Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these years. [See 17 March 1772. Gentlewoman identified by Hopkins Manuscript Notes and by Winston MS 10. The Westminster Magazine for March (p. 111) gives out that "she was very lately a boarder with the celebrated Charlotte Hayes; a circumstance which will inform our readers that her figure is pleasing and also that she is young and hadsome. It is but justice, however, to add that she possesses the internal as well as external requisites of a good actress; for she discovers great feeling and sensibility; and indeed promises to be an ornament to the theatre."] Receipts: #192 6s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: For the Author of Sethona 3rd night (Treasurer's Book). ["This play may be properly styled a faggot of utter improbabilities, connected by a band of the strongest Northern fustian. Overawed by Scottish influence, Mr Garrick prevailed on himself to receive it. But though his theatre was apparently full several times during its nine nights' run, it brought so little cash into the treasury, that he would not have lamented its earlier condemnation. It expired on his premises, but hardly left enough behind it to defray expenses of its funeral."--Biographia Dramatica. A glance at the box receipts from the Treasurer's Book hardly bears out the Biographia Dramatica statement as to its financial failure.] Paid half years Poor's rate for St Martin's to Xmas last #32 8s. (Treasurer's Book). [The author's profit was reduced by #10 10s. on 26 March when it was found he had not been charged for use of a new farce.] Receipts: #194 19s. Charges: #73 10s. Profit to Author: #121 9s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Oratorio: Written by the late Dr Hawksworth. Set to music by Stanley. Books of the Oratorio may be had of Mr Condell, in Cross St., Bow St., Covent Garden, and at the theatre the night of the performance. Price 1s. [This night Wm. Kenrick delivered his tenth, and apparently last, lecture on The School of Shakespeare. It was on King Lear, and very little could be said in favor of any of his remarks on the passages he selected...[he closed by] presenting the audience an act from Falstaff's Wedding." Monthly Miscellany (April 1774, p. 191), which had reviewed all of his lectures, had commented upon the increasing popularity of them as evidenced by the numbers attending, and presented an engraving of Kenrick in action before his audience.

