Event Comment: Benefit for Woodward. [Stage accommodated as of 7 March.] Tickets of Woodward at Mr Dove's Surgeon in James St., Covent Garden. This was in one speech, a bam, in mimickry upon Mr Foote given by Mr Woodward for his Own Benefit (Cross). [This afterpiece was advertised well in advance and elicited from Foote the outburst in the General Advertiser of 10 March. On 21 March the General Advertiser wrote: "Last Saturday the Stratagem with Tit for Tat were performed at Drury Lane for the Benefit of Mr Woodward, when there was the greatest audience that ever was seen there. And the Dish of Chocolate was receiv'd with uncommon applause."] Receipts: #286 (Cross); house charges, #63 (Powel)

Event Comment: Benefit Woodward, Miss Wherrit, Miss Sandham. At the Desire of several eminent Citizens. Mainpiece: Written by the late Mr Congreve

Event Comment: Benefit Woodward. [Receipts: #81 3s. 6d., plus #59 9s. from tickets. Charges #63.] Paid Servandoni #10 10s. Paid Price a bill for carpenter's work at Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre last week #2 19s. 9d. Tickets to be had of Woodward at his lodgings in King St. (near the Churchyard Gate) Covent Garden; at the Bedford Coffee House; at the Salutation Tavern in Nicholas Lane; and of Page at the stage door. Tomorrow The Distress'd Mother and Miss in her Teens, the part of Fribble by Garrick.--General Advertiser. Daily Advertiser: By Particular Desire of several Persons of Quality. [On 13 April Woodward published a letter of thanks to the former schoolfellow who sent him this speech, promised to present it, and assured him that no copy would be made. See Theatrical Clippings, Folger Library.

Event Comment: Benefit for Woodward. Mainpiece: In Three Acts Never Performed there. [This seems to be some adaptation of Garrick's Florizel and Perdita in three acts, but without the character Rogero.] Charges #72 16s. Profit to Woodward #129 17s. 6d., plus #57 from tickets (Box 228). Receipts: #202 14s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Woodward. Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Afterpiece : A New Farce [by Joseph Reed] from a Story in Gil Blas, never perform'd (Larpent MS 409). Tickets deliver'd for the Double Gallant will be taken. [The Westminster Magazine for March lists Alguazil-Thompson; Alphonso-Lewis; Inis-$Mrs Willems, tells the story for the play, and concludes: "The story is professedly taken from Gil Blas, and although we cannot pay the Dramatist any great compliment either on his diction, the management of his fable, the sublimity of his allusions, or in a word, on the excellence of his tout ensemble; it would be unjust were we not to say, that the farce provok'd most hearty peals of laughter; it may therefore serve as well as any other such Bartholomew-fair-like droll for a heel-piece to the performance on a benefit night."

Event Comment: Benefit Woodward. Tickets at Woodward's Lodgings, at a Peruke Maker's, next the Swan in Vere Street, Clare Market

Event Comment: Benefit Woodward. Mainpiece: An Historical Play, never acted there before [see 20 March 1738]. At the Particular Desire of several Persons of Quality. As written by Shakespear. Containing the wars of Cymbeline with the Romansr, in the reign of Augustus Caesar; the various distresses and Adventures of Imogen the King's Daughter; the noble repulse the Romans met with, on their invading Britain; their defeat, and many other historical passages. Ladies are desired to send their servants early to prevent mistakes. To be Lett, and enter'd upon on Monday next, the 7th instant Commodious Places in the Front and Upper Boxes...for the excellent reviv'd play of Shakespear... For further Particulars enquire of Mr Woodward, at his house near the theatre [in advance bills]

Event Comment: Benefit for Woodward. Tickets of Woodward at the corner of the Piazza in James St., Covent Garden, and of Hobson at the stage door. Servants will be allowed to keep Places on the Stage. Receipts: #170 (Cross); charges, #63 (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: [T+The Occasional Prologue is Larpent MS 214 wherein Woodward crosses the stage sneakingly, "Behold the Prodigal return'd quite tame..." and apologizes for his recent venture in Ireland.

Event Comment: To the Printer of the Public Advertiser, Mr Woodfall: Why don't you constantly, every day, print a list of the Mistakes which the guessing Messieurs Ledger and Gazatteer make in their account of the playbills? Woodward, says the Gazetteer, is to play Harlequin, and Miles the Clown this evening [Friday 14 Oct.] in Harlequin Sorcerer; Tenducci and Brent the Shepherd and Shepherdess. The Ledger informs me that Woodward will play Lissardo in the Wonder, when you say Dyer; and that Mrs Younger is to play Inis, when you advertise Mrs Green will play that character. I dare say, Mr Garrick very shortly will make his appearance in the Gazetteer or Ledger. Your Humble Servant, &c. [Garrick was in France at this time.

