Event Comment: Written by the late Sir Robert Howard

Event Comment: At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. Written by the late Sir Robert Howard

Event Comment: At the particular Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Written by the late Sir Robert Howard

Event Comment: Written by the late Sir Robert Howard

Event Comment: Written by the late Sir Robert Howard

Event Comment: At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. Mainpiece: Written by the late Sir Robert Howard

Event Comment: Benefit for Watson, Roberts, Wilson and Palmer. Tickets deliver'd by Humphreys will be taken. Paid a cotten Bill #2 11s. 4d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #254 1s. 6d. Charges: #84. Profits to beneficiaries: #170 1s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: [As afterpiece Public Advertiser announces The Rival Candidates, but see Hopkins Diary, 12 Oct.] The Managers met again to-day, but nothing settled. Hamlet was given out. I saw Mr Sheridan, he told me that Mr Lacy and he had agreed that no Play should be given out, nor any Bills put up, till they had settled this Affair, which was to be done to-Morrow at Mr Wallis's (the Attorney's) where they were all to dine. I waited on Mr Lacy, who agreed to the same, and no Bills or Paragraph were sent to the Papers. All the Business of the Theatre is at a Stand, and no Rehearsal called. Wed. 16th--Mr Sheridan, Dr Ford and Mr Linley dined today by Appointment with Mr Wallis where Mr Lacy was to have met them; about four o'clock he sent a verbal Message that he could not come to Dinner, but would wait upon them in the Evening, and about nine o'clock he came, and everything was settled to the Satisfaction (of them all) and a Paragraph sent to the Papers, and the Hypocrite and Christmas Tale was advertised for Friday, but no Play was to be done on Thursday--Covent Garden did not play on Friday (Hopkins Diary). Public Advertiser, 16 Oct., summarizes the proprietors' dispute: the Drury Lane patent had been purchased [in 1747] by David Garrick and James Lacy. On his death Lacy had devised his half-share to his son, Willoughby Lacy; on his retirement from the stage Garrick had sold his half-share to Sheridan, Ford and Linley. The original agreement between Garrick and Lacy, as recited in a document retained by the attorney Albany Wallis was that, in case of the sale of either share of the patent, or any part of either share, the seller was obligated to offer the first refusal to purchase to the other partner, and that this was to be done only when the theatre was closed for the summer. In selling one half of his share to Robert Langford and to Edward Thompson, Willoughby Lacy was--so argued his three partners--acting illegally: he had not offered to them the first refusal, and he was negotiating the sale at a time when the theatre was open. Public Advertiser, 17 Oct.. prints a statement from Lacy saying that he did not feel himself bound by the original agreement between his father and Garrick, but that, in the interest of the business of the theatre, he had asked Langford and Thompson to withdraw their claim to partnership, to which request they had acceded. Receipts: #130 9s. 6d

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Gibbs. 3rd piece [1st time; M. ENT 2, by James Roberts]: End of Act I A Grand View of the British Fleet and the French Prizes entering Portsmouth, and an appropriate Procession. The Piece to conclude with a representation of the Town, &c. of Portsmouth, as illuminated on the glorious occasion. With a Transparency of Earl Howe. [These were included in all subsequent performances.] The selected Musick by Mornington, Handel, Dr Arne, Boyce, Pleyel, &c. A Naval Overture, and the new Musick, by Dr Arnold. The Scenery by Rooker. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Morning Chronicle, 24 Oct. 1794: This Day is published RULE BRITANNIA! (1s.)