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Bulkley. Mainpiece: A New Comedy [by a Lady] never perform'd in this Kingdom. As performed with Universal Applause at the Theatre Royal in Dublin. [The Edition of 1774 lists the Irish Actors. The characters are: Mowbray, Sir Thomas O'Shaughnesy; Admiral Swivel; Leslie; Egerton; Capt. Egerton; Issacher; Donald M'Pherson; Strap; Elfrida Audley; Henrietta Egerton; Mrs Ornel; Mrs Issacher; Jenny, a Mantua Maker, a Maid; French servants and porters. Genest suggests a casting for ten of the characters.] Charges: #66 6s. 6d. Profit to Mrs Bulkley #33 17s., plus #93 13s. from tickets Box 232; Pit 177; Gallery 91). Paid Mrs Carne half year' salary due Lady day last #15. Paid half year's water rent due Xmas last #4. Receipts: #100 3s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Hartley. Mainpiece: By Particular Desire, with New Music, Dresses and Decorations. Interlude taken from Prior's celebrated poem, The Nut Brown Maid. Books of the Interlude to be had at the Theatre. Adapted by Henry Bate. Charges: #72 9s. 6d. Profit to Mrs Hartley #54 15s., plus #61 18s. from tickets (Box 202; Pit 76). Paid Whitfield for making cloaths #33 17s. 4d.; Paid Mr Walker for trimmings &c. #13 4s. Receipts: #127 4s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Weston. Tickets delivered for 7 April taken. It is agreed this day between Mrs Abington and Mr Garrick that the former shall be engag'd to him and Mr Lacy, Patentees of the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, for three years from this date, or three acting seasons, at the sum of twelve pounds a week, with a Benefit, and sixty pounds for cloaths--the above agreement to be put into Articles according to the usual form. s@ Frances Abington, D. Garrick for himself and Mr Lacy (Folger Library, Garrickiana 962 MS [Cage, p. 154).] Receipts: #205 14s. 6d. Charges: #66 5s. Profits to Weston: #139 9s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Pitt and Stoppelaer. Charges #67 15s. Deficit to each #4 6s. 9d., cover'd by income from tickets: Mrs Pitt #53 7s. (Box 48; Pit 185; Gallery 136); Stopplear, #86 5s. (Box 112; Pit 271; Gallery 176). Paid Bates for performing 4 nights in the Sorcerer to 11 Oct. last 10s., 5 nights in Henry VIII to 14 Feb. last #1 5s., and 5 nights in the Fair to 13 Nov. last 5s. Paid half year's Poor's rate for the theatre due Lady day last, #24 15s. 10d., and ditto for House in Bow Passage 17s. 9d. Receipts: #59 1s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Rec'd Remainder of Sinking Fund #561 15s.; Mr Bank's 1 yrs rent to Lady Day last #3; Box Office Keeper's cash returned Watson #10; Archeveque #15; Remainder of S. Barry's Bag #75 14s. 2d. (Treasurer's Book). Paid Salary List #525 12s.; half yrs. Cleansing & Lighting to Lady Day last for St Martin's #12 3s.; Mr King's extra salary #3; Manager's gift to the sufferers by fire in King Street not belonging to the theatre (#10 10s., but Mr Kennedy's Bt. under charged #3 12s. deducted) #6 18s.; Mr Millidge, printer 15s.; Mr J. French on acct #5 5s.; half yrs Land and Window Tax for Covent Garden Parish to Lady Day last-#2 18s. 6d.; Church rate for 1 yr ditto 10s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 2 years. [See 31 Dec. 1772.] Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. No Persons admitted behind the scenes, nor any money returned after the Curtain is drawn up. Places for Boxes to be taken of Mr Sarjant (only) at the Stage Door. The Doors to be open'd at half an hour past 5 o'clock. To Begin half an Hour past 6. Vivant Rex & Regina. [Customary footnote for all succeeding bills this season, not to be repeated here. Woodward seems to have spoken an Occasional Prologue on the opening of the theatre. See request for its repetition on bill for 21 Sept. This Prologue is Larpent MS 377. It suggests the policy of offerings and competitions for the season--some old plays, some new, some foreign, some pantomimes, some Shakespeare, &c.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. Theatre open at half past five. Play to begin half past six. Paid Supernumeraries & Kettle Drum 2 nights #1 7s. (Treasurer's Book). [This payment averaged #2 10s. per night throughout the season, or #470 total for the season. No further notation will be made of the item.] Receipts: #152 6s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mr Smith from Covent Garden Theatre made his first appearance upon this Stage in K. Richd the 3d & was receiv'd with great Applause (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly in wording. Kemble also refers to borrowing Smith from cg 29 May 1759, which was actually his first appearance at dl.] Paid a Tow Bill 10s. (Treasurer's Book). [This is the customary monthly charge for tow for wicks. It came to #4 10s. for the whole season. No further itemizing of it will be made.] Receipts: #239 8s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Music by Fisher. The whole to conclude with a Capital Scene by Servandoni. Books of the Songs, Chorusses &c. [of the afterpiece] to be had at the Theatre. [Customary note on all succeeding bills advertising the Sylphs this season. Mrs Williams was probably Mrs Willems.