Event Comment: Benefit for Woodward. Mainpiece: For last time this season. Afterpiece: A New Farce in 2 Acts

Event Comment: Benefit for Woodward. Mainpiece: Not acted these 10 years. Places (with Tickets) to be had of Mr Sarjant at the stage Door. [See 31 Jan. 1760.] Charges: #68 9s. Profit to Woodward of #123 3s. 6d. plus #61 income from tickets (Box 244) (Account Book). [The House launched the benefit season with a profitable balance of #9616 5s. 5d. on the books.] Receipts: #191 12s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A New Comedy [by Richard Cumberland] never performed. [Genest, V, 282, reports that Garrick was in the House this night and was agreeably surprised at the complimentary reference to him in the Epilogue: Who but has seen the celebrated strife Where Reynolds calls the Canvass into life: And, 'twixt the Tragic, and the Comic Muse, Courted of both, and dubious where to chuse, Th'immortal Actor stands?' A long retelling of the plot appeared in the Freeholder's Magazine for Dec., concluding: This comedy was received with great applause by the Audience. It is said to be written by Mr Cumberland, who has already oblig'd the Public with a musical piece, called the Summer's Tale. The Performers, particularly Mr Smith, Mr Woodward, Mr Yates, Mrs Green, Mrs Bulkley, and Mrs Yates, did great justice to their characters. The Prologue was spoken by Mr Smith, and the Epilogue, which alluded to the celebrated picture of Sir Joshua Reynolds, where Comedy and Tragedy are contending for Mr Garrick, by Mrs Yates." Receipts: #215 18s

Event Comment: Benefit for Woodward. With alterations and two additional scenes from Harlequin Skeleton and Mother Shipton. Mainpiece: Reviv'd. [See 1 May 1767.] Charges #66 8s. 6d. Profit to Woodward #137 12s. 6d., plus #56 5s. from tickets (Boxes 225). Paid 1!2 year's water rent due Xmas last #2 (Account Book). Receipts: #204 1s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Woodward. Mainpiece: Never acted there. Charges #69 12s. 6d. Profit to Woodward #121 2s. 6d., plus #44 10s. from tickets (Box 178) (Account Book). The several Musical Pieces performed last night at Covent Garden, were very agreeably received by a numerous Audience. The well contrasted variety of the Compositions in which each performer exerted their [highest] excellency had the most pleasing effect. Dr Arne's elegant Serenata, as well as the Thunder Ode, composed by Mr Michael Arne, met with the greatest Applause. The Performance will be repeated on Wednesday Next (Public Advertiser). Receipts: #190 15s

Event Comment: Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Mr Sarjant (only) at the Stage-Door. [Customary footnote for subsequent bills. Only significant variations will be noted further. The Westminster Magazine this month (p. 557) remarked upon Woodward's Prologue, "in part a parody on the celebrated speech of Cato in Addison's Tragedy....He informed the audience that they had assembled their Theatrical troops against the approaching winter; and that their leaders had met in council to consider the best method of supporting their campaign; but as their forces were numerous and strong, he hoped the town would not refuse them sufficient subsidies especially...as their Gods must aat, and without money could not even raise a Devil."] Receipts: #184 4s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A Comedy [in 5 Acts by Sir William Davenant, slightly altered for the stage by Henry Woodward] never acted there. [The lady identified by Hopkins MS Notes and named in the Edition of 1775. The Westminster Magazine for Nov. suggests Shuter instead of Quick for Sancho. The review thought it an indifferent Comedy which "yet could be made a most excellent farce....The dialogue has all the rust of antiquity about it, and the modernizing scenes are left to the discretion of the performers. However, in representation, this piece cannot fail of entertaining....Miss Leeson, who appeared in the character of Isabella, has an agreeable plaasing figure, a good face and a marking eye; her voice is weak, but after she got rid of her fright was sufficiently articulate; there was an ease and nature in her deportment and dialogue that entitles her to encouragement."

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A New Comedy [by Hugh Kelly, not printed] never performed. [It was performed but once. The Biographia Dramatica suggests failure was partly due to Woodward's misconception of the main character. The Westminster Magazine for Feb. damns the play, for developing two confusing and parallel plots, for the acting, and for the language.