Event Comment: Author's Day. [Publication of the play announced in the Public Advertiser this day, along with the following "puff" by Censor Dramaticus: "Sir: I have just given the new comedy, the Double Mistake, its first reading, and must confess I never was better pleased at a first reading than at present: It is chaste, sententious and genteel in its dialogue, interesting in its plot, the characters all of consequence, strongly marked and happily kept up, and even the virtuoso entertaining without being tiresome. I heartily wish it success, and congratulate the author on such a production, which shows that virtuous principles in high life render the persons that possess them doubly charming, and add real grace and dignity to their appearance in public life....I hope I may be believed when I say I have not the most distant knowledge of the author, and that impartiality shall ever be, and ever was my constant plan in observations of this kind."

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 8 years. [See 14 April 1758.] Characters New Dress'd

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not Acted these 14 years. [See 5 March 1752.] Characters New Dress'd

Event Comment: Tomorrow, a New Comedy (never perform'd) call'd the Clandestine Marriage

Event Comment: GGarrick reported to be at [?] cg & that Powell & Holland had borrowed #25,000 at 5 0@0 interest to purchase Garrick's Share (Winston MS 9, from Burney news cuttings)

Event Comment: dialogue in The Public Advertiser, 3 March, comments on arrangement of the stage for an Assembly; dimensions are 60 feet wide, 110 feet long, and 35-40 feet high. It has been altered and enlarged recently, for the columns are new and the upper end grew narrow, says the other speaker.

Event Comment: Letter in the Public Advertiser from one ag who signed herself a 'Constant Reader': "Sir: As your correspondents sometimes favour us with Theatrical Observations, permit me, though a woman, to throw in my mite, not that I aspire to the character of a Critic...the reason I take up my pen is merely for the sake of information. A few evenings ago I was at the New Comedy of the Clandestine Marriage, where, I assure you I was greatly entertained; but at the conclusion of the last act, must own was not a little surprised to find Miss Sterling so much neglected, as I was at that instant wondering what kind of Apology Sir John would make her, when behold he stands close by her without saying a word; which in my opinion concludes the play too abruptly. The author indeed has not placed her in the most excellent light; yet as a Lady, and of Character, shall I say of Fortune too, some Apology on the Gentleman's side seems naturally to arise from the incidents of the piece. But perhaps I am mistaken, which I am the more willing to imagine from the known abilities of the ingenious authors. If any of your critical correspondents should think it worth their while to set me right in that Particular, it will be esteemed a favour." (Frances Street, March 5.

Event Comment: A new serious Opera, Music-Galuppi

Event Comment: Benefit for Bensley. New Farce never performed. Part of Pit laid into the Boxes

Event Comment: Benefit of the Charity. A new Oratorio Music by Worgan, at the Chapel of Lock Hospital, near Hyde Park Corner. To begin at 11:30 a.m. No persons to be admitted without tickets. Gallery half a guinea, bottom of the chapel 5s. Books of the Oratorio 1s. at Rivington, St Pauls Churchyard, &c

Event Comment: [Long letter of complaint in Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser about text of the Libretto, arguing verse would be better for translation than prose, in the printed books supplied at the Opera House.

Event Comment: A new serious opera composed by Barthelemon

Event Comment: Afterpiece: By Desire. There is a new passage from the Marquis Buildings, Russel Court, to the Pit. Proper care is taken to keep the House Cool. Paid Supernumaries 13s. 6d.; Drum 5s.; a Lampmen #1 5s.; Carpenter's Bill #5 19s. 2d.; Taylor's Bill #3 1d. (Drury Lane Treasurer's Book). [These were constant weekly bills throughout the season amounting to total sums as follows, and will not hereafter be itemized further]: @Item Nightly or Weekly Average Season Total@Supers and Drum #2 5s. Nightly Supers #382; Drum #47 10s.@Lampmen #2 6s. Weekly #84 2s.@Carpenters #2 Weekly #74@Taylors #7 Weekly #259@ Receipts. #195 6s

Event Comment: Paid Housekeeper's Bills #21 9s.; Ditto his properties #1 19s. (Drury Lane Treasurer's Book). [These bills amounted to #222 and #37 respectively for the season, or an average of #6 per week for Housekeeping Bills and #1 per week for properties. No further itemization will be made. A patron wrote a letter to the Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser on 6 Oct. 1766, suggesting that he was annoyed by the way "our noisy friends in the Upper Gallery" kept calling for the Prologue. The Uproar increased when the farce or Daphne and Amintor began. Mr Vernon was oblig'd to step forward, Cap in hand and apologize, which put him out of character." Castle was not in bill. Noted in review. See 4 Oct.] Receipts: #145 16s. 6d. (Drury Lane Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid salary list 3 days at #72 4s. 1d. per diem #216 12s. 3d.; Mr Weston on his note #5 5s.; Mrs Abington 3 first days not on list #2 10s. (Treasurer's Book). [From a long review in the Public Advertiser 3 Oct.: Two new performers in parts very difficult to execute-Mr Cautherly a pupil of the greatest master of the art of acting that ever graced the English stage (if not European)...has this summer convinced us that he is susceptible of the most refined instructions of his great patron and tutor. Of the Lady, I can say nothing prior to her appearance 30 Sept. as I am noways acquainted with her history any more than that by declaration of common report; she is the spouse of the brother of that Mr Barry who has so greatly pleas'd the town this summer at the Opera House." [Comments on her figure, voice and countenance well adapted to express the stronger passions.] She seemed to be so much in love with Romeo as to forget she represented a young and inexperienced virgin unused to men...The first scene of consequence is the Masquerade scene, which was as to business very badly conducted; but this, I doubt not will be rectified another night, they were discovered in disorder and they went off in confusion. It appeared a tumultous assembly rather than a Masquerade of nobility in an Italian Palace. Romeo stayed so long behind the crow that he was oblig'd to run to his station opposite Juliet to be in time for "Cousin Benvolio, do you mark that lady." [A long and detailed review of the stage action act by act.] In the Garden scene an unlucky accident happened to Cautherly...his nose ran with blood and he was oblig'd to keep his handkerchief to his nose all through, which was a great loss to the audience...The Apothecary is the best figure I ever saw, and spoke more sensibly than I ever heard an apothecary speak in my life. Mr Castle has rescued that character from ridicule, and worked by pity what buffoonery used to run off with-applause." Receipts: #145 11s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book.