Descriptive Summary
Garrick, David, Playbills relating to the theatrical career,
1741-1776
multiple shelfmarks, listed individually
552 items
Folger Shakespeare Library
A guide to the playbills in the Folger Shakespeare Library relating to the professional career of David Garrick, spanning the years 1741-1776.
English.
Provenance
In compiling the Finding Guide, no attempt has been made to deal with provenance. The full provenance of a bill is often impossible to determine--Henry Folger acquired these playbills from a variety of sources, in many cases dealers, and usually they can be traced back no further than that. Still, given its nature, the very fact of a bill's existence may serve as "provenance" enough, since it originally derives from the playhouse. Though intended to serve only an immediate purpose, largely accomplished by the performances they document, playbills may have survived into later periods through any number of ways, including systematic collection by theatre personnel or actors (John Philip Kemble had a formidable personal collection), or by members of the playgoing public. Fortunately for theatre scholarship, in many instances playbills have survived in large, coherent assemblages that now reside in theatre archives and other collections in the United States and abroad. The Folger Library has one of the most extensive collections of playbills in existence. Contact the Reference staff for provenance information relating to specific playbills.
Scope and Content
This Finding Guide offers pervasive access to playbills in the Folger Shakespeare Library relating to the professional career of David Garrick, as actor, manager, dramatist, and man of the theatre. Entries span the years 1741-1776, from Garrick's little-noticed pseudonymous appearances at Ipswich in June 1741 and his meteoric rise to fame in London, initially as "A Gentleman" and then under his own name, at Goodman's Fields beginning in October 1741, through several subsequent years at Drury Lane, in Dublin at Smock Alley, and for a single season at Covent Garden, and then, following on his purchase of a half-interest in Drury Lane, his embarkation on a management there that would span the decades of his increasing dominance over the English-speaking theatre of his time, to his retirement from the stage in 1776.
The record of his career as represented by these bills, though not full and in some cases fragmentary, is nonetheless substantial. The Folger has no bills for certain early segments of Garrick's burgeoning career (for Drury Lane for May 1742, for Smock Alley, Dublin, for June-August 1742, or for Covent Garden for the 1746-47 season); but there are bills (or, in the case of Goodman's Fields, facsimiles) for Ipswich in June 1741, for Goodman's Fields for 1741-42, and for the preponderance of Garrick's long management of Drury Lane, 1747-1776. Despite these gaps, Folger bills trace in bold and fascinating outline one of the most extraordinary careers in the English-speaking professional theatre.
Garrick figures in the Folger bills in specific and more general ways. He may play the title character, or some other named role, or he may be listed (always prominently) among the players performing principal characters but who have no specific roles ascribed to them. And he may appear in more than one role on a single night.
Garrick is also represented in less explicit ways. Although authorship is seldom identified in eighteenth-century playbills, plays written by Garrick and adaptations he made from existing works were frequently performed on the Drury Lane stage. This is the case with his very first work, which preceded Garrick himself onto the professional stage, the perennially popular and adaptable afterpiece
Lethe (which sometimes has appended to it its subtitle Esop [or Aesop] in the Shades), a work in which at a certain point Garrick himself began to appear, as Lord Chalkstone, a character he created for himself. Another frequently seen Garrick afterpiece is Miss in Her Teens, in which Garrick played the foppish, faint-hearted suitor Fribble. Later in his career he joined authorial forces with George Colman the Elder to write one of the best comedies of the century, The Clandestine Marriage.
Garrick was, if anything, even more active as an adapter of other authors' plays. The most notable instances are Shakespeare's, as in the case of Garrick's extensively reworked
Hamlet, his Romeo and Juliet with its gratuitious but spectacularly dramatic funeral procession and its altered tomb scene, his radically simplified Cymbeline (whose character of Posthumus was tailored to himself), and the afterpieces Florizel and Perdita and Catherine and Petruchio, distilled from two much longer works, The Winter's Tale and The Taming of the Shrew. Garrick also placed his imprint on the works of a number of other earlier authors, as instanced by his complete overhaul of Wycherley's The Country Wife as The Country Girl and his new version of Southerne's Restoration tragedy The Fatal Marriage; or, the Innocent Adultery, produced by Garrick as Isabella, or The Fatal Marriage, in which he took care to provide himself with the central male role of Biron.
And so, taking into account Garrick's constant presence in the theatre (except for his two-year "sabbatical" in 1763-65), as actor, manager, producer, dramatic author, adapter, correspondent, song-writer, chief contractor, publicist, auditioner, venture capitalist, general overseer of operations, inventor and executor of long-term strategies, and all-around man of the theatre, it can truly be said that every Drury Lane playbill from 1747 to 1776 reflects his watchful concern, unerring instinct for what would play and succeed, and unremitting attention to every aspect of the theatrical enterprise. By extension it reflects his unprecedented social status as the premiere representative of the English theatre to the English nation.
It is beyond the scope of this project to include Covent Garden and other contemporary playbills, although the Folger has approximately 450-500 of these playbills from the period of Garrick's career (however, we have no playbills during the 1745-46 season when Garrick performed at Covent Garden). It should be noted that a clearer understanding of how Garrick conducted the affairs of Drury Lane over the years of his tenancy there could be reached if bills for the rival theatre were more readily accessible. For example, there is the rivalry described by Kalman Burnim as the most famous of the century (
David Garrick, Director, p. 129), beginning on 28 September 1750--a series of performances of Romeo and Juliet at Covent Garden and Drury Lane lasting twelve consecutive evenings through 11 October and concluding with a triumphant thirteenth performance at Drury Lane on 12 October. Other less spectacular instances could be found, and it is evident that the constant battle of the two theatres for audiences had a profound effect on their choice of plays old and new and the casting of their performers in them.
Given its intended use, this Finding Guide provides only a rigorously defined subset of all the kinds of information present in the bill. For example, information indicating some special feature of the performance or of its social context, such as the following, has been judged beyond the scope of this project and has been omitted:
- Part of the PIT will be laid into BOXES.
- - - - -
- Ladies are desir'd to send their Servants by Three o'Clock.
- - - - -
- Tickets and Places to be had of Mr. VARNEY at the Stage-door.
- - - - -
- On Monday, EVERY MAN IN HIS HUMOUR.
