Event Comment: Benefit a Tradesman under Misfortunes. At the Old Tennis-Court in James Street...a Concert of Musick, divided into Two Parts. To which will be given gratis [the two plays]. Stage-Boxes 3s. Front Boxes 2s. Pit 1s. 6d. Gallery 1s. 6 p.m. [Announced in Daily Advertiser only.

Event Comment: Masque: By Particular Desire. The Gentlemen's Magazine for Jan. 1742 (p. 28) in an article On Two Italian Dancers comments rather fully on the Fausans' performance in Le Boufon; or the Idiot: My expectation was rais'd to the height but at their entrance on the stage, they alarm'd me by the inexpressive Agility and descriptive Action, Look and Motion, which were all performed With such mimic Variety, that I defy the most severe Cynic to say that they wou'd not at least raise in him an agreeable surprise, to see all the attitudes, Oddities and mock Gesticulations of the two Idiots, who may be suppos'd to be in Love with one another. It is not any distortion of Body or unnatural transposition of the limbs which they exhibit to the view, but the extravagant Idiotry which the passions of Love, Disdain, Joy, Resentment, would on a real occasion actuate on the personages they represent: Nor do they so manage their Dance that it is ungraceful: they take opportunities to show by actions and movements, that in their comic Humour they have an elegancy. This performance therefore, on Reflection, appear'd to me, instead of an unnatural extravaganza to be founded on the nicest Observations of Human Nature, and prove Signor and Signora to be persons of good judgment, as well as agility. Receipts: #80

Event Comment: A New Opera [a pasticcio, Metastasio text altered by Rolli, form Pergolesi's Olimpiade, 1735 (Loewenberg, Annals of Opera, I, 183)]. Music by Pergolesi, Scarlatti, Lampugnani. L. Leo, F. Leo [libretto in L. C.]. Two of the principal Performers being greatly indispos'd, the Dancers are oblig'd to be deferr'd. Thomas Gray to John Chute, 24 May: Our fifth Opera was the Olimpiade, in which they retain'd most of Pergolesi's Songs & yet 'tis gone already, as if it had been a poor thing of Galuppi's. Two nights did I enjoy it all alone, snugg in a Nook in the Gallery, but found no one in those regions had ever heard of Pergolesi, nay, I heard several affirm it was a Composition of Pescetti's.-Gray, Correspondence, I, 203

Event Comment: Mainpiece: At the Desire of several persons of Quality. This month was published A Clear Stage and no Favour, or Tragedy and Comedy at War, occasioned by the Emulation of the Two Theatric Heroes David and Goliath, A 12 p. poem setting forth the appeals of Garrick and Quin. [Prophesies that in two years' time Quin will continue to be esteemed more than Garrick, the new favorite.

Event Comment: A Concert of Vocal and Instrumental Musick, divided into two Parts. Boxes 2s. Pit 1s. 6d. Upper Gallery 1s. Between the two Parts of the Concert will be given Gratis a Comedy, 6 p.m. [Customary notice of concert, time, and prices.

Event Comment: [This Pastoral Serenata first appeared 21 March 1744 at the Crown and Anchor in the Strand, qv. At that time Beard, Savage, Mrs Clive and Miss Edwards sang in it.] By Subscription for three nights will be performed an English Pastoral Serenata, set to Music by Mr DeFesch. Pit and Boxes laid together at 5s. First Gallery 2s. 6d. Upper Gallery 1s. 6d. On the 20th of March and 3rd of April will be performed a New Oratorio call'd Joseph, also set to Music by Mr DeFesch. For the encouragement of such persons as shall please to favour Mr Defesch by subscribing one Guinea, they shall be entitled to six tickets, each of which will admit one into the boxes, or Two into the Gallery. Nobody to be admitted into the boxes without printed tickets, which will be deliver'd at the theatre. Subscriptions to be taken till the 5th of March, at Mr DeFesch's at the sign of the Angel and Trumpet, in St. Martin's Lane, at the Bedford Coffee House, Covent Garden; and at Mr Page's Stage Door-keeper. To begin at half an hour after six. This day is publish'd Papal Tyranny in the Reign of King John. [No price given, but the 1st edition lists it as 1s. 6d. Watts would have had to sell about two thousand copies to cover his investment in copyright and printing costs.

Event Comment: Will be perform'd several new exercises of Rope Dancing and Tumbling, by M. Duge, Vangable and others, divided into two Parts. Boxes [as 26 Dec. 1744]. Between the two Parts of the Exercises will be given gratis the Tempest as alter'd by Mr Dryden and Sir William Davenant from Shakespear. 7 p.m

Event Comment: A Musical Drama, in Two Parts...with Dances and other Decorations Entirely new. Pit and Boxes to be put together, and no Persons to be admitted without Tickets, which will be delivered this Day, at the Opera Office in the Haymarket, at Half a Guinea each. Gallery 5s. By His Majesty's Command, No Persons whatsoever to be admitted behind the Scenes. The Gallery to be open'd at Four o'Clock. Pit and Boxes at Five. To begin at Six o'clock. A New Opera [composed by Gluck; text by F. Vanneschi]. The Subscribers to the Opera are desired to make the last Payment of their Subscription Money to the Treasurer, at the Opera Office in the Haymarket, where Attendance will be given this and every Day, from Ten till Two, to receive the same, and deliver out the Silver Tickets. [Repeated until 28 Jan.] The new Musical Italian Drama; entitled La Caduta de Giganti, or the Fall of the Giants, writ on Occasion of the expulsion of the Rebels, was perform'd last Night at King's Theatre in the Haymarket. The performance was received and carried on with great Attention, Tranquility, and Applause: and not a little enliven'd by the Presence of his Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland.--Daily Advertiser, 8 Jan