Event Comment: GGeneral Advertiser, 28 Sept.: We hear that Mr Lacy, Master of his Majesty's company of Comedians at D.L. has applied for leave to raise 200 men in defence of his Majesty's person and government, in which the whole company of players are willing to engage. [See 7 Oct.] On Saturday Night the Audience at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane were agreeably surpris'd by the Gentlemen belonging to that House performing the Anthem of God Save our Noble King. The Universal Applause it met with being encored with repeated Huzzas suffciently denoted in how just an abhorrence they hold the arbitrary schemes of our invidious enemies and detest the despotic attempts of Papal Power. [See also Daily Advertiser, 30 Sept. The newspapers at this time run a three phrase slogan in bold face type vertically in the margins: No Pretender. No Popery. No Slavery, accompanied by two more phrases staring boldly from the bottom margin: No Wooden Shoes! No Arbitrary Power!]

Event Comment: MMrs Cibber to Garrick, late Jan.: It is surprising that dl goes on acting; one night with another, to be sure, they have not received above 40 pounds; the actors are paid only three nights a week; though they play every night. But the top stroke of all was Macklin's play! It was entirely new-dressed, and no expense saved in the clothes. I shall say nothing of the piece, because you may read it; but be as vain as you will about your playing Bayes, you never made an audience laugh more than Henry VII has done. There for the first time I saw your rival, Mr Goodfellow; I should have said the rival Mr Lacy wants to make you; do not be quite dispirited about it, for Perkin Warbeck is much below anything I ever yet saw. Here I must ask Mr Stevens's pardon, to whom I have done injustice, for I think he may dispute the pass downstairs with Perkin, and as his head seems to be the heaviest of the two, I think he has the best right to it.--Boaden, Private Correspondence of Garrick, I, 49

Event Comment: Benefit Cooke. Mainpiece: At the desire of several Ladies of Quality. Two rows of Pit will be laid into the boxes. Ladies desired to send their servants by three o'clock

Event Comment: The Subscribers to the Opera are desir'd to send their Silver Tickets on Saturday next, and the three succeeding Days of Performance, to the Opera Office, where a Half Guinea Ticket extraordinary will be delivered to each, or a proportionable Part of Money return'd as Equivalent for four representations, which the Season already too far advanced, cannot admit of being exhibited, thro' the absolute Necessity there was of postponing the proper Time of beginning the Opera. Forty-Two Representations are past

Event Comment: To the Author of the General Advertiser, Sir: I have frequently observ'd particular Notice has been taken in your paper of particular Merit, I hope therefore you'll allow room for this short Epistle--I am a great Lover of Public Diversions, especially such as can agreeably amuse, or afford the highest Mirth, without offense to Sense of Decency; Of this kind are the two new dances compos'd by Salomon, and perform'd by him, Mr Cook, Mr Muilment, Madem Violette, Sga Padouana, and the young little Salomon, and others. To say they are excellent in their way is barely doing 'em justice; but in these Dances they may be said to have excell'd themselves. The first, tho' a kind of Serious Pastoral Ballet afforded the Audience great Pleasure; and I believe never did three dancers in a Pas Trois, altogether equal the Execution of Sg Salomon, Madem Violette, and Mr Cook; there was an Elegance peculiar to herself that shone thro' her whole performance. The other Entertainment is the representation of a Fair, to which People of all degrees and nations are suppos'd to resort, it may not improperly be stil'd a very High Piece of Low Humour; and caused as much laughter and applause as the strongest Farce ever produc'd, without offending the Modesty of the Ladies. We have had many performers from abroad, but Sg Salamon and Violette so inimitably express their characters in this entertainment, that I think they excel what we have hitherto seen; and very much deserve the Encouragement of the Town, I am, &c

Event Comment: Benefit for Beard. Afterpiece: A Masque of Music, reviv'd, in two Interludes, preform'd at the end of the 3rd and 5th Acts. Written by Colley Cibber. Servants will be allow'd to keep Places on the stage, which (for the better accommodation of the Ladies) will be form'd into an Amphitheatre, illuminated and enclos'd, as at an Oratorio. Tickets for Boxes and Stage to be had of Beard at his house in Red Lyon Square, and of Page at the Stage Door. Ladies desired to send servants to keep Places by three o'clock (General Advertiser)