Even information of greater importance such as cast lists has been excluded. Such information, of greater or lesser magnitude than what is necessary to identify a playbill with some specificity, may be found in the relevant entry in the calendar of performances for this period,
The London Stage 1660-1800. One general observation is that most playbills after the accession of George III state at the bottom, "Vivat Rex" and later, "Vivant Rex & Regina."
Users of the Finding Guide will therefore find that the information provided falls somewhere between the intended coverage of
The London Stage calendar and the Folger Library card catalogue and online catalogue. That is, it offers identifying, authenticating, and descriptive information about each individual playbill, far more than the summary designations and groupings found in the card catalogue, but in most respects less than what is provided in the daily calendar entries of The London Stage 1660-1800, where full cast lists and a wealth of ancillary and contextualizing information are presented and where performances of each piece over a given season are linked to one another by means of a "laddering back" system. This system, invented by the compilers of the calendar both to save space and to highlight the continuities inherent in the repertory theatre system, permits tracing a series of two or more performances of a given play from any point of performance in the season back to its first performance, noting at that point only the changes in cast or other significant aspects of the performance that differ from the reference entry. (Unfortunately, the laddering system works only backwards, not forwards; but this deficiency can be remedied by consulting Schneider's Index to The London Stage 1660-1800, where all performances of a given play at a given theatre in a given season are listed chronologically.) At the same time, unlike The London Stage 1660-1800, whose sole purpose is to provide information and which does not systematically document its use of playbills or other source materials, this Finding Guide, while providing basic information about performance, also identifies and offers direct access to the playbills on which that information is based.
Consequently, the user of the Finding Guide will be able to find and study a specific playbill and, through use of the search facility provided, to compare it to other similar bills. In addition (to the extent supported by Folger bills), the user may gain access to coherent groups of playbills--for example, to all benefit performances for Catharine ("Kitty") Clive over the length of her career at Drury Lane during the Garrick years, or to all performances of Garrick's perennially popular afterpiece
Lethe in which Garrick himself performed.
The kind of research possible with the Finding Guide may be illustrated with an example drawn from benefit bills. Benefit bills were prepared in advance (often, ten days ahead of time) for actors and other theatrical personnel to circulate in order to encourage ticket purchases. These bills sometimes give the residence address of the beneficiary; alternatively, sometimes a convenient nearby venue, such as an inn or public house, is specified. In one instance, Miss Dawson's benefit bill for Drury Lane for Thursday, 16 April 1761, prints at the bottom: "Tickets and Places to be had of . . . Miss Dawson, at her House in Manchester-Buildings, Channel-Row, Westminster." Pursuing the presence of the "benefit" code in entries in the Finding Guide and examining the relevant bills, a researcher could compile a list of residences, or approximations of residences, of Drury Lane performers and other personnel, thus providing concrete demographic evidence of locales of actors and thus also of traveling distances to the theatre--information of use in studying the social history of the theatre.
In such ways, even as the Finding Guide provides pervasive access to actual Folger documents, it simultaneously offers opportunities for researchers to pursue answers to questions that
The London Stage 1660-1800 cannot provide, or can provide only by means of unacceptably lengthy searching through hundreds of pages of daily calendar entries (though in some cases Schneider's Index can reduce search time considerably).
Chronology of Garrick's Professional Career
The following chronology was designed to assist in the identification of pertinent or significant playbills in the Folger collection. Where a specific date is given, the user may presume on the existence of a Drury Lane bill for that date in the Folger Library unless otherwise indicated. It should be noted that the Drury Lane theatre season ran from September to May. Sources: Kal Burnim, "Garrick, David," in Highfill, et al.,
A Biographical Dictionary, Vol. 6, pp. 1-103; Ian McIntyre, Garrick (London: Allen Lane, 1999); Stone and Kahrl, David Garrick: A Critical Biography.
Date
Event
15 April 1740
Drury Lane. Garrick's first play, Lethe, performed for
Giffard's benefit [no Folger playbill]
1740-41 (winter)
Goodman's Fields. Garrick steps in as Harlequin for the ill
Richard Yates for "2 or three scenes"
in the pantomime Harlequin Student.
June 1741
Tankard Street, Ipswich. Garrick with Giffard's touring
company,performing a range of parts as "Mr Lyddal"
(Mrs. Giffard's maiden name).
17 July 1741
Tankard Street, Ipswich., Garrick,
billed as "Mr Lyddal," plays Captain Duretete in
The Inconstant and Ventrebleu and Sir Roger Rakeit
inLethe. Earliest Folger playbill.
19 October 1741-24 May 1742
Goodman's Fields. Garrick, first as "a Gentleman," then under
his own name, plays King Richard III
and other roles. Some 31 Folger bills testify to
the popularity of Garrick's Richard III, performed
throughout his professional life in the version cobbled
together by Colley Cibber over a generation before.
A newspaper account of Garrick's season at Goodman's Fields,
citing performances of eighteen characters,
is preserved in ART Vol. d45, p. 15.
28 November 1741
Goodman's Fields. First bill in which Garrick's name appears
(as Chamont in The Orphan).
26-31 May 1742
Drury Lane. Having signed articles of agreement, Garrick
makes his debut there as Bayes in The Rehearsal and concludes, by
command of the royal family, with Richard III.
[No Folger bills for this week]
18 June-19 August 1742
Smock Alley, Dublin. Garrick, accompanied by Mrs.
Woffington, acts Richard III and other roles and performs
a new role, Hamlet. [No Folger bills for this period]
5 October 1742 et seq.
Drury Lane. Garrick begins a three-year period as a regular
member of the Drury Lane company with the role of
Chamont. [No Folger bills for these seasons]
16 November 1745
Drury Lane. Garrick's first performance of Hamlet
at Drury Lane, by command. [no Folger bill]
Late November 1745
Dublin. Garrick acts and co-manages (with Thomas Sheridan)
the united companies at Smock Alley and Aungier Street,
Dublin. Garrick performs at least 20 roles,
departs 3 May. [No Folger bills for this season]
Late May 1746
Garrick returns to London, signs articles with Rich for Covent
Garden for the 1746-47 season.
11 June 1746
Acts at Covent Garden for fifteen days (his first
appearance there). [No Folger bills for this period]
1746-47
Garrick performs regularly at Covent Garden.