Event Comment: [Fennell had acted Douglas at Edinburgh on 5 July 1788, and perhaps Previously.] Afterpiece [1st time: P 2, by Charles Bonnor and Robert Merry. Larpent MS 886; not published. Synopsis of action in Universal Magazine, Dec. 1790, pp. 321-23. Author of Prologue unknown]: Interspersed with Dialogue, Airs, Duettos, Chorusses, Dances, &c. &c. &c. The Scenery, Machinery, and Decorations entirely new, and painted by Richards, Carver, Hodgins, Pugh, Malton, with many Assistants [including W. Hamilton (European Magazine, Dec. 1790, p. 468]. Among others will be exhibited the following Scenes taken from accurate Drawings made on the Spot: The Jacobines Convent, Rue St. Honorie; Places de Greve; Inside of the Hotel de Ville; View of the New Bridge called Pont Louis Seize; Fountain des Innocens; Palais Bourbon; View of the Champ de Mars, with the Grand Pavillion preparatory to the Festival; A Grand Assembly; View of the Triumphal Arch, prepared for the Procession to the Champ de Mars; Perspective View of the Champ de Mars, with the Bridge of Boats. With an exact Representation of the Banners, Oriflammes, &c. &c. in the Grand Procession to the Champ de Mars. The Whole to conclude with a Representation of the Grand Illuminated Platform, as prepared by the City of Paris, on the Ruins of the Bastille, for the Entertainment of the Provincial Deputies, and the Public. [The above has reference to the "Grand National Fete" held in Paris, 14 July 1790, in commemoration of the first anniversary of the fall of the Bastille. It is included in all subsequent playbills.] The Dances [composed] by Byrn. The Music composed and compiled [from Reeve and Naumann] by Shield. The Dresses all Characteristically French and New. Books of the Songs, &c. with a short Description of the Performance [T. Cadell, 1790] to be had at the Theatre. Nothing under Full Price will be taken. Account-Book, 11 Jan. 1791: Paid Bonnor #200. Receipts: #316 16s. (296.14; 20.2)

Event Comment: [Fennell had acted Douglas at Edinburgh on 5 July 1788, and perhaps Previously.] Afterpiece [1st time: P 2, by Charles Bonnor and Robert Merry. Larpent MS 886; not published. Synopsis of action in Universal Magazine, Dec. 1790, pp. 321-23. Author of Prologue unknown]: Interspersed with Dialogue, Airs, Duettos, Chorusses, Dances, &c. &c. &c. The Scenery, Machinery, and Decorations entirely new, and painted by Richards, Carver, Hodgins, Pugh, Malton, with many Assistants [including W. Hamilton (European Magazine, Dec. 1790, p. 468]. Among others will be exhibited the following Scenes taken from accurate Drawings made on the Spot: The Jacobines Convent, Rue St. Honorie; Places de Greve; Inside of the Hotel de Ville; View of the New Bridge called Pont Louis Seize; Fountain des Innocens; Palais Bourbon; View of the Champ de Mars, with the Grand Pavillion preparatory to the Festival; A Grand Assembly; View of the Triumphal Arch, prepared for the Procession to the Champ de Mars; Perspective View of the Champ de Mars, with the Bridge of Boats. With an exact Representation of the Banners, Oriflammes, &c. &c. in the Grand Procession to the Champ de Mars. The Whole to conclude with a Representation of the Grand Illuminated Platform, as prepared by the City of Paris, on the Ruins of the Bastille, for the Entertainment of the Provincial Deputies, and the Public. [The above has reference to the "Grand National Fete" held in Paris, 14 July 1790, in commemoration of the first anniversary of the fall of the Bastille. It is included in all subsequent playbills.] The Dances [composed] by Byrn. The Music composed and compiled [from Reeve and Naumann] by Shield. The Dresses all Characteristically French and New. Books of the Songs, &c. with a short Description of the Performance [T. Cadell, 1790] to be had at the Theatre. Nothing under Full Price will be taken. Account-Book, 11 Jan. 1791: Paid Bonnor #200. Receipts: #316 16s. (296.14; 20.2)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; F 2, by Thomas Hurlstone. Prologue by Robert Houlton (see text)]. Morning Chronicle, 23 Mar. 1795: This Day is published Crotchet Lodge (1s.). Receipts: #179 16s. 6d. (172.14.6; 7.2.0)