Event Comment: Mr Lacy a Proprietor of this Theatre made his first appearance upon the Stage in the part of Alexander. He is very Tall, & Thin, a good Voice but His Fright took away from it's power--he was rec'ed with Applause. Mr Garrick wrote a New Occasional Prologue to introduce him, which was Spoken by Mr King & rec'ed with great Applause (Hopkins Diary). Paid 4 days list at #91 8s. 10d. per diem #365 15s. 4d.; Mr J. French on Acct #10 10s. (Treasurer's Book). [The Westminster Magazine commented on Willoughby Lacy's performance (Oct. 1774): "His performance was far from answering the expectations we had been taught to form from a friend and pupil of our English Roscius. Indeed Mr Lacy is a very young man: therefore we ought not to draw the line of our expectation. His figure is at present lank, awkward, and unengaging; his voice distinctly powerful, but inharmonious; his action outre, vulgar and forced: his attitudes unnatural, affected and disgustful; and his delivery a continued rant, without proper change, a pleasing variety, or a just discrimination of the necessary difference of tone demanded by the different passions. These...capital defects...are not unsurmountable...The play was prefaced by a new Prologue, evidently the production of Mr Garrick. It had some humor and was well received. The purport of it was to beg favor for the hero of the evening, whom it compared to a young swimmer, who had tried to float in two shallow streams, and was now about to venture himself in the great deep. This image is certainly an apt one, though, it is no great compliment to the audiences of Norwich and Birmingham."] Receipts: #248 19s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: New Overture and Pieces of Music Between the Acts. Music by Barthelemon. New Scenes, Habits and Decorations. The Scenes designed by DeLoutherberg, and painted by Messrs French, Royer, and Greenwood. Books of the songs and Chorusses to be had at the Theatre. This piece is got up in a most Superb manner. The Scenery is beyond description fine -& the whole Performance tho' the most complicated upon the stage went off with uncommon Applause. Mrs Abington played finely--Mr Slingsby & Sga Hidou danc'd for the first time & were Amazingly well Rec'ed. The Ballets are very Grand (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly in wording.] Rec'd stopages #17 18s.; Paid salary list #567 16s.; J. French on Acct #5 5s. (Treasurer's Book). Mainpiece: Never performed before, by John Burgoyne. [The review in the Westminster Magazine, Nov. 1774, tells the plot, and concludes: "After some superb exhibitions of transparent scenery, several characteristic airs, and elegant dances, Mr Oldworth...proclaims Maria his only daughter and gives her to Sir Harry. After a dance of Cupids, Hymen, &c....offering them eternal wreaths, the Druid of the Oaks, freed by the present powers of Beauty from that sequestered habitation to which by mystic spells he had long been doomed, appears to ratify their union, and astonishes the spectators by his magic influence, in a glorious vision of that felicity the virtues of the happy pair had so justly insured. An admirable vaudeville, and a grand dance, conclude the dramatic entertainment....Had it not appeared obvious that the whole was intended as a mere vehicle for the splendid spectacle, we do not suppose, in spite of the managers Orders and Puffs, that the author's labors would have been tolerated. The very excellent scenery, however, of the ingenious Mr Loutherbourg preserved this piece from that damnation, which as a dramatic production, it justly merited."] Receipts: #263 14s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Miss Robins made her first appearance upon the Stage in the part of the Country Girl an agreeable figure as a Woman & also in Breeches-she has a particular Cuddenish wa with her wch is not amiss in this Character, but I am afraid it will be a disadvantage to her in any other. Mr G. took great pains with her, & a long time in Training her before he brought her out he wrote & introduc'd a Song in the part and a New Prologue to introduce her & alter'd the Epilogue. all which & the Lady were very well receiv'd (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly in wording.] The Songs introduced in the Comedy [mainpiece] will be printed, and given at the doors of the Theatre. [The Westminster Magazine for December remarked of Miss Robbins' performance and reception, "The first was spirited and characteristic; the latter very favorable, and in our opinion deservedly so. She is no beauty but has strong expression. Her voice is pleasing, and her articulation was extremely distinct and proper."] Receipts: #149 16s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit towards the establishment of a Fund for the relief of Performers and others retiring from the Theatre

Event Comment: New Books of the Songs, Chorusses, &c. will be sold in the theatre. [Mainpiece seems definitely to be the Henry Jones version. This cast is that printed in that Bell Edition 1776, of the Jones play.

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A New Musical Entertainment, by the Author of Midas and The Golden Pippin [Kane O'Hara]. With New Dresses and Scenery. Books of the Entertainment to be had at the Theatre

Event Comment: Book of the Opera may be had at the Theatre. Receipts: #230 13s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain, for one night only. A Scots Musical-Pastoral Comedy. Not acted this season. Benefit Walker and Stewart. [The Hartrys from Theatre Royal, Edingburgh.

