Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Frederick Reynolds, based partly on Monsieur Thomas, by John Fletcher. Prologue by Robert Merry. Epilogue by Miles Peter Andrews (see text)]: With new Scenery, Dresses, &c. Public Advertiser, 24 Apr. 1793: This Day is published Notoriety (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #228 8s. (224.0; 4.8)

Event Comment: Tickets delivered for She Stoops to Conquer will be admitted: Account-Book: Tickets delivered by Brandon, Curteen, Furkins, Anselmo, Robson [door-keeper], Paskin, Gawdry, Sturgeon, Roberts, Linton, Standen, Rye, Doe, Berecloth, Gray, Ledger will be admitted. Receipts: #426 13s. 6d. (59.19.6; 5.2.0; tickets: 361.12.0)

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: Powell: Jones continuing Ill, Evans play'd Robert [in afterpiece]. G. D'Egville absent from this Evening's Performance, Ill. High Life below Stairs rehearsed at 11; Edwy and Elgiva read at 12. Receipts: #215 2s. (157.3.6; 55.1.0; 2.17.6)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: Altered from the Comedy of The Committee; or, The Faithful Irishman [by Sir Robert Howard]. Never acted here

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

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. Tickets had of Mrs Roberts at her house in Duke St., near Lincoln's Inn Fields; and at Bradshaws, &c. Receipts: #130

Event Comment: The Vestal-Virgin; or, The Roman Ladies (by Sir Robert Howard) was probably acted by February 1664@5. It was entered in the Stationers' Register on 7 March 1664@5 and published in 1665 in Four New plays. Downes (Roscius Anglicanus p. 15) lists it by title only. The King's Company

Event Comment: Pepys, Diary: By and by with Lord Bruncker by coach to his house, there to hear some Italian musique: and here we met Tom Killigrew, Sir Robert Murray, and the Italian Signor Baptista, who hath composed a play in Italian for the Opera, which T. Killigrew do intend to have up; and here he did sing one one of the acts. He himself is the poet as well as the musician.... This done, T. Killigrew and I to talk: and he tells me how the audience at his house [Bridges St.] is not above half so much as it used to be before the late fire. That Knipp is like to make the best actor that ever come upon the stage, she understanding so well: that they are going to give her #30 a-year more. That the stage is now by his pains a thousand times better and more glorious than ever heretofore. Now, wax candles, and many of them; then, not above 3 l6s. of tallow: now, all things civil, no rudeness anywhere; then, as in a bear-garden: then, two to three fiddlers; now, nine or ten of the best: then, nothing but rushes upon the ground, and every thing else mean; and now, all otherwise: then, the Queen seldom and the King never would come; now, not the King only for state, but all civil people do think they may come as well as any....That he hath gathered our Italians from several Courts in Christendome, to come to make a concert for the King, which he do give #200 a-year a-piece to: but badly paid, and do come in room of keeping four ridiculous gundilows, he having got the King to put them away, and lay out money this way; and indeed I do commend him for it, for I think it is a very noble undertaking. He do intend to have some times of the year these operas to be performed at the two present theatres, since he is defeated in what he intended in Moorefields on purpose for it; and he tells me plainly that the City audience was as good as the Court, but now they are most gone

Event Comment: John Dryden to his sons, 3 Sept. 1697: After my return to Town, I intend to alter a play of Sir Robert Howards, written long since, & lately put by him into my hands: tis calld The Conquest of China by the Tartars. It will cost me six weeks study, with the probable benefit of an hunderd pounds. In the meane time I am writeing a Song for St Cecilia's feast, who you know is the Patroness of Musique. This is troublesome, & no way beneficiall: but I coud not deny the Stewards of the feast, who came in a body to me, to desire that kindness (Letters of John Dryden, p. 93)

Event Comment: EEgmont, Diary, II, 390: To the Haymarket Playhouse, where a farce was acted called Eurydice First Hiss'd?, an allegory on the loss of the Excise Bill. The whole was a satire on Sir Robert Walpole, and I observed that when any strong passages fell, the Prince, who was there, clapped, especially when in favour of liberty. [The Princess of Wales was also present.

Event Comment: FFawkes and Pinchbeck's Great Theatrical Booth, facing the Hospital Gate, West Smithfield. Taken from Shakespear. [Possibly a puppet show.] The occasion is the Retaking the English Standard belonging to Sir Robert Rich's Regiment of Horse by George Darraugh

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Beaumont and Fletcher, reviv'd. Afterpiece: Not acted these three years. [See 8 Aug. 1761.] Mr Powell made his first appearance this Night in Philaster. His Reception was very great, he play'd the part amazingly well, & Seems to have Requisites to make a very Capital Performer. N.B. Covent Garden Theater begun to play every Night (Hopkins). Philaster by Mr Powell. Prodigious applause (Cross Diary). This play [Philaster] was wrote by Beaumont and Fletcher, and is now altered by Mr Colman. Mr Powell, a young gentleman clerk to Sir Robert Ladbrook, made his first appearance in the character of Philaster.--A greater reception was never shown to anybody,--he was so very much frightened, he could not speak for some time, and, when he did, the tears ran fast down his cheeks,--but he soon recovered himself, and went through the part with a great deal of nature and feeling,--Continued claps and huzza of bravo! &c. &c. Upon the whole I think him possessed of every requisite necessary to make him an ornament to the stage.--N.B. Mr D. Garrick instructed him in this part--when I see him in another shall be able to judge better of his capabilities.--Miss Pope appeared this Night in the character of Maria in the Citizen,--by endeavoring to be very fine she overdid it,--and it was plain to see she wanted her master. N.B.--Covent Garden began to play of our nights--the first time they ever begin first since Mr Garrick was manager (Hopkins Diary--MacMillan). Receipts: #258 11s. 6d. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: Benefit Roberts and Miss Lindar. At the particular Desire of several Ladies of Quality

Event Comment: Benefit the Orphan Children of the late Mr Farquhar. Mainpiece: Written by the late Mr Farquhar. Tickets for Roberts, Mrs Moore, and Young Leigh taken

Event Comment: Benefit Roberts. Particular Care is taken to perform the Play with Decency and Regularity, to the best Capacity of the Company. [Advertised in Craftsman, 19 Dec., and notice exists also in a clipping in BM, 11791 dd 18, Volume 5.

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Roberts

Event Comment: At the particular Desire of several Persons of Quality. Mainpiece: Written by Shakespear. Afterpiece: a new Farcical Ballad Opera of one Act. [By Robert Drury.

Event Comment: Benefit Roberts and Jones. Afterpiece: A New Ballad Opera of one Act [by Edward Phillips]. [For a puff of the afterpiece, see Daily Advertiser, 25 April, and Daily Post, 2 May.