[No Folger bills for this season]
14 November 1746
Garrick plays Lothario opposite Quin as Horatio
in Rowe's The Fair Penitent for twelve performances,
a series recalled by later biographers as one of the
great theatrical events of the century.
9 April 1747
Garrick signs an agreement of partnership with the current
patentee of Drury Lane, James Lacy. The joint
management lasted until 1776.
9 September 1747
Garrick buys a half-interest in Drury Lane from Lacy
for £8,000.
15 September 1747
Drury Lane opens for the first season under Garrick's
management with Charles Macklin as Shylock in
The Merchant of Venice. Garrick delivers a prologue written
for the occasion by Samuel Johnson. [No Folger bills
for this season]
29 November 1748
Garrick's altered Romeo and Juliet first performed.
By 1776 it would have over 140 performances.
[No Folger bill for this first performance]
5 April 1750
Lethe, Garrick's popular afterpiece, performed this night with
Garrick in his familiar role of "The Frenchman" (i.e.,
Ventre-Bleu). Earliest Folger bill for Garrick's
management at Drury Lane.
28 September 1750
Romeo and Juliet. A series of rival performances at Covent
Garden and Drury Lane begins, lasting twelve consecutive
evenings through 11 October and concluding with
a triumphant thirteenth performance at Drury Lane on
12 October. [No Folger bills for this sequence]
31 January 1751
Romeo and Juliet. [Earliest Folger bill for Garrick's alteration
of Shakespeare's play]
May-July 1751
Garrick and his wife visit Paris.
24 October 1752
Queen Mab. Earliest of fourteen Folger bills, including two
duplicates, for Woodward's brilliantly successful pantomime,
first produced in the Christmas season of 1750,
represented also by another Folger bill dating from as late
as 26 November 1768.
30 November 1752
Every Man in His Humour. Earliest Folger bill for this
perennially popular play by Ben Jonson.
24 May 1753
The Suspicious Husband. Earliest of ten Folger bills for this
piece, whose popularity may be credited to Garrick's success
in the role of Ranger.
4 October 1753
The Lying Valet. Earliest Folger bill for this play by Garrick.
15 November 1753
King Lear. Earliest Folger bill for Garrick's alteration of
Shakespeare's play, supplying him with perhaps
his most distinguished and effective role.
17 January 1754
Hamlet. Earliest Folger bill for one of Garrick's most succesful
adaptations of Shakespeare and one of his most memorable
central roles.
16 April 1754
Miss in Her Teens. Earliest Folger bill for this play by Garrick.
11 February 1755
The Tempest. Earliest Folger bill for Garrick's adaptation of
Shakespeare's play.
28 November 1755
The Chances. Earliest Folger bill for Garrick's alteration of
Fletcher's play, affording him the role of Don John, one of
his most popular characters.
12 December 1755
The Alchymist. Earliest of some nine Folger bills for this
adaptation by Garrick of Jonson's comedy, in which
he adapted the role of Abel Drugger
to his own considerable talents for character acting.
21 January 1756
Catharine and Petruchio. Earliest Folger bill for Garrick's
adaptation of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew.
22 April 1756
Lethe. First Folger bill for this piece in which Garrick abandons
his previous character, Ventre-Bleu, and comes
forward in a "New Character," Lord Chalkstone,
the role he would henceforth perform.
8 November 1756
Cymbeline. Earliest bill for Garrick's alteration of
Shakespeare's play.
25 November 1756
The Chances. Earliest of nine Folger bills featuring Garrick in
the signature role of Don Felix, the role he chose for
his farewell on 10 June 1776.
18 January 1757
Lilliput. Only Folger bill for this interlude by Garrick.
15 November 1758
Isabella; or, The Fatal Marriage. Earliest Folger bill for this
alteration by Garrick of Southerne's Restoration tragedy
The Fatal Marriage; or, The Innocent Adultery.
27 February 1759
The Guardian. Earliest Folger bill for this farce by Garrick.
31 March 1759
The Male Coquette. Only Folger bill for this afterpiece by
Garrick.
21 April 1759
The Orphan of China. Earliest Folger bill for Arthur Murphy's
splendidly produced adaptation of Voltaire, exemplary
of the current vogue for chinoiserie.
12 January 1760
Harlequin's Invasion. Earliest of seventeen Folger bills for this
brilliant and exceedingly popular Christmas pantomime
by Garrick, introduced in 1759 with the special effect
of a tableau mouvant (Burnim, David Garrick, Director,
pp. 81-82). The Folger collection of bills for this piece
includes three pairs of duplicates (26 December 1760,
27 December 1760, and 26 May 1761) and a
pair of variants (28 March 1761).
13 December 1760
The Enchanter. Earliest Folger bill for this interlude by Garrick.
4 February 1762
Florizel and Perdita. Only Folger bill for Garrick's adaptation
of Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale.
1 April 1762
The Farmer's Return from London. Earliest Folger bill for this
favorite interlude by Garrick, written for himself.
25 January 1763
The Two Gentlemen of Verona, in a new version by the
sometime historian of the British stage Benjamin Victor,
whose sixth night benefit was this night. On
the occasion, Garrick had withdrawn the customary
privilege of half-price for those entering after the third act,
precipitating riots in the auditorium
and ending in the demolishing of the theatre.
15 September 1763
Garrick and Eva depart for two years' travelling on the
Continent. Garrick wrote to George Colman the Elder from
Paris that he was "star'd at ye Playhouse," but it
seems unlikely that Garrick actually performed on the Parisian
stage.
September 1765
Over the decade beginning with this season
and ending with his retirement in June 1776,
Garrick introduced 37 new mainpieces,
including The Clandestine Marriage in February 1766.
14 November 1765
Garrick returns to the Drury Lane stage.
19 February 1766
Garrick and Colman the Elder's The Clandestine Marriage, first
performed on 20 February, announced in the bills of
this date for the next day.
5 December 1768
The Country Girl. Only Folger bill for this adaptation by
Garrick of Wycherley's The Country Wife.
2 March 1769
The Fatal Discovery. One of nine new mainpieces introduced
by Garrick in the last decade of his management
with new, custom-designed settings.