Event Comment: Benefit for Macklin. Afterpiece: A New Dramtic Satire in two acts. N.B. As several of the Town have prejudged the Pit the Boxes and Galleries acting their own parts themselves for their diversion, to be of the same species of the Lick at the Town last year; and that it can mean only the ordinary Approbation or Disapprobation of the Audience, Signor Pasquin thinks it incumbent on himself to assure to Publick that all those conjectures are groundless; And farther, he assures them that the Pit, &c. acting their parts has no other meaning than the common literal sense; and that the Audience are really interwoven in the piece; and are to be bona fide part of the Dramatis Personae; and he makes no doubt but that he shall make them perform their parts to a numerous and polite audience, and with universal Applause. But he begs that those Ladies and Gentlemen who intend to perform in the Pit and Galleries will be at the Theatre betimes, for particular reasons; and those who are to act in the Boxes are requested to send their servants to keep their places by three o'clock. Signor Pasquin has received the letters sent by the Town and the Village, and they may depend upon having Places kept for them upon the Stage. The Hiss concerning the Robin Hood Society will be complied with (General Advertiser). [The parts were: Pasquin, Marforio, Sir Eternal Grinn, Sir Conjecture Positive, Sir Roger Ringwood, Bob Smart, Soloman Common Sense; Count Hunt Bubble, Sir John Ketch, hic and Hac (Scribblers), Hydra, Lady Lucy Loveit, Miss Diana Singlelife, Miss Brilliant, Miss Bashfull (Larpent MS 96).

Event Comment: MMacklin has built two magnificent Rooms, ground floor [one] for Coffee, the other a [meeting] Room (Winston MS 8). [The Tuner pub. at 1s. by Dr Hiffernan. Fifty-three pages touching on theatre in general but particularly on Boadicia. There is no plot in the play...Boadicia is a monster well deserving what she suffers; therefore is neither an object of Terror or Compassion: but of Detestation. Sh deserts us in the third act...Tender-hearted Venusia is introduc'd to be whined to death...There is scarce any sentiment throughout; no moral to be deduced...the Diction...favors more of the level, languid, and underepic, than of the vigorous marrowy, tragic style...Never was Author more oblig'd to Performers, they acted to the full amount of his meaning; the Matter often fail'd Mr Garrick's continued and vigorous exertion."] Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Event Comment: Wrote by Mr Pope. Mr Barbauld's First Subscription Oratioro,...and set to Musick by Mr Charles Barbault, in Two Parts. One ticket for all three oratorios--one Guinea; for one performance half a guinea; gallery 3s. 7 p.m

Event Comment: MMr Cibber having obtained Leave to act Plays, etc. at the Theatre in the Haymarket, humbly solicits Subscription, from his Patrons among the nobility, Gentry, etc. @Conditions. Each Subscriber will have@for Five Guineas 25 Box, or 40 Pit Tickets@for four Guineas 20 Box, or 32 Pit Tickets@for three Guineas 15 Box, or 24 Pit Tickets@for two Guineas 10 Box, or 16 Pit Tickets@for one Guinea 5 Box, or 8 Pit Tickets@for Half a Guinea 4 Pit Tickets or 6 Gallery@ Subscription Tickets will be taken any Night of the first Ten Performances. No Subscriptions will be received after Thursday 1 Jan. 1758, the first Day of Performance. The Play, Farce, and Entertainments will be timely mentioned in the Bills, Advertisements, &c

Event Comment: The Twenty-Third Day. Daily Advertiser, 18 Aug.: Last Saturday John Sterne was committed to Newgate by Justice Welch, for the Murder of Mr Matthews, an eminent Surgeon in Brook St., Holborn. [Sterne had been an usher in Mathews' Academy, was discharged, but Matthews let Sterne live in Matthews' house for a long time, then expelled him and put his belongings on the stairs. On Friday 15 Aug. Sterne got two pistols and came back to Owen's Coffee House. Here] he waited three Hours for Mr Matthews, who was gone with a Friend to the little Theatre in the Haymarket and afterwards into Company at the Pewter Platter, a publick house in Cross St. [There Sterne shot Matthews.

Event Comment: The Characters New Dressed. Play never acted before. [See Three Original Letters to a Friend in the Country on the Cause and Manner of the late Riot at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane. See also two letters in The Theatrical Review; or, Annals of the Drama, 1 March 1763. This number includes (pp. 117-25) a critique on the Discovery. Critic found it a piece of much merit particularly in the perusal," but on stage frequently tedious and heavy owing to a scarcity of incident and an uncommon lengthening of the acts."

