Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by Shakespear. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Mr Hobson at the Stage Door of the Theatre. By Reason of the many inconveniences that have arose by Gentlemen's being admitted behind the scenes, 'tis hoped it won't be taken amiss, that no money will be taken there

Event Comment: [Full column in Daily Advertiser describing Barry's and Mrs Macklin's acting techniques.] Barry from the Theatre in Dublin, perform'd the part of Othello, at Drury Lane, before a numerous and polite audience; and met with as great Applause as could be express'd.--General Advertiser, 6 Oct. Thomas Gray to Horace Walpole: You have probably been there since I left you, and consequently have seen the Mr Barry you desired some account of; yet as I am not certain of this and should be glad to know whether we agree about him, I will nevertheless tell you what he is, and the impression he made upon me. He is upwards of six feet in height; wdll and prortionably made, treads well and knows what to do with his limbs; in short a noble graceful figure. I can say nothing of his face but that it was all black, with a wide mough and good eyes. His voice is of a clear and pleasing tone, something like Delane's, but not so deep-mouthed, not so like a passing bell. When high strain'd it is apt to crack a little and be hoarse, but in its common pitch, and when it sinks into any softer passion, particularly expressive and touching. In the first scene, especially when he recounts to the Senate the progress of his love and the means he used to win Desdemona, he was quite mistaken, and I took a pique against him; instead of a cool narration he flew into a rant of voice and action, as though he were relating the circumstance of a battle that was fought yesterday. I expected nothing more from him, but was deceiv'd: in the scenes of rage and jealousy he was seldom inferior to Quin in the parts of tenderness and sorrow far above him. These latter seem to be his peculiarly; his action is not very various, but rarely improper, or without dignity, and some of his attitudes are really fine. He is not perfect to be sure, but I think may make a better player than any now on the stage in a little while. However, to see a man in one character, and but once, is not sufficient, so I rather ask your opinion by this, than give you mine.--Horace Walpole's Correspondence with Thomas Gray, II, 6-7

Event Comment: At the Theatre, the Bottom of Lemon St., Goodman's Fields. [The terminology is repeated in the bills until 16 Feb. 1747. The concert formula is continued as before.] Afterpiece: By Particular desire. First time at this stage. [On Wednesday The Beggar's Opera and The Anatomist were announced for today.

Event Comment: CCross: (Pam: publish'd). Play dislik'd. Hiss'd much. [The pamphlet referred to was "Mr Garrick's Conduct as Manager of TRDL considered in a Letter Addressed to him," by E. F. 18 Oct.: As a manager, Sir, it is your business not only to prepare the Evening's Entertainment, but to prepare it in the best manner you are able; and the manager who does otherwise uses his customers ill." The burden of the author's complaints was: (1) the theatre has been operating for a month yet Garrick has appeared in only one character; (2) that he should buy himself off with speaking a prologue only, then sell that to the public at 6d. shows vanity, avarice, and lack of managerial responsibility; (3) that plays such as Albumazar (simple and poorly cast) and Scornful Lady, (with irreligious and atheistical parts) should not have been passed off on the public, whose expectations were raised high at the thought of Garrick's management. Macklin even had to apologize to the audience as he played the part of Sir Roger in the latter play. E. F. closed by urging: "Get up the best of our English Tragedies and Comedies; encourage the rising Wits and be under no apprehesion of the want of success." If you use common sense in casting your actors, as your former managers did (with all their other faults) in casting you, you will not yourself have to play every night. Above all remember your responsibility to the public.] Receipts: #100 (Cross); #127 4s. 6d. (Powel)

Event Comment: Benefit for a Widow & Children (Cross), who are fallen into great distress (Winston MS 8). Tickets to be had at Mr Gladman's, a Trunk-maker, Charing Cross; at the Amsterdam Coffee House, behind the Exchange; at the Rainbow and Janeways in Cornhill; at Anderton's and the Temple-Exchange, in Fleet St.; at George's, Temple Bar; Somerset Coffee House, Strand and at Stage Door of the Theatre. Receipts: #97 (Cross)

Event Comment: MMrs Cowper did Sylvia, for her first appearance here (she came from Bath, Richmond &c.)-Toll. Afterpiece as originally perform'd (Cross) [i.e., without the burlesque scenes of The Fair (see 6 Nov. 1752).] This piece [Harlequin Ranger] was now acted as originally written. It is surprising that Mr Garrick should be the first to introduce Pantomime Entertainments (this season) especially as his own universal talents are seconded by a good company of performers. We suppose he does it to gratify the taste of the town; but such Smithfield exhibitions should certainly be banish'd from all regular theatres; and as Mr Woodward is an excellent comedian, it would be more eligible in him if he chuses to wear the motley dress any more to appear in the character of a speaking Harlequin, after the manner of the Italian Comedy; and indeed it is not a little surprising that nothing of this kind has yet been admitted upon our stage (Gentleman's Magazine, Oct., p. 493, from Grays' Inn Journal, 13 Oct. 1753.). Receipts: #120 (Cross)