September 1769
Stratford-upon-Avon. Garrick organizes and administers the
Shakespeare Jubilee, a disastrous failure because of
inclement weather.
16 October 1769
The Jubilee. Only Folger bill for Garrick's spectacular stage
version of the Stratford Jubilee.
8 April 1771
Cymon. The only Folger bill for this dramatic opera by
Garrick, with music by Michael Arne, notable for
its great spectacular effects and transformations, first
produced 2 January 1767 and still going strong.
22 May 1773
The Irish Widow. Only Folger bill for this afterpiece by Garrick.
9 March 1775
Braganza. Jephson's play represents one of the few excursions
into legitimate drama of Phillipe Jacques de
Loutherbourg, the brilliant young French designer hired by
Garrick in 1772 as overseer of scenic effects at
Drury Lane.
1775-76
Garrick's final season before retirement.
23 May 1776
The Suspicious Husband. The young Sarah Siddons plays
Mrs. Strictland to Garrick's Ranger, beginning a series
of disappointing failures that would send her
back to the provinces. Neither Garrick himself nor the London
audience had the prescience to realize what she might
later become.
27 May 1776
King Richard III. Mrs. Siddons plays Lady Anne to Garrick's
Richard.
5 June 1776
Bon Ton. Only Folger bill for this afterpiece by Garrick.
10 June 1776
Garrick's farewell appearance, as Don Felix in The Wonder,
concluding thirty years of management of Drury Lane
and thirty-five years of preeminent acting for English and
Irish audiences.
1776
Coalition headed by Richard Brinsley Sheridan purchases
Garrick's half-interest in Drury Lane.
20 January 1779
Garrick dies in London.
1 February 1779
Garrick buried in Poets' Corner, Westminster Abbey.
Playbills: Definitions and Issues
A playbill is a broadside (a single sheet printed only on one side) issued by a theatre for a given performance on a certain date, containing information identifying the plays and other pieces and the performers and others concerned, along with other information useful or interesting to the audience. The earliest surviving playbills date from the years following the Restoration of King Charles II to the English throne in 1660. Playbills were normally printed and issued on the day of performance and made available in the theatre, though bills for benefits might be printed as much as ten days in advance to assist beneficiaries in attracting audiences and selling tickets. The history of playbill printing remains to be written, but evidence such as press figures and perfecting errors (see playbills for 16 December and 27 December 1760; 1, 5, 14, 15, 17 January; 2 February, 23 February, 11 April, 1761) provide important evidence for future study.
Among the great range of documents associated with the eighteenth-century English theatre, playbills are undoubtedly the single most valuable source for knowledge about theatrical activity and practice in the period. Without them, we would be reduced to making hopeful deductions and inferences from other kinds of records and documents (notices in newspapers, letters, prompters' notes, actors' contracts, illustrations of actors in character, and so on), resulting largely in fortuitous but fragmentary information leading to vague generalization and summary. With them, we can document with great confidence exactly what was performed for an audience on a given night at a given theatre; beyond that, we can form a detailed understanding of the nature and character of the theatre of the age. And by reading surviving texts of plays and afterpieces identified in the bills (some of which exist only in manuscript copies preserved by the official censor), and correlating the information to be found in other kinds of documents, we may derive a much more full and concrete sense, not only of the theatre itself and the impact of its performances upon assembled audiences, but of the relationship between the fictive reality presented on stage and actual contemporary life.
Playbills have the unique and double advantage of having been issued nightly, for every performance, and of presenting in systematic ways a great deal of useful information. A bill may include most or all of the following items (not necessarily in the order mentioned): the name of the theatre where the performance takes place; the day and date of performance (sometimes omitting the year); the time of commencement of performance and, sometimes, the time when the doors of the theatre will be opened; the title or titles of the piece or pieces to be performed; the names of the performers (usually only the surnames, and sometimes only the names of the chief performers); the names of the characters they play (sometimes only the chief characters); the title of, performer(s) of, or other identifying information about entr'acte or other incidental performance; information about the special character of the performance (most often, a benefit or a command performance); information about special attractions; indications of special circumstances, conditions, opportunities, or limitations; information about venues for tickets; instructions to audiences (or their servants or coachmen); announcements of future performances; endorsements; rarely if ever in this period, the name and address of the printer of the bill.
The most important and frequent omission of information in playbills is undoubtedly the name of the authors (or composers, or devisers) of the plays, musical pieces, pantomimes, and other entertainment whose titles, along with the names of performers, make up the most important category of information on the bill. Following the lead of contemporary playbills themselves,
The London Stage 1660-1800, a comprehensive daily calendar of performances for the period, does not provide the names of authors in its entries. It is nevertheless possible to determine the authorship of plays in the bills by consulting the indexes to the five parts of The London Stage or, alternatively, Schneider's Index to The London Stage 1660-1800, comprised of a single alphabetical sequence listing all plays by a given author along with titles cross-referenced to the author.
The Playbill and the Problem of Nomenclature
The question may arise, what are the effective limits of the term "playbill"? An example from the beginning of Garrick's London career provides a convenient means of testing these limits. Garrick made his London debut as "a Gentleman" at Goodman's Fields Theatre on 19 October 1741. Preserved in the Folger Library are two documents, the first glued to the back of the second, that provide information about the event. The first is a small-format announcement about the width of a newspaper column, but clearly not a clipping from a newspaper, since the document is blank on either side of the vertical rules delineating the column of print. It has the appearance of a proof, though it seems unlikely that that is what it is. Dated 19 October 1741, this document, whose text is formatted in block paragraphs (i.e., not laid out in discrete centered lines, like playbills), provides many details about the performances at the theatre in Ayliff Street, Goodman's Fields, on this night. The document announces "a Concert of Vocal and Instrumental Music" presented in two parts. Between the parts will be performed "an Historical Play called the Life and Death of King Richard the Third." It further explains: "The part of King Richard by a Gentleman (who never appeared on any stage)."
The second document is a broadside the usual size of a playbill of the period. The printer of this document has laid out the same information appearing on the newspaper-column-size announcement in the usual playbill format. The information appears to be, word for word, exactly the same as that provided in the small-format announcement; there are a few differences in punctuation. At the top of the document is printed "The Play Bill that announced the first appearance of Mr. Garrick." The clear intention behind the printing of this document is to present a facsimile of an original playbill, close enough in format, layout, and type font and size to represent the characteristic features of an actual bill.