Event Comment: There will not be any Tickets sold at the Office for this Night. Those disappointed from not being able to get in to the performance on Saturday last shall be admitted this evening at Siroe or on Saturday next when Leucippo will be performed again; but in case any Lady or Gentleman should choose rather to have their money, it will be paid at the treasurer's office at the theatre this morning, from ten to three O'clock, on returning the tickets. As every precaution was taken to facilitate the entrance of the company by obtaining an additional guard, besides two magistrates who were so kind as to attend with an additional number of constables; nevertheless the weight was so great from the throng that the centinels and the peace officers were forced from their posts, the doors burst open and broke to pieces, to the very great prejudice of the manager. Mr Giardini humbly hopes that those...who had not the opportunity of paying when they were carried in by the torrent, will be so good as to send their money to Mr Spilsbury. Picked up at the Opera House Last Saturday Night a black satin cloak lined with White and a black lace round it. Recovery may be had of Major Spinnage for the cost of the advertising

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Poitier. Afterpiece: Alter'd from Addison. The Music entirely new set by Mr Arnold. [Original three acts reduced to two.] To be performed for this night only. Charges #75 14s. [Profit to Mrs Thompson #59 7s. 6d. plus #48 9s. from tickets (Box 135; Pit 98) (Account Book). As indicated by the name Mrs Thompson in the Account Book, Miss Poitier was already married by this time, although she does not appear in the Bills under the name Mrs Thompson until 16 Sept. 1767. She was first married to Vernon, the singer at Drury Lane.] Receipts: #135 1s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: This comic opera of two acts [Padlock] was written by Mr Bickerstaffe and is a very compleat, pretty piece,--the music very striking.--Mrs Dorman was hissed at first, but the piece went off very well, and much applauded (Hopkins Diary). New Scenes, Dresses, Music and other Decorations. Doors opened at half past 4. Play to begin exactly at 6 o'clock. [A three column retelling of the plot of the padlock appeared in Lloyd's Evening Post, for Oct. 5-7.

Event Comment: A New Comic Opera of Two Acts written by Mr Bate--Much hissing and Crying out no more no more!--Mr Reddish was desired to give out the Play as soon as Matilda was over--but he with his usual politeness ran up and undress'd himself as fast as he could so that the play was not given out till the End of the Farce as soon as the Blackamoor was given out for the next Night they kept a great Noise and call'd for another Farce to be given out--at length they began to be more appeas'd and went away vowing Vengeance on it the next Night (Hopkins Diary). The Overture and Music of the afterpiece entirely New. Books of the Songs &c. to be had at the Theatre. New Scenes, Dresses, &c. [This is Larpent MS 400. Sir Oliver Oddfish distrusts his servants and is about to replace them with blacks, giving his nephew the chance to introduce Frederick , his daughter Julia 's lover, in disguise as a blackamoor, and to effect an elopement. Act I criticizes Londoners and concludes with the comment, "O that I should ever live to see the day when white Englishmen must give place to foreign blacks." MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly.] Paid the late Mr Johnston's bill to his executors #44 18s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). [Afterpiece reviewed in three columns in the Westminster Magazine for Feb. Reviewer thought it had been produced well in all departments, music, scenery, costume, and acting, but concluded it a theatrical trifle giving not much credit to its author.] Receipts: #166 13s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 16 years [not acted since 27 Oct. 1758]. With Alterations [by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. Prologue by David Garrick]. The Characters new dressed. This Play is revived with Alterations (by R. B. Sheridan Esq) and a new occasional Prologue written by Mr Garrick? and spoken by Dodd, both well received. Miss Essex made her first Appearance upon this stage in Silvia, a small mean Figure and shocking Actress, so bad that she is to do the Part no more. Reddish was very imperfect in Vainlove from the Beginning, but was so very much so in the last Act, that the Audience hissed very much, and cryed out, 'Off, Reddish, Off!" He went forward, and addressed them as follows, 'Ladies and Gentlemen, I have been honoured with your Favour and Protection for these ten years past, and I am very sorry to give any cause for your Displeasure now; but having undertaken the Part at a very short Warning, in order to strengthen the Bill, and having had but two Rehearsals for it, puts it out of my Power to do Justice to the Part, or myself.' The Play then went on. So great a Lye was never delivered to an Audience by any Actor or Actress before. He had the Part at least six weeks in his Possession, and repeated Notice to be ready in it, and six Rehearsals was called for it,--indeed, he attended but three. Vernon undertook to study the Part at eleven o'clock to-night, and to perform it to-morrow (Hopkins Diary). [Miss Essex was from the hay.] Receipts: #209 6s

Event Comment: King Lear [announced on playbill of 31 Jan.] is obliged to be deferred on account of the Indisposition of Mrs Hartley and Lewis. The Rehearsal having been found too tedious in Representation, and Part of the Dialogue between Bayes and the two Gentlemen wholly obsolete, it has been thought advisable to...reduce the Piece to Three Acts [from the original five]. Receipts: #219 10s. [216.4.6; 3.5.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Pacchierotti. Opera: A Serious Opera; the Music by several eminent Masters. Pit tickets will admit two persons to the 1st, and three to the 2nd Gallery; but no money to be returned. Tickets to be had of Pacchierotti, No. 7, Great Marylebone-street, near Cavendish-square