Event Comment: Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be had of Mr Varney at the Stage Door of the Theatre. No persons to be admitted behind the scenes, nor any money to be returned after the Curtain is drawn up. [Notice repeated throughout the season.] Receipts: #100 (Cross)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. A great Noise, the whole House against us-When Garrick appear'd one from the Slips cry'd out Monsieur, & great Numbers Hiss'd-the play went on-wch done, the Mutiny began, amazing noise-no plating, except one Apple; ye pit to ye Boxes cry'd-now draw yr Swords, wch makes us think, the Riot was occasion'd by the Box people being so busy & turning some out of the pit & Gall: before. Some benches were pull'd up, & Mr Lacy gave up the Dance to appease 'em-being Sat: our friends were at ye Opera, & the common people had leisure to do Mischief (Cross). [Lynham in The Chevalier Noverre, quotes from the Journal Etranger of 25 Nov. 1775: 'The blackguards...tore up the benches and threw them into the Pit on the opposing party; they broke all the mirrors, the chandeliers, &c., and tried to climb onto the stage to masacre everybody; but, as there is a magnificent organization in this theatre, in three minutes all the decor had been removed, all the traps were ready to come into play to swallow up those who might venture up, all the wings were filled with men armed with sticks, swords, halberds, &c., and behind the scenes the great reservoir was ready to be opened to drown those who might fall on the stage itself."Cross lists no Receipts.

Event Comment: Benefit for the Distress'd Actors who formerly belong'd to the theatre. Last Night 188th

Event Comment: A Translation [by Conrad Ludger] of Kotzebue's Reconciliation, having been advertised as the Play now performing at this Theatre, the Public are respectfully informed that the Genuine Copy of The Birth Day (which is materially altered from the above) will not published till next Season. 3rd piece: The Overture and Music by Reeve. The Ballet composed by Farley. [For synopsis of scenes see 16 Mar. 1797.] Receipts: #239 3s. 6d. (234.17.6; 4.6.0)

Event Comment: [Mrs Dibdin was from the Rochester theatre.] Receipts: #263 19s. 6d. (256.4.6; 7.15.0)

Event Comment: The Naval Pillar [advertised on playbill of 14 Oct., is] obliged, on account of Incledon's severe Hoarseness, to be postponed till Next Week. Afterpiece: By permission of the Proprietors of Drury Lane Theatre. Receipts: #263 4s. 6d. (253.3.6; 10.1.0)

Event Comment: [Written by Shakespear. With new Scenes and Cloaths. At the Desire of several Persons of Distinction the Pit and Boxes will be put together at 3s. Boxes on the Stage 4s. Gallery 1s. [The Prologue is in The Comedian, No. VII, October 1732, with a long essay on the major theatres of the present season.] Daily Advertiser, 4 Oct.: A very splendid and crowded Audience...testify'd their Approbation both of the Decorations and Performance. The principal Embellishments are as follows: On a large Oval over the Pit is represented the Figure of His Majesty, attended by Peace, Liberty, and Justice, trampling Tyranny and Oppression under his Feet; round it are the Heads of Shakespear, Dryden, Congreve, and Betterton. On the Coving on the Left Hand is painted the Scene of Cato pointing at the dead Body of his Son Marcus; in the Middle, that of Julius Caesar stabb'd in the Senate-House; and on the Right, that of Marc Anthony and Octavia, where the Children are introduc'd in All for Love. On the Sounding-Board over the Stage is an handsome Piece of Painting of Apollo and the Nine Muses. [See also Daily Post, 4 Oct. and Gentleman's Magazine, II (October 1732), 1028.

Event Comment: Towards raising a Fund for Erecting a Monument to the Memory of Shakespear. Mainpiece: Written by Shakespear. The Pit and Boxes to be put together. London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 5 June: The Season [at dl] being finish'd, and the Accounts of it settled, it is thought proper to acquaint the Publick, that the Master of that Theatre has receiv'd One Hundred and Seventy-odd Pounds, (besides some Accounts of Tickets, the Produce of which has not as yet been paid in, which is suppos'd will make near the Sum of Two Hundred Pounds,) towards erecting a Monument to Shakespear

Event Comment: [For the New Epilogue] Great applause (Cross). This day is Publish'd, Price 6d. Romeo and Juliet, written by Shakespear, with alterations, and an additional Scene; as it is performing at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane. Printed for J. and R. Tonson, and S. Draper in the Strand. Receipts: #120 (Cross)