The first document is quite clearly not a playbill, though it would appear to serve the same function. Is the second document a playbill? It makes a point of saying it is, explicitly. But playbills, to be playbills, do not have to say they are playbills; they simply are playbills, instantly recognizable as such. Moreover, any document that declares itself a playbill will immediately be suspected of not being one. (One is reminded of the painting by Maigret of a pipe, captioned "This is not a pipe.") And yet this document has the look of a real playbill and provides information of just the sort that an audience would expect to find on a bill. Is it then a "playbill," in some extended or metaphorical, or perhaps virtual sense, if not actually a playbill? We may decide to call this second document a facsimile playbill. Yet, if we do, we must confront the fact that this facsimile bill provides exactly the same information as does the first, newspaper-format document. Does that make the first document a "playbill," in some figurative sense, though not an actual bill?
We have asserted that a playbill is a broadside identifiable by the kinds of information it provides, but in grappling with these two documents containing information about Garrick's London debut we come squarely up against the question of content versus format. When is a playbill a playbill, and when is it an announcement, a facsimile, or something else? If we had the original manuscript draft that served as copy text for the Goodman's Fields playbill, would we designate that manuscript a playbill also? Or would that be, by analogy, a "manuscript playbill" despite the oxymoronic locution?
Although they do not always convey as much information as a playbill does, advertisements of performances carried in newspapers comprise a valuable adjunct to playbills. And, where a playbill is not extant for a given performance, an advertisement offers information perhaps otherwise unavailable. The compilers of
The London Stage 1660-1800 calendar depended on newspaper advertisements to a great extent to supplement or, sometimes, to corroborate information gleaned from playbills. In the period before Garrick's time, for which playbills less frequently survive, advertisements are a more important resource than they are for the age of Garrick. Although their format is sometimes that of a playbill, however, newspaper advertisements lack the authority and the cachet of the primary document recording a performance event, partly because a newspaper advertisement must be prepared more (though perhaps not much more) in advance and therefore cannot reflect, as a playbill can, last-minute alterations of information intended for playhouse audiences and not, like advertisements, for potential playgoers among the general reading public. Notwithstanding the lesser authority of advertisements, the residue of such documents is very large. Entire scrapbooks and boxes of such ads occur not infrequently, and they turn up in many an extra-illustrated volume (see, for example, W.b.481, p. 125). To attempt to come to terms with such a voluminous amount of ancillary material is beyond the scope of this project.
It appears that our basic definition of a playbill must be qualified to include, first of all, an indication of format as well as of content. It is important to be quite specific about format; the term "broadside" by itself may not be enough. Can we solve the problem by saying that a playbill is a broadside of a certain size? But then how do we deal with the fact that not all broadsides intended as playbills have the same measurements? Some are larger or smaller than others. If they are of a sufficiently large size, do they become posters instead of playbills? Of course, there does seem to be a standard size for playbills issued by major London theatres in any given span of years in the eighteenth century. Still, this size is sometimes departed from on special occasions, and in any case, as time moves on, playbills become larger, more detailed and cumbersome affairs, finally reaching a zenith a century later in the double-fold, large format playbills, almost as long as their arms, issued by Charles Kean to audiences at the Princess's Theatre in Oxford Street in the decade beginning in 1850.
Considering these factors, we may need to fall back on a more phenomenological understanding of what a playbill is, defining it by its intention and use, rather than solely in terms of its format and content. The very fact that a document of this kind is given out to members of a theatre audience in the theatre is finally what differentiates it from other, similar documents. And yet, when we return to the newspaper-column-like document, our puzzlement may also return, at least a little. For we might ask ourselves, is this document as it survives something that might have been given to audiences at the Goodman's Fields theatre on that eventful night of 19 October? And, just supposing it were, is the fact that the information it contains is printed like newspaper articles, in block paragraphs, the only thing that prevents this document from finally being called a playbill? Or do we want to say that, despite its format, it is by intention a playbill, if our surmise about its being handed to Goodman's Fields audiences is on the mark? Is it therefore a virtual playbill, if not an actual one?
Finally, we must rest content with an approximate, or "fuzzy," definition of a playbill that includes recognizable combinations of features: format, size, layout of text, informational content, historical period, implicit intention, and place of issue. If these features are present, to an estimable degree, and if they coalesce into a coherent document, then we may use the term playbill with reasonable confidence.
Duplicates and Variants
What is a duplicate playbill? What is a variant playbill?
Duplicates. In the common-sensical way of thinking, a duplicate playbill is any bill for a given performance (i.e., at a given theatre on a given date) of which more than one copy is known; for purposes of the Finding Guide we restrict that knowledge to Folger holdings. Once a bill has been identified, any other bill or bills that turn up are commonly considered a "duplicate." Yet, by the same token, the first bill is of course as much a duplicate as any other, since it is of no significance which bill turned up first. When G. W. Stone Jr. was preparing Part 4 of
The London Stage 1660-1800 calendar, he examined a large number of Folger bills; where he found more than one bill for a given performance, he often identified the others as duplicates. Such annotations as "duplicate in loose bills" (with his initials "gws" appended) frequently occur.
Variants. It is apparently not on record how extensively the compilers of the
London Stage calendar were able to compare duplicates to determine whether any variant information occurred in them. All the same, it is in the very nature of playbills that variants can and do occur. Playbills were usually printed on the day of performance, using as copytext a manuscript bill provided by the stage manager (see, for example, ART Vol d45, p. 162, a manuscript bill for a Drury Lane performance of Congreve's The Double Dealer, Friday, 29 October [1756]). Sometimes in the course of the day the information provided earlier had to be changed, perhaps because of the indisposition of a performer. The name of a substitute performer might need to be inserted, or, less frequently, even the play itself might have to be changed, requiring additional new information about the cast. Bills already printed before the change was made might be used anyway since paper was expensive and time was in short supply. Hence the presence of variant information in playbills that on first inspection might be perceived as identical. Playbills with different press figures indicate that they were printed from different formes, usually with very minor variants.
