Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time in London; DR. POEM 5, by William Mason, 1st acted at Crow Street Theatre, Dublin, 30 Mar. 1764]: Written on the Model of the ancient Greek Tragedy. The Overture and all the Music composed New by Dr Arne. With a New Scene designed and executed by Dahl [recte Dall]. The Dresses, Decorations, &c. all entirely New. Books of the Lyrical Part of the Drama to be had at the Theatre. 'But I had rather talk of Caractacus; I agree that he will not suffer by not being sputtered by Barry, who has lost all his teeth. Covent Garden is rather above Drury Lane in actors, but both sets are exceedingly bad, so bad-that I almost wish Caractacus was not to appear. Very seldom do I go to the play, for there is no bearing such strollers" (Walpole [to the author, 8 Oct. 1776], IX, 419-20). "I attended Caractacus last winter, and was greatly interested, both from my friendship for Mr Mason and from the excellence of the poetry. I was out of all patience; for though a young Lewis played a subordinate part very well, and Mrs Hartley looked her part charmingly, the Druids were so massacred, and Caractacus so much worse, that I never saw a more barbarous exhibition" (Walpole [13 July 1777], X, 81-82). Public Advertiser, 7 Dec. 1776: This Day is published the Lyrical Part of Caractacus (6d.). [The publisher, J. Wilkie, states that he also has the "whole Drama, as altered by the Author, 18d." Ibid., 9 Dec., contains an advertisement from Mason stating that this version is unauthorized.] Ibid., 12 Dec.: This Day is published [by A. Ward of York] a new Edition of Caractacus, now altered for Representation at the Theatre-Royal in Covent Garden (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #163 10s. (163.6; 0.4)

Event Comment: Benefit Mills. For the Entertainment of the Grand Master, and the rest of the Fraternity of the Antient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons. Three rows of the Pit will be rail'd in for Masons only. Those brethren who intend to accompany the Grand Master to the play, are desir'd to meet his Lordship cloath'd at the Rose Tavern the corner of Bridges street, Covent Garden

Event Comment: Benefit Oates. For the Entertainment of the Grand Master, and the rest of the Brethren belonging to the Ancient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons. Written by Shakespear

Event Comment: Benefit Shepard. For the Entertainment of the Grand Master and the rest of the Fraternity of the Ancient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons. None to be admitted into the Boxes, or behind the Scenes, but by Box tickets, which are to be had of Shepherd at his house on Mill Bank, and of Hobson at the stage door. Those Brethren who intend to honour the Grand Master to the Play, are desir'd to meet his Lordship, cloth'd, at the Rose Tavern, the Corner of Bridges St. at five o'clock

Event Comment: To the Wonderful Brethren of the Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons. For the Benefit of a Brother indisposed. At the New Theatre, James St. The House is newly painted. A Concert, etc. (Daily Advertiser)

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Positively the last night of performing. Benefit for Mrs Williams and Mrs Weston

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; PAST 2, by Richard Josceline Goodenough, altered from his unacted play The Cottagers]: The Overture and Music composed by Baumgarten. [Baumgarten used this overture again in Robin Hood (see cg, 17 Apr. 1784).] Books of the Pastoral to be had at the Theatre. [Wordsworth is identified in the playbill of 22 Dec. Mrs Webb was from the Hay.] Public Advertiser, 24 Nov. 1779: This Day is published William And Nanny (1s.). Receipts: #122 15s. (116.15.6; 5.19.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time: CO 3, by John Burgoyne, based on Silvain, by Jean Francois Marmontel]: With entirely new Music [by William Jackson], Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations. The Scenery designed by DeLoutherbourg, and executed under his direction. Public Advertiser, 3 Apr. 1781: This Day is published The Lord of the Manor (price not listed). Receipts: #226 19s. (216.15; 9.16; 0.8)

Event Comment: Benefit for Marshall, Miss Williams & Mrs Warrell. Oracle, 3 June: Tickets to be had of Marshall, No. 11, York-street, York-buildings; of Miss Williams, No. 14, Martlett-court, Bow-street, Covent-Garden; of Mrs Warrell, No. 48, Carey-street, Lincoln's-inn-fields. Receipts: #147 9s. 6d. (14.16.6; 4.1.0; tickets: 128.12.0)

Event Comment: The United Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but Luttrell's date of acquistion of the separately-printed Prologue and Epilogue is 6 Feb. 1687@8 (see A. S. Borgman, The Life and Death of William Mountford [Cambridge, Mass., 1935], p. 26n). Very probably the play had its premiere early in February. The Prologue and Epilogue are reprinted in Wiley, Rare Prologues and Epilogues, pp. 256-58. A song, Lucinda close or veil those eyes, with music by J. B. Draghi, is in The Banquet of Musick, The Second Book, 1688. Charles Gildon, The Lives and Characters of the English Dramatick Poets (London, 1698 (?), p. 102: [It] did not succeed as the Author wish'd

