income from tickets (Box 244) (Account Book). [The House launched the benefit season with a profitable balance of #9616 5s. 5d. on the books.] Receipts: #191 12s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Mr Sarjant (only) at the Stage-Door. [Customary footnote for subsequent bills. Only significant variations will be noted further. The Westminster Magazine this month (p. 557) remarked upon Woodward's Prologue, "in part a parody on the celebrated speech of Cato in Addison's Tragedy....He informed the audience that they had assembled their Theatrical troops against the approaching winter; and that their leaders had met in council to consider the best method of supporting their campaign; but as their forces were numerous and strong, he hoped the town would not refuse them sufficient subsidies especially...as their Gods must aat, and without money could not even raise a Devil."] Receipts: #184 4s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit Woodward. Mainpiece: Written by Ben Johnson. Never acted there before

Event Comment: Farce greatly hiss'd & Mr Woodward promis'd it shou'd be done no more; notwithstanding this they wou'd not suffer us to end it (Cross). Receipts: #130 (Cross)

Event Comment: Not acted in 30 years. Principal Characters new Dress'd. Written by Otway (General Advertiser). Mr Woodward did ye part of Malagene in which he took off Mr Foote & would have many of ye Actors but the Audience grew so outragious, that he was forc'd to desist ye 4th & 5th Acts were much hooted, Mr Havard in a part where he says Whir was severely treated, nor could he ever appear after in ye play, but the whole Audience echoed that Word--it was given out again, wch so enrag'd the Audience yt they call'd loudly for Garrick, but as he was not this Night at the House, they pull'd up the Benches, tore down ye King's Arms, & wou'd have done much more mischief had not Mr Lacy qone into the Pit, & talk'd to 'em, what they resented was giving out a piece again after they had damn'd it--the Gallery resented ye Guards being sent in--Mr Lacy was oblig'd to go upon the Stage after & tell 'em I had given out the play again, as ne'er a Manager was present to give other Directions--In his Argument Mr Lacy call'd a Witness in ye pit, saying that Gent: next to ye painter knows I was in ye pit when ye Guards went into the Gallery, so I cou'd not send 'em this painter after ye rout came behind the scenes & was angry for being call'd painter (his name was Hudson) but at length he as well as ye rest was pacified--and we gave out Provok'd Husband (Cross). [See Foote's retaliation in Daily Advertiser, 26 Jan.] Paid Capt. Turber 1!2 year's rent #11 3s. 4d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #140 (Cross); #137 12s. (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: Benefit for Woodward. Mainpiece: Not acted these 20 years. To prevent mistakes, Ladies are desired to send their servants by 3 o'clock. Tickets and places to be had of Mr Sarjant, at the Stage Door and NO WHERE ELSE

Event Comment: Benefit for Woodward

Event Comment: Benefit for Woodward. Mainpiece: Not acted these 2 years. [See 26 May 1773.

Event Comment: Each of these 3 acts apiece, Alter'd by Garrick, from Shakespear-Applauded. Mrs Clive fell down in ye Farce, and accus'd Woodward wth doing it on purpose (Cross). [The Bill lists neither cast nor characters for either piece, but advertises them with proper music, songs, dances, and decorations. Beginning with 23 Jan. the Bill lists actors names. Casts here taken from the 1756 ed.] Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Event Comment: LLee and Woodward's Booth on the Bowling Green. With a Complete Band of Musick. Noon to 9 p.m. Boxes 2s. 6d., Pit 1s. 6d., First Gallery 1s., 2nd Gallery 6d

Event Comment: The Farce of Miss in Her Teens Anatomiz'd (Gentlemen's Magazine, Feb., pp. 71-72, from The Anatomist and News Regulator, 31 Jan.) [A critical analysis of the thin plot, thinner chcharacters, lack of moral, but excellent acting of Garrick, Woodward, and Mrs Pritchard, even in parts of nonsense, stupidity and bawdry. Deplores taste of the town which welcomed it for 18 nights.] Receipts: #187 14s. 6d

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)

Event Comment: Benefit Woodward. Tickets for Leigh taken

Event Comment: DDon Felix pretty well by Powell....Lissardo inimitably by Woodward (the first time these 9 years). Read his part and that of Gibby. The play on the whole was pretty well performed. Baker does Beard's part in Midas. His not acting is a great loss to the public, as he was inimitable in some things. Stood in the well all night (Neville MS Diary). Receipts: #163 4s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Woodward. With two New Scenes in the Afterpiece painted by Richards and Dahl. Mr Woodward, at the particular request of several persons of Quality has changed from the Fair Quaker to The Busy Body. Tickets deliver'd for Fair Quaker will be admitted. House charges with candles and extras #65 15s. Balance to Woodward #102 7s. plus #58 5s. for 233 Box tickets (Account Book). [Public Advertiser, 12 Dec. 1767: "Speedily will be published the Battle of the Wigs, an additional canto to Dr Garth's poem The Dispensary. Occasioned by the Disputes between the Fellows and licentiates of the College of Physicians in London. By B. T. and M. B."] Receipts: #168 2s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit Master Woodward. It being particularly desired that The Constant Couple should be postpon'd, and The Orphan acted

Event Comment: Benefit Henry Woodward and Miss Wherrit. By Desire. Afterpiece: With Alterations and Additions, particularly an entire new Scene, call'd Pierot's Encounter with a Bearv