The printing of playbills could occur much earlier than the day of performance, however, in the case of benefit bills. The actor or actress (or other theatre functionary) whose benefit it was took care to enlist willing colleagues well in advance to perform on his or her behalf, and took care also to have bills printed up before hand, sometimes as early as ten or twelve days before the event, for circulation among potential playgoers in order to secure a large house and thereby maximize the proceeds of the benefit.
A fine example of advance bill printing occurs in the case of two bills in the Craven Collection of playbills (No. 242037). On a single broadside, two Drury Lane bills appear, one for "This present Thursday, the 2d of March, 1769" and another dated "On Tuesday, the 14th of March, 1769," the latter a benefit bill for King and evidently printed twelve days in advance.
Benefit bills were tailored especially to the needs of the beneficiary; and in any case, despite the best intentions of all, by the actual date of performance the information might well have changed. As a result, a benefit bill (less authoritative by reason of its clear precedence) is often at variance with a bill for the same performance printed on the day.
Consequently, variance among bills for a given performance may be small-scale or large-scale. Two bills as yet uncompared may be designated mutually as presumptive duplicates; but the only way to determine if bills are actually duplicates or variants is to make a close visual comparison of all available bills-a time-consuming business even in a well-catalogued archive (and a much more difficult task where the two or more presumed duplicates reside in different collections).
Conclusion. The term duplicate must therefore be used with caution and should be considered to have merely presumptive status until a definitive comparison with other available ostensible duplicates can be made. The term variant must also be used systematically and carefully. The identification of one bill, whether issued on the date of performance or before, as the most authoritative one and any other or others as less authoritative and therefore "variant" remains arbitrary until proven to be so.
For the purposes of this Finding Guide, in cases where two or more presumptively duplicate bills exist for a given performance, an indication of "duplicate" is entered. Where two or more such bills have been collated and found to be at variance, each bill is labelled as a "variant." Caveat: users should note that collation has not been done in all cases and, consequently, that bills identified as duplicates may in fact prove on inspection to be variants.
Dating and Authentication
Establishing the authenticity of a bill can be an exacting task. The vast majority of playbills for the period are easily recognized as genuine, though some are facsimiles, and only a very few have proved to be spurious. Three such bills occur among the Garrick bills in the Folger collection. In 1776, the year of his retirement from the theatre, Garrick closed out his last Drury Lane season with performances of a number of his most popular roles, including Ranger in Benjamin Hoadly's comedy
The Suspicious Husband, King Richard the Third (in the Cibber redaction of the Shakespeare play by that title), and Don Felix in Susannah Centlivre's The Wonder. The Folger collection has anywhere from three to six bills for a given performance of these three plays.
Five bills for
The Suspicious Husband for 23 May 1776 are archived together in BILL Box G2 D84 1775-76, and another may be found in W.b.474, p. 453. Five of these six seem unexceptionable, but one (BILL Box G2 D84 1775-76 No. 2, copy 5) has previously been identified as a forgery. The suspect bill for The Suspicious Husband appears to be typographically indistinguishable from its counterparts, right down to such details as a turned "s" and the broken descender of a "g". Visual comparison of this bill with another, evidently genuine bill (BILL Box G2 D84 1775-76 No. 2, copy 1) using the Hinman Collator demonstrates that copy 1 and copy 5 are typographically identical. Indeed, the correspondence is almost uncannily close, given the fact that other, evidently genuine bills for the same performance bear subtle variations in register and lineation attributable to the slight movement of type or the stretching of paper under pressure in the press as bill after bill is printed. Setting typographical identity aside for the moment, it is clear that copy 5 is printed on paper different from that used for all other copies of the bill. The paper of copy 5 is heavier and somewhat larger in size than the paper used for these (and hundreds of other) playbills; and it bears prominent chain lines and a watermark that distinguish it further. On the other hand, the pressure of the press produces a reverse impression on the back side of a bill as it is printed, significant enough to be felt. The same reverse impression is discoverable on the back of the suspect bill.
Those who have examined the suspect bill in the past, notably Professor George Winchester Stone, Jr., have concluded that the bill is a forgery. Professor Stone annotated the bill as follows: "confirmed in loose bills" and appended his initials ("gws"). On the reverse of the bill another person, presumably a member of the Folger staff, wrote: "Forged bill from large Garrick portfolio - 236 cs 1253." However, no notes seem to exist recording the reasons for making this judgment. The answer to the question of how and why the forgery was "confirmed" remains uncertain. A fresh consideration of the question on this date by two current Folger staff members, Erin Blake and Kim Tully, suggests that the bill may well be a forgery but that additional proof is required to confirm the fact. What may be concluded from the evident fact of typographical identity but different paper--if the paper is indeed not genuine, that is, not paper that could have originated in the shop of the customary printer of Drury Lane playbills? The paper could indeed be eighteenth-century paper, available to the printer of theatre bills; alternatively, it could be of later manufacture. Research would be required into watermarks and other physical evidence (the chemical makeup, notably the acidity, of the paper, for example, and the genuineness of the chain lines and watermark) in order to establish its provenance. Common sense suggests how doubtful it is that the original printer of bills for Drury Lane Theatre at this time would have paused long enough, in the rush of preparing hundreds of bills for an imminent performance, to print a seemingly special copy from the same type on other than ordinary paper. But if someone else outside the print shop printed it, either at the same time or later, the only way to account for the observed typographical identity is to posit the photographic copying of an authentic existing bill and the subsequent creation of a stereotype that could then be used to forge one or more copies of the original bill.
Such a process of deception is well within the realm of possibility. Adding to the likelihood of forgery here is that the bill contains very "high profile" information, documenting one of Garrick's last performances in a role he made famous and therefore adding to its value for collectors. All the same, pending confirmation of the nature of the paper (or discovery of further notes on the question), we should probably conclude that the bill is a "presumed," but not quite a "confirmed," forgery.