Event Comment: Some Hissing, tho' play'd Well-Garrick Kiteley &c. (Cross). Mainpiece: Written by Ben Johnson, never acted there. Characters Dress'd in the Old English@Manner. Receipts: #200 (Cross). We hear that His Majesty intended to go to the theatre Royal in Drury Lane this evening, to see the Comedy of Every Man in his Humour, wrote by Ben Johnson in 1598, acted the same year by the Lord Chamberlain's Servants, and dedicated to the great Mr Camden; and was reviv'd since the Revolution with Great Applause, having a new Epilogue spoken by Ben Johnson's Ghost , written by the late Earl of Dorset (Daily Advertiser)

Event Comment: The good sense of the audience condemned this piece to oblivion, after, we think, two representations (Biographia Dramatica). [Contrived by Guerini (Nicoll, Eighteenth Century Drama, p. 355). Victor says Guerini played Pantaloon (History of Theatre, III, 48.] Sunday 2 January, Mr Pritchard Died (Cross Diary)

Event Comment: The Characters New Dressed. Play never acted before. [See Three Original Letters to a Friend in the Country on the Cause and Manner of the late Riot at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane. See also two letters in The Theatrical Review; or, Annals of the Drama, 1 March 1763. This number includes (pp. 117-25) a critique on the Discovery. Critic found it a piece of much merit particularly in the perusal," but on stage frequently tedious and heavy owing to a scarcity of incident and an uncommon lengthening of the acts."

Event Comment: Benedick by Obrien-1st time (Hopkins). Benedick does not sit so well upon Mr O'Brien as Ranger-Miss Pope Beatrice-indifferent (+Hopkins Diary-$MacMillan). New Occasional song introduc'd in The Rites of Hecate, the words will be printed and given away at the theatre. Receipts: #130 9s. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 2 years. Afterpiece [1st time; MF 2, by Elizabeth, Baroness Craven, later Margravine of Anspach. Larpent MS 564; not published. Author of Prologue unknown]: After the Prologue, a Naval Overture. The Airs from the most eminent Composers [with new music by Dr Arnold, Lady Craven, and Tommaso Giordani]. The Scenes new painted by Rooker. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Public Advertiser, 19 July 1781: This Day is published the Songs in The Silver Tankard (6d.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time in London; T 3, by William Hayley, 1st acted at Chichester, late in May 1784. Text in his Plays . . . for a Private Theatre (T. Cadell, 1784). Prologue by George Colman, the elder (European Magazine, Aug. 1784, p. 165). Contrary to the usual custom on the 1st night of a new play, the parts on this occasion are assigned]. "Palmer had done with Lord Russel as he did with many other characters, that is, totally neglected to study the words of the part . . . Whenever he felt himself at a loss he dexterously introduced some passages from The Earl of Essex, which he contrived to fit into the cues received by Lord Russel." His brother, R. Palmer, who told this anecdote to Boaden, said that the audience suspected nothing amiss (Boaden, Kemble, I, 193)

Event Comment: Benefit for Palmer. Mainpiece [1st time; C 3, by William Hayley. Text in his Plays . . . for a Private Theatre (T. Cadell, 1784). Prologue by George Colman, the elder. Epilogue by Edward Topham (Gazetteer, 13 Sept., which also gives the names of the speakers). The parts are assigned (see 18 Aug.)]: A new Comedy, in Rhyme

Event Comment: Books of the Songs [in mainpiece] to be had at the Theatre. [London Chronicle, 19 Oct. lists the new songs: in Act I Charming Clorinda by Bowden; in Act II When spring has chac'd the winter's snow by Mrs Wells and When generous wine by Bowden; in Act III The morn, who night adorning and Bright Sol now darts by Mrs Billington.] Receipts: #284 18s. 6d. (283.7.6; 1.11.0)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; MD 2, by Prince Hoare, adapted from Camille; ou, Le Souterrain, by Benoit Joseph Marsollier des Vivetieres]: The Musick entirely new by Dussek [and Kelly]. With new Scenery [by Marinari (Monthly Mirror, Nov. 1798, p. 309)], Dresses, and Decorations. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Morning Chronicle, 7 May 1799: On May 9 will be published The Captive of Spilburg (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #209 6s. 6d. (108.10.6; 99.19.6; 0.16.6)

Event Comment: [Benefit for Dibdin, but not acted,] Princess Louisa Anne, sister to His Majesty died in the morning. All Theatres and Gardens closed for 8 days. Rec'd of Mrs Squibb for her deficiency the 10th Inst. #11 5s. Rec'd of Davis for his deficiency the 4th inst. #4 12s. Received of Perry for his deficiency the 4th inst. #4 12s. (Account Book).*c1768 05 13 cg [Benefit for Dibdin, but not acted,] Princess Louisa Anne, sister to His Majesty died in the morning. All Theatres and Gardens closed for 8 days. Rec'd of Mrs Squibb for her deficiency the 10th Inst. #11 5s. Rec'd of Davis for his deficiency the 4th inst. #4 12s. Received of Perry for his deficiency the 4th inst. #4 12s. (Account Book)