Event Comment: The King's Company. Pepys, Diary: To the King's playhouse, and there saw The English Monsieur; sitting for privacy sake in an upper box: the play hath much mirth in it as to that particular humour. After the play done, I down to Knipp, and did stay her undressing herself; and there saw the several players, men and women go by; and pretty to see how strange they are all, one to another, after the play is done. Here I saw a wonderful pretty maid of her own, that come to undress her, and one so pretty that she says she intends not to keep her, for fear of her being undone in her service, by coming to the playhouse. Here I hear Sir W. Davenant is just now dead; and so who will succeed him in the mastership of the house is not yet known. The eldest Davenport is, it seems, gone from this house to be kept by somebody; which I am glad of, she being a very bad actor.... [Mrs Knepp] tells me mighty news, that my Lady Castlemayne is mightily in love with Hart of their house; and he is much with her in private, and she goes to him, and do give him many Presents; and that the thing is most certain, and Becke Marshall only privy to it, and the means of bringing them together, which is a very odd thing; and by this means she is even with the King's love to Mrs Davis

Event Comment: Benefit Estcourt. At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. London in 1710 (pp. 138-39): On this occasion the actors represented a prodigiously satirical Interscenium, which was not to be found in the printed copy of the play....In this interlude a troop of soldiers came on, singing at the top of their voices an English song which had been made by the army in Flanders about the Duke of Marlborough. In it Prince Eugene is praised for his open-handedness, while Marlborough, on the other hand, is blamed for his avarice, so that every verse ended: 'but Marlborough not a penny.' The people, who are very bitter against the whole family, even the Duke himself, laughed prodigiously, and bandied about monstrous insults, although Marlborough's daughter, the Duchess of Montagu, was herself at the play and was so greatly shamed that she was covered with blushes....When the song was at an end, there was such a clapping and yelling that the actors were unable to proceed for nearly a quarter of an hour

Event Comment: Benefit Macklin. At the particular Desire of several Persons of Quality. Mainpiece: Written by the late Sir John Vanbrugh. Tickets for Allen, Peploe, Mrs Herle, Mrs Elmy taken this night

Event Comment: Benefit Topham, the English Sampson. [Tickets at Topham's, Corner of Little Bridges Street.]

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Chambers. At the particular Desire of several Ladies of Distinction

Event Comment: Benefit W. Mills. Mainpiece: Written by the late Mr Congreve

Event Comment: By Authority. [The Stratagem] An English Tragi-Comical Burletta, translated from the Italian. Music by Hasse. All Scenes, Cloaths, and Decorations entirely new. Prices: Box 5s.; Pit 3s.; Gallery 2s. To begin exactly at Seven. Places to be taken at the Theatre. Vivat Rex. 'Tis hoped no Gentlemen will take it amiss that they cannot be admitted behind the scenes, or into the orchestra. Those who have already taken places, will be so good to send in time (Public Advertiser). [This full notice repeated in subsequent bills, will not be recorded further.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Never acted there. Neville MS Diary: Both theatres opened again with The English Merchant. Went into the Pit of cg. Shuter did Freeport pretty well, but had not that appearance of blunt honesty which Yates has in that character....I like Miss Pope better in Molly than Mrs Mattocks. Mrs Goodman by Mrs Ward, who is a very different figure now from what she was some years ago. Her daughter did Amelia pretty well, but has a stiffiness and an indifferent voice. End Act III, The Irish Lilt-The celebrated dancer Aldridge, Sga Manesiere. Entertainment Harlequin Dr Faustus. I hope this emulation between the 2 Houses will cause exertion. Receipts: #146 8s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Never acted here. [Mrs Armstead is identified in Morning Chronicle, 16 May. Prologue by George Colman elder (Collection...of English Prologues and Epilogues, II, 207).] Afterpiece: Not acted these 20 years. With a new Overture, the Original Prologue [by David Garrick], and a New Scene, in which will be introduced an air. With a Grand Jubilee-Pageant, in Honour of Gulliver. The Music, Dresses, Scenes, Trophies and Decorations entirely new. The Music composed by Dr Arnold. ["Lilliput was altered by Garrick (its author), and a procession of cards introduced in it, Gulliver walking as the Knave of Clubs" (Gilliland, I, 121-22). London Chronicle, 16 May, gives a synopsis of this pageant.] The Doors to be opened at 6:00. To begin at 7:00 [same throughout season]. Places for the Boxes to be taken at the Theatre. After this Evening the Entertainments of this Theatre will be discontinued till further Notice, on account of the Performers employed at Drury Lane Theatre [see 28 May]