On 27 May 1776, Garrick presented the character for which he first became famous, King Richard the Third. Four bills for this performance survive in Folger collections: three in BILL Box G2 D84 1775-76 and a presumed variant bill for this date in Scrapbook [from Wright sale], Richard III, item 2. One of these bills has also been identified as a forgery. Still a third set of bills, three in number, for Garrick as Don Felix in Susannah Centlivre's
The Wonder on 10 June (BILL Box G2 D84 1775-76) include a bill identified as a forgery. The same conclusion should be drawn in the case of the forged bills for Richard the Third (BILL Box G2 D84 1775-76 No. 3, copy 3) and The Wonder (BILL Box G2 D84 1775-76 No. 6, copy 4). These bills also have been annotated by Stone: "original in loose bills gws", and a Folger staff member has written on the reverse: "Forged bill from large Garrick portfolio - 236 cs 1253." Although these latter two bills have not been checked on the Hinman Collator against other, genuine bills for their date, the paper on which they are printed is different. In fact, the paper in all three instances of presumed forgery is a close if not exact match-adding to the likelihood of forgery in these three instances.
One might further observe that the very fact (putative or certain) of existence of forged bills for performances by a famous actor suggests what great cultural significance this actor had in his own time and continues to have for subsequent generations.
Whereas the authenticity of a bill is seldom in doubt, the dating of a playbill can sometimes prove a troublesome task. Playbills in the Garrick period regularly provide the day, the date, and the month of performance (for example, "This present Monday, May 21st"), but not always the year. A perpetual calendar must therefore be consulted to determine the year date, and several choices almost always occur. Information extrinsic to the bill (advertisements and notices in newspapers, prompters' diaries, letters, contemporary accounts, and other identifying or corroborating sources) must therefore be consulted to determine the full date in question.
Fortunately, the preparation of the current Finding Guide postdates the compilation of the five-part calendar of theatre performances for the period,
The London Stage 1660-1800. In preparing Part 4 of the calendar, George Winchester Stone, Jr. made an extensive search of Folger bills and found a great number that either lacked a year date or bore a date entered by an unknown hand that required verification. Stone went to considerable effort to date these bills, often finding that a date entered after the fact was mistaken. In every case where verification was required and accomplished, Stone left his initials ("gws") in pencil in the margin of the bill opposite the date. No instance has been found in which Stone was in error (a tribute to his skill and persistence). In every instance where Stone has verified or corrected a date, his initials are included in the Finding Guide entry. In a much smaller number of instances where a bill was not seen and verified by Stone, The London Stage has been used in combination with a perpetual calendar to verify the correct date of a bill lacking a year date. In such instances, the initials of the principal scholar involved in the preparation of this Finding Guide ("jd") have been added. The interested user may of course consult the London Stage entry for any performance date represented by a Folger bill.
Another important factor affects the dating and authentication of a bill. Because the Julian calendar gave way to the Gregorian calendar during the Garrick period, dating a bill by means of a perpetual calendar must be done with this change in mind. The Gregorian calendar began in 1752: 2 September 1752 was followed by 14 September 1752, resulting in a gap of twelve days. Thus, to find the actual day-date for the period before the change, 12 days must be subtracted from the Gregorian date. It is of course much easier simply to use a perpetual calendar that incorporates this change from Julian to Gregorian. Wherever the day or the year has been supplied editorially in the present Guide for entries falling in the pre-Gregorian period, the pre-Gregorian day-date has been ascertained and entered.
Still another aspect of authentication is found in the troublesomely contradictory nature of variant bills for a given date-very often for a benefit performance. It was sometimes the case that a cast list sent to the printer on the day before or on the morning of performance would have to be altered owing to the sudden indisposition of a performer. In most cases only a role-actor pairing would have to be changed, but sometimes an entirely new piece had to be substituted. The evidence is quite inconclusive as to whether bills already printed before the change was made went into circulation anyway or not. (If the eighteenth-century printing house was anything like the Elizabethan printing house, uncorrected sheets might well find their way to the reading public along with those more up to date.)
The London Stage 1660-1800 calendar does not provide a census of bills, whether variant bills or not; it simply presents what in the view of the editor comprises the most authoritative information. In the case of benefit bills the information available may be less reliable. Although playbills were normally printed on the day of performance (it being too uncertain a venture to print them before then, and in any case these decisions were typically made at the last minute), benefit bills were regularly printed in advance, as we have seen, in order to allow the beneficiary or beneficiaries to circulate them and thus drum up ticket sales. Whether a benefit bill or not, the verbal formula used in stating the date makes the distinction clear: "This present Friday [or other day] . . ." indicates a bill printed on the day of performance; "On Friday [followed by a date] . . ." or "On Friday [or other day] next" signals an advance bill. This is a basic distinction reflecting playhouse and hence printer's practice. It would, of course, be unacceptably consumptive of space and time to try to provide information of this kind in the Finding Guide. It is significant, in this context, that The London Stage 1660-1800 does not discriminate between advance and date-of-performance bills. All the same, a bill printed on the day of performance has at least potentially more authority than one printed before the fact.
In a telling example, Miss Dawson's benefit at Drury Lane on Thursday, 16 April 1761, was originally intended to include a performance of
As You Like It, but a notice printed at the bottom of a surviving benefit bill, and also at the bottom of a bill printed on the day of performance, indicates a sudden change (the suddenness emphasized by some syntactical confusion): "At the indisposition of a Principal Performer has obliged Miss DAWSON to change her Play, Tickets deliver'd for As You Like It, will be taken." We may deduce from this evidence that benefit bills, as well as tickets, for As You Like It were printed well in advance; such bills, once superseded by later ones, would lose their authority and, if consulted without comparison with other bills for the date, would prove misleading. In the present case of Miss Dawson's benefit, The London Stage 1660-1800 is up to the challenge, giving the information on the changed, day-of-performance bill and printing the statement explaining the change.
In another instance, however, the challenge produces confusion. Two advance bills for the performance at Drury Lane on Friday, 17 April 1761 ("On Friday next" and "On FRIDAY" respectively) give two different performers of the role of Anne Lovely in
A Bold Stroke for a Wife: Miss Haughton (given also in The London Stage 1660-1800) and Mrs. Clive. Other information, preferably a bill printed on the day of performance and corroborated by a notice in the newspaper, an entry in the prompter Hopkins's diary, or some other information would need to be found in order to determine which actress actually ended up playing the role.