Event Comment: Tickets to be had and places for Boxes to be taken of Mr Johnston at the Stage Door of the Theatre at Half a Guinea each. Pit 5s. First Gallery 3s. 6d. Second Gallery 2s. Doors to be opened at Five o'clock. To begin at Half past Six

Event Comment: Mrs Yates would not play for Mr Slingsby altho' her name has been advertis'd from the beginning--Mrs Hartly of Covent Garden was ask'd to do the part, She refus'd it as it was to be done there for a Benefit the week after at Last Mr Reddish said Mrs Canning Should do it, & Such a performance I think was never Seen in Drury Lane Theatre very bad indeed many hisses (Hopkins Diary). Benefit for Slingsby. [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly in wording.] Paid 1 yrs. Subscription to St George's Hospital to Lady Day 1776, #10 10s. Receipts: #270 10s. Charges: #68 8s. Profits to Slingsby: #202 2s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: The Two Misers is unavoidably oblig'd to be deferr'd. Books of the Entertainment [The Two Misers?] to be had at the theatre. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. No persons admitted behind the scenes, nor any money returned after the curtain is up. Places for the Boxes to be taken, of Mr Sarjant (only) at the Stage Door. The Doors to be opened at Half after Five o'clock. To Begin exactly at Half after Six. Vivant Rex and Regina. (Customary footnote for succeeding Playbills. It will not be repeated here. The Westminster Magazine, September, p. 459, indicates a Prelude was also given this opening night, consisting of several of the actors comparing notes on their various successes, casts of parts, droll accidents, which they had experienced during their different summer excursions. Mattocks, Dunstall, Lee Lewes, Miss Barsanti, and Hull participated. The reviewer reported the content of their reminiscences, but disliked the jumbled nature of the Prelude. Another account in the Morning Post, 21 September.] Note: For performance at hay 20 September, see Season of 1774-1775, p. 1905

Event Comment: Books of the Entertainment to be had at the Theatre. [Refers to the afterpiece, and appears throughout the season when this musical entertainment is produced.

Event Comment: Boxes 5s. Gallery 3s. Pit 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Doors open at half past five. Play begin at half past six. [Repeated.] Before the Play a new Overture and New Occasional Prelude (Public Advertiser). The House has been quite alter'd since last Season and is now fitted up in the most elegant manner Possible by the Adam's etc. and is the most Compleat of any Theater in Europe. Great applause to the House before the Curtain. The Theatrical Candidates is wrote by D. G. Esq and was received with great Applause (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly in wording. In Judging the popularity of a play in terms of box receipts for this season one must be aware of the fact that the treasurer's account books here differ from those of the five preceding years in not recording the income from the tickets delivered out for benefit nights. Hence on those nights the stated income reflects only the money taken at the door the night of the performance, and does not indicate the larger amounts which the actors received for their tickets. Deficits to various actors listed on the following pages were all paid up, presumably from the ticket receipts. Each actor doubtless at least broke even on his benefit.] Ceiling rais'd 12 feet. Old side Boxes top and bottom remov'd. New passages to Boxes. Entrance Bridges St. Light pillars to support Boxes inlaid with plate glass on green and crimson ground. Old chandeliers remov'd. Gilt branches with two candles each on pillars. Four new chandeliers in front. No slit i Curtain. Adam architects. 4,000 guineas. Persons not employed in the night's amusement ordered not to come behind the scenes--performers by that means go cross stage (Winston MS 11, from Dr Burney's News Cuttings). Paid Renters #8; Supernumeraries and Drum #1 16s.; taylor's Bill #10 11s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). [For the 188 acting nights of the season and for 11 Oratorio nights the Renters were paid a total of #1,692. The Supernumeraries were paid an average of #5 per night or #940 for the season. No further account of these items will be made. Full account of the new look given to Drury Lane by the Adam's brothers in the Westminster Magazine for Sept. along with an approving review of the Meeting of the Company.] From Lloyd's Evening Post, 25 Sept., "On the New Front of Drury Lane Theatre": @Garrick asham'd to poke his nose@Too sheepishly beneath the Rose:@And fearing, poor man, what were Worse,@His bashfulness might hurt his purse;@Resolves this year to push a front,@And put a better face upon't.@Not surely meaning to give o'er@His Art, and make no faces more.@Yet, fair as tis, I'd have him know@If tis the last he means to show.@This face will never make amends,@For turning tail upon his friends;@Who own, by general consent,@His face the best Stage ornament.@ (In Folger Library, David Garrick Verses, Prologues and Epilogues, MS, p. 86.) Receipts: #208 11s. (Treasurer's Book)