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Billington. Mainpiece: Not acted these 10 years [acted 5 Nov. 1779]. The Music chiefly composed by Hook, the rest compiled from the most eminent Masters. With new Songs and other Alterations [and restorations; the names of almost all the characters have been changed (see 23 Nov. 1778)]. Public Advertiser, 12 Jan.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Billington, No. 53, Poland-street. Receipts: #365 3s. 6d. (244.0.6; 2.12.0; tickets: 118.11.0) [charge: free)

Event Comment: Benefit for Johnstone. 1st piece: The Music by Hook; the rest compiled from the most eminent Masters. Public Advertiser, 30 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Johnstone, No. 12, Norton-street, Portland Chapel. Receipts: #313 17s. (166.16.6; 12.2.6; tickets: 134.18.0)

Event Comment: Benefit Signora Margherita Durastanti. Particular Care will be taken to Place Benches on the Stage for the Accommodation of the Company. [According to Deutsch, Handel, p. 160, her benefit brought her #1,000, in addition to a salary of 1,200 guineas yearly. The Cantata is printed in the Daily Journal, 18 March.

Event Comment: TTamerlane, intended, was deferred by the indisposition of Smith

Event Comment: [Full column in Daily Advertiser describing Barry's and Mrs Macklin's acting techniques.] Barry from the Theatre in Dublin, perform'd the part of Othello, at Drury Lane, before a numerous and polite audience; and met with as great Applause as could be express'd.--General Advertiser, 6 Oct. Thomas Gray to Horace Walpole: You have probably been there since I left you, and consequently have seen the Mr Barry you desired some account of; yet as I am not certain of this and should be glad to know whether we agree about him, I will nevertheless tell you what he is, and the impression he made upon me. He is upwards of six feet in height; wdll and prortionably made, treads well and knows what to do with his limbs; in short a noble graceful figure. I can say nothing of his face but that it was all black, with a wide mough and good eyes. His voice is of a clear and pleasing tone, something like Delane's, but not so deep-mouthed, not so like a passing bell. When high strain'd it is apt to crack a little and be hoarse, but in its common pitch, and when it sinks into any softer passion, particularly expressive and touching. In the first scene, especially when he recounts to the Senate the progress of his love and the means he used to win Desdemona, he was quite mistaken, and I took a pique against him; instead of a cool narration he flew into a rant of voice and action, as though he were relating the circumstance of a battle that was fought yesterday. I expected nothing more from him, but was deceiv'd: in the scenes of rage and jealousy he was seldom inferior to Quin in the parts of tenderness and sorrow far above him. These latter seem to be his peculiarly; his action is not very various, but rarely improper, or without dignity, and some of his attitudes are really fine. He is not perfect to be sure, but I think may make a better player than any now on the stage in a little while. However, to see a man in one character, and but once, is not sufficient, so I rather ask your opinion by this, than give you mine.--Horace Walpole's Correspondence with Thomas Gray, II, 6-7

Event Comment: Mainpiece not acted these six years. Receipts: #116 19s. 6d

Event Comment: WWalpole to Sir Horace Mann: We have operas but no company at them; the Prince and Lord Middlesex Impresarii. Plays only are in fashion; at one house the best company that perhaps ever were together, Quin, Garrick, Mrs Pritchard, Mrs Cibber: at the other Barry, a favorite young actor and the Violette, whose dancing our friends don't like: I scold them, but all the answer is "Lord! you are so English."-Horace Walpole's Correspondence with Sir Horace Mann, II, 42

Event Comment: Paid Hippisley the balance of his account to the end of the season #10. Paid Rosco ditto #17 3s. Receipts: #174 16s

Event Comment: MMrs Green went to Bath to play & left us-O fool. Mr Mossop from Ireland play'd Richd -the House was crowded in ten Minutes, he was receiv'd with great Applause but happening to crack towards the end a few hiss'd. but were overpower'd by the Claps--he is very young has been upon ye Irish Stage but two years--his performance was so well, that we cou'd find no want but--Garrick (Cross). Receipts: #210 (Cross)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A Musical Entertainment in two Interludes. Someday this week, Mr Ross, will perform the part of Young Bevil in the Conscious Lovers, at Drury Lane, being the first time of his appearance on the English Stage. Receipts: #180 (Cross)