Event Comment: Benefit Williams and Oates. Written by Shakespear

Event Comment: Benefit W. Williams. At the particular Desire of several Gentlemen and Ladies

Event Comment: Benefit Williams

Event Comment: Never Acted before. [By William Popple.] Grub St. Journal, 26 Feb. 1736: It was play'd the first night to about a 30l. house; three parts of which were the Author's friends, who came on purpose, right or wrong, to applaud it: notwithstanding which, little or no applause was given

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 60 years [1st acted at dl, 9 Jan. 1730]. 2nd piece [1st time; M. INT I, probably by William Harricks. Larpent MS 506; not published]

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; F 2, by Frederick Pilon, altered from his The Device (see 27 Sept. 1779); incidental music by William Shield; Prologue by the author (see text)]. Account-Book, 16 June: Paid Pilon for the Deaf Lover #100. Receipts: #192 3s. (190.0.6; 2.2.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by William Linley. Larpent MS 1150; not published]: With new Dresses and Decorations. The Overture and Musick new by W. Linley. Receipts: #245 13s. 6d. (196.9.6; 45.19.0; 3.5.0)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; MD 2, by George Colman, ynger, based on Raoul Barbe Bleue, by Michel Jean Sedaine (although, in the 1st edition of the play, this denied by Colman). Text (Cadell and Davies, 1798)]: The Scenery, Machinery, Dresses, and Decorations entirely new. The Musick composed and selected [from Paisiello] by Kelly. The Scenes designed and executed by Greenwood? Jun, Chalmers, and others. The Machinery, Decorations, and Dresses designed and under the direction of Johnston, and executed by him, Underwood, Gay, and Miss Rein. Books of the Songs to be had in the Theatre. Times, 8 Feb. 1798: This Day is published Blue Beard (1s. 6d.). "In the course of the representation, many blunders in working the scenery, which are unavoidable in a first representation of this nature, occurred, and the delays which took place were frequently very great...It was twelve o'-clock before the curtain dropped...The Expense of getting it up is said to be not less than #2,000" (London Chronicle, 18 Jan.). Proud swells the tide, with loads of capering heels, And vacant Folly shouts applause in peals; Hoards, even beyond th miser's wish, are thrown, To deck some sham farago for the town...Money for dresses, money for new scenes, New music, decorations, and machines; The cost of these, including every freak, Would pay ten decent players four pounds a week. Anthony Pasquin (pseud. for John Williams), "Innovation," in The Devil [1787], II, no. 2, 46. Receipts: #319 14s. 6d. (216.17.6; 102.2.0; 0.15.0)

Event Comment: [The Duke's Company. For Harris' role, see Pepys, 11 May 1668. For Angel as Stephano, see An Elegy Upon...Mr Edward Angell, reprinted in A Little Ark, pp. 38-39: @Who shall play Stephano now? your Tempest's gone@To raise new Storms i' th' hearts of every one.@ For Underhill as Trincalo, note his nickname of Prince Trincalo. (For Mary Davis as Ariel and Mrs Long as Hypolito, see J. H. Wilson, All the King's Ladies, pp. 140, 166.) Downes (Roscius Anglicanus, p. 33): The Tempest...Acted in Lincolns-Inn-Fields...alter'd by Sir William Davenant and Mr Dryden before 'twas made into an Opera. Pepys, Diary: At noon resolved with Sir W. Pen to go see The Tempest, an old play of Shakespeare's, acted, I hear, the first day; and so my wife, and girl, and W. Hewer by themselves, and Sir W. Pen and I afterwards by ourselves; and forced to sit in the side balcone over against the musique-room at the Duke's house, close by my Lady Dorset and a great many great ones. The house mighty full; the King and Court there: and the most innocent play that ever I saw; and a curious piece of musique in an echo of half sentences, the echo repeating the former half, while the man goes on the latter, which is mighty pretty. The play [has] no great wit, but yet good, above ordinary plays. Thence home with Sir W. Pen, and there all mightily pleased with the play

Event Comment: Mainpiece: 15th [recte 14th] Time [i.e. in continuation of the reckoning for the previous season]. With new Dresses, Scenes, Machinery and Decorations. The Music partly from Cimarosa, Gluck, Martin y Soler?, Reeve, Dr Arne. The rest by Shield. The Chorusses selected from Handel, to be sung by the Performers from the Concert of Ancient Music. [Miss Williams was from the Exeter theatre.] Receipts: #137 1s. 6d. (133.7.0; 3.14.6)