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for the Author. Play [1st time; T 5]: Written by the Rev. [Thomas] Stratford. The Doors to be opened at 6:00. To begin at 7:00. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Tickets to be had of Dr Stratford, No. 5, Cecil-street, Strand, and of Fosbrook at the Theatre. Dr Stratford, in the overflowing of a grateful heart, is happy indeed in returning thanks to the Ladies and Gentlemen who, with equal benignity and humanity, have so generously exerted themselves in bringing forward his tragedy of Russel. Above the mean manoeuvres that have been practised by persons he had the least reason to expect such a conduct from, and which have detained him almost three years in London, at a ruinous expense, he went with a party of his friends, on Wednesday last, to the Hay-market, in support of the other Lord Russel, penned by superior genius. As he never injured an individual, he trusts every intention to defeat the success of his play will be disappointed by a generous London audience who, he still presumes to hope, will be actuated by the same noble spirit and principle that first induced the Lady and Gentleman to undertake so arduous a task as appearing on a public theatre. As many parts of the play will be expunged and altered, he begs leave to mention that it cannot be again represented till Wednesday next, when the characters of Lord Howard and Hubert will be performed by two other Gentlemen, who have generously undertaken their parts, and an entire new address will be spoken by the Gentleman who performs Lord Russel, wrote by himself. "The performers ... rendered the Doctor's Tragedy one of the most laughable farces at which we were ever present. [It] has much Calimanco in it, and where we could hear a sentence compleat (which was seldom indeed) it abounded with Fustian" (Public Advertiser, 21 Aug.)

Event Comment: [A detailed account of all three pieces appears in Sophie v. la Roche, Sophie in London, 1933, pp. 93-95. The theatre is described as seeming "exceptionally small, but it is very prettily painted in blue and white; the boxes, as in Paris, are open and everything is well lit." In 3rd piece "A twelve-year-old girl dressed as a poor boy who walks around with a bundle of rushes, straw and reeds to patch up old chairs, then really sits down to work on one, sang and played unusually well; indeed, was obliged to give two encores; the third time, however, announced with dignity and candour that it would not be possible, and that she feared she might be unable to take her part the next day; which would grieve her excessively, as she liked having her modest talents appreciated and applauded. Everyone clapped and praised her aloud. She is beuatiful, and deserves to be the nation's darling, and will certainly become a great actress, competent to keep her voice, gesture and features in complete control, never using her talents wrongly or producing exaggerated effects."]

Event Comment: ["The Play to-night was to have been The Confederacy, by Desire of the Duchess of Leinster, with The Spoiled Child (both advertised on playbill of 7 May), for Mrs Jordan's benefit...but she suspecting the House would be thin, pretended to be ill, would not act" (Kemble Mem.). "Love for Love (announced in playbill of this present night) and The Spoiled Child were deferred on account of the indisposition of Mrs Jordan, and The West Indian and The Island of St. Marguerite substituted...Aickin and Packer...could not be met with, and no other means of presenting The West Indian remained than Messrs Williames and Maddocks being permitted to read the parts of Stockwell and Capt. Dudley. This the audience refused to comply with, and insisted on having their money returned, which was at last done. The pit was cleared, not even one person remaining; but during the second act, four people came in...About thirty stayed in the boxes, and not a sufficient number to fill the front rows in the galleries...The West Indian, with two parts in it read, and a house thus uncomfortably thin, dragged dismally through the three first acts. The half-price produced considerable amendment in the appearance of the house" (London Chronicle, 10 May).] Receipts: #45 0s. 6d. (11.13.0; 32.5.0; 1.2.6)

Event Comment: Powell: Beaux Stratagem rehearsed at 10 (Barrymore three scenes; Aickin one scene; Miss Collins one scene; Mrs Kemble one scene); Lodoiska at 12 (Hamoir one scene; Sedgwick two choruses). Receipts: #209 7s. (126/11/6; 78/14/0; 4/1/6)

Event Comment: [Newdigate newsletters (Folger Shakespeare Library), 4 Feb. 1674@5: Tuesday night after Counsell their Maties & Court were present at the Rehearsal of the great Maske wch is to be publiquely acted on Shrove Tuesday; by wch tyme her Royall Highness will be able to be present at it, being already very well after her Lying in, as is also ye young princess (Wilson, Theatre Notes, p. 79). The Bulstrode Papers (1, 277): 8 Feb. 1674@5: On Wed night after Councell their Maties and Royal Highnesses were present at the rehearsall of the Great Maske wch will be publiquely acted on Tuesday 7 night next. [The two sources agree on the intended date of the performance but disagree upon the date of the rehearsal.