Event Comment: Doors open at 5 o'clock. Play to begin at 6 o'clock. Prices: Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places to be had of Mr Johnston at the Stage door. [Customary note, repeated.] Rec'd Mrs Groath's one year's rent to Xmas last #3; Paid Renters #8 (Treasurer's Book). This regular expenditure was made nightly for the 189 acting nights of the season, as well as for the 11 nights on which Oratorio's were given in the Spring. The total amount came to #1600. No further note will be made of this item this season. The Westminster Magazine this month, reiterated its doleful cry "that the stage is on its decline." In a long article on "Stage Effect, or Dramatic Cookery," it concluded that our "Theatrical managers and even our Theatrical Critics seem to have resolved all the merit of dramatic composition into stage trick, and rest their criterion of Dramatic Genius on the knowledge of what they are pleased to call Stage effect." The "Theatre" article for the month remarked upon the boldness of Garrick's opening with the Beggar's Opera, "notwithstanding he was requested by the Bench of Justices at Bow-Street, to suppress it, as they were of opinion it had done a great deal of mischief among the low class of people." Lloyd's Evening Post, 17 Sept., included extracts from letters against playing the Beggar's Opera, "because every performance makes from one two twenty thieves." Sir John Fielding and his associates had addressed a letter to Garrick requesting him not to perform the opera for the same reason. The Morning Chronicle, 23 Sept., praised Garrick for not complying with the Justices' request. Wm Augustus Miles published a Letter to Sir John Fielding occasioned by his extraordinary Request to Mr Garrick for the suppression of the Beggar's Opera (44 pp.). In this he vindicated the moral effect of the opera.] Receipts: #158 (Treasurer's Book). [Note: For perform ance at hay 18 and 20 September, see Season of 1772-1773, p. 1740

Event Comment: Benefit for the Voluntary Contribution now open at the Bank, for the Defence of our Country. Boxes 10s. 6d. Pit 5s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Tickets to be had and Places to be taken of Brandon, at the Stage-Door in Hart-street. Tickets also to be had at the Bar of Lloyd's Coffee-House. [Prologue by William Boscawen (Monthly Mirror, Mar. 1798, p. 178. Author of Address unknown.] "A subscription was set on foot behind the scenes," to which most of the performers contributed #10 apiece (Monthly Mirror, ibid). Account-Book, 12 May: Paid into the Bank of England in aid of the Voluntary Contribution #394 15s. Receipts: #518 8s. (280.9; 12.2; tickets: 225.17) [the difference of #123 13s. appears to have been the house charge]

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. "Shakespeare, An Epistle to Garrick" by the author of the Actor [Robert Lloyd] publish'd at 2s

Event Comment: By Permission. Positively the last Night of Performing this Season. Benefit for Dancer, Mrs Fearon, and VanRymsdyck. Tickets delivered by Lloyd and Vowell will be taken

Event Comment: [Mrs Lloyd is identified in playbill of 18 Aug. She has "the name of Lloyd, but [is] better known by the name of Mrs C@@we (who played several parts at the military theatre of Boston in America about two years ago)" (Morning Post, 16 July).

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A New Tragedy [by John Hoole] never perform'd. Paid Younger for a license for Cyrus & the New Occasional Prologue, #3 3s. (Account Book). [Account of the plot of the mainpiece, but without observational comment appeared in Lloyd's Evening Post, 2-5 Dec.] Receipts: #229 4s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Roberts. At the particular Desire of several Persons of Distinction

Event Comment: Benefit J. Roberts. By Desire. For the Entertainment of the Ancient and Honourable Society of Non-Common Pleas, Mainpiece: Written by the Author of George Barnwell. Second and Third Pieces: Both written by the Author of Pasquin. To begin exactly at Half an Hour after Six, and all will be over by Half an Hour after Nine. Tickets (containing the Prologue to the Register, by way of Ode to the New Year, with the Musick engrav'd on a Copper Plate) may be had of Mr Henry Roberts, Engraver, at the Star over-against the Vine Tavern in Holborn, and at the Theatre in the Hay-Market. Daily Advertiser, 2 May: Sir, As at every one of our Theatres this Day there is a Benefit for Persons under Misfortunes, 'tis humbly hop'd that the more humane Pursuers o Pleasure will suspend their Curiosity for Vaux Hall for one Day, (out of a hundred) in Favour of so many Unfortunate, who have but the Chance of one single Night to relieve them from Afflictions which perhaps they have long labour'd under. And, as I have somewhere read, So humane Worth to God like Heights they'll raise, For the Preserver shares the Maker's Praise. I believe it is fully known, without troubling you with farther Particulars, that among the Number above mention'd, is included, Sir, Your very humble Servant, John Roberts

Event Comment: Not Acted these Thirty Years. Benefit Mrs Roberts. At the Desire of several Persons of Quality

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Roberts. Tickets at Mrs Roberts' House in Duke Street, near lif

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Roberts. At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. [Tickets at Mrs Roberts' House in Duke Street, near lif]

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Roberts. At the particular Desire of several Ladies of Quality. [Tickets at Mrs Roberts' House in Duke Street, near Lincoln's Inn Fields.

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Roberts. Tickets at Mrs Roberts' House in Duke Street