Works Cited
Many, though by no means all, of the bills identified in the Finding Guide contributed to the most comprehensive scholarly reference work to date for the London years of Garrick's activity, the daily calendar of performances
The London Stage 1660-1800, Part 3, edited by Arthur Scouten, covering the period up through the early and middle 1740s, and Part 4, edited by George Winchester Stone, Jr., covering the years from 1747 through 1776, the whole usefully indexed by Ben Ross Schneider, Jr. This calendar supplants, though it does not entirely obviate, three earlier calendars: the early nineteenth-century Rev. John Genest's Some Account of the English Stage, and two modern works, Dougald Macmillan's Drury Lane Calendar 1747-1776 and Charles Beecher Hogan's Shakespeare in the Theatre 1701-1800. Two works on the Dublin stage, Esther Sheldon's Thomas Sheridan of Smock Alley, which includes a calendar of performances for the years of Sheridan's management (which overlap with Garrick's), and John C. Greene and Gladys L. H. Clark's The Dublin Stage, 1720-1745, are also helpful. These works in turn depend on the vast residue of documents and other artifacts from the period, along with contemporary and later historical accounts, to which all theater scholarship on the subject remains indebted. These works establish the principal scholarly context in which the present Finding Guide appears.
For background and source information on Garrick's professional career, see the two major modern biographies, Stone and Kahrl's
David Garrick and McIntyre's Garrick, and the extensive article by Burnim in Highfill et al., Biographical Dictionary, Vol. 6. For Garrick's own writings and adaptations see Nicoll, A History of English Drama 1700-1750 and 1750-1800; The Plays of David Garrick, ed. Pedicord and Bergmann; and Berkowitz, Garrick: a Reference Guide.
Berkowitz, Gerald M.
David Garrick: A Reference Guide.
Boston:
G. K. Hall,
1980.
A Biographical Dictionary of Actors, Actresses, Musicians, Dancers, Managers & Other Stage Personnel in London, 1660-1800.
16 vols.
Philip H. Highfill, Kalman A. Burnim, and Edward A. Langhans.
Carbondale, IL:
Southern Illinois University Press,
1973-1993.
Drury Lane Calendar 1747-1776.
Edited by Dougald MacMillan.
Oxford:
Clarendon Press,
1938.
The Dublin Stage, 1720-1745: A Calendar of Plays, Entertainments, and Afterpieces.
Edited by John C. Greene and Gladys L. H. Clark.
Bethlehem, PA and London:
Lehigh University Press and Associated University Presses,
1993.
Fitzgerald, Percy.
The life of David Garrick: from original family papers, and numerous published and unpublished sources.
London:
Tinsley Brothers,
1868.
Fitzgerald, Percy.
A new history of the English Stage, from the restoration to the liberty of the theatres, in connection with the patent houses.
London:
Tinsley Brothers,
1882.
Garrick, David.
Letters.
3 vols.
Edited by David M. Little and George M. Kahrl.
Cambridge:
Belknap Press,
1963.
Index to The London Stage 1660-1800.
Compiled by Ben Ross Schneider, Jr.
Carbondale, IL:
Southern Illinois University Press,
1979.
Knight, Joseph.
David Garrick.
London:
K. Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co.,
1894.
The London Stage 1660-1800: A Calendar of Plays, Entertainments & Afterpieces Together with Casts, Box-Receipts and Contemporary Comment Compiled from the Playbills, Newspapers and Theatrical Diaries of the Period.
11 vols.
Edited by William Van Lennep (Part 1, 1660-1700), Emmet L. Avery (Part 2, 1700-1729), Arthur H. Scouten (Part 3, 1729-1747), George Winchester Stone, Jr. (Part 4,1747-1776), and Charles Beecher Hogan (Part 5, 1776-1800).
Carbondale, IL:
Southern Illinois University Press,
1960-68.
McIntyre, Ian.
Garrick.
London:
Allen Lane; Penguin Press,
1999.
Nicoll, Allardyce.
A history of English drama, 1660-1900.
Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press,
1952-59.
The Plays of David Garrick.
Edited by Harry William Pedicord and Frederick Louis Bergmann.
Carbondale:
Southern Illinois UP,
1980-82.
Shakespeare in the Theatre 1701-1800: A Record of Performances in London.
2 vols.
Edited by Charles Beecher Hogan.
Oxford:
Clarendon Press,
1952, 1957.
Sheldon, Esther K.
Thomas Sheridan of Smock-Alley: Recording his Life as Actor and Theatre Manager in both Dublin and London, and Including a Smock-Alley Calendar for the Years of His Management.
Princeton:
Princeton University Press,
1967.
Some Account of the English Stage from the Restoration in 1660 to 1830.
10 vols.
Compiled by Rev. John Genest.
Bath,
1832.
Stone, George Winchester, Jr., and George M. Kahrl.
David Garrick: A Critical Biography.
Carbondale, IL:
Southern Illinois UP,
1979.
Arrangement
The playbills are arranged chronologically by season. Each entry provides the following information (to the extent that it is present in the document itself):
- 1. shelf mark and page or other locating indication of source
- 2. theatre name
- 3. date of performance, in day-date-month-year order
- 4. title of mainpiece
- 5. title of afterpiece
- 6. indications of any role or roles performed by Garrick himself
- 7. special nature of the bill (as in the case of a benefit or a command performance)
- 8. unusual or distinguishing features
- 9. additional notes relating to its physical state (facsimile, duplicate, etc.)
- 10. codes recording authenticating data (see second paragraph of the section on Dating and Authentication: "gws" refers to George Winchester Stone; "jd" refers to Joe Donohue; "pc" refers to perpetual calendar; "LS" refers to The London Stage 1660-1800)
List of Playbills
1741 Summer Season
W.b.472, p. 72
W.b.473, p. 69 (duplicate copies)
Tankard St. Playhouse, Ipswich, Tuesday,
21 July [1741]
The Inconstant, Or, The Way to Win Him.
Captain Duretete: Lyddall (i.e., DG)
Lethe; Or, Aesop in the Shades.
The Drunken Peasant ["Pantomime Dance at the end of the second act"].
Ventrebleu and Sir Roger Rakeit: Lyddal [DG]
NOTE:
Benefit for Mr. Marr and Miss Hippesley. In summer 1741, Giffard and his company are playing in Ipswich and DG is performing as "Mr Lyddall." By 5 July DG writes from London to his brother Peter; he is evidently deeply immersed in his wine business, mentions being in London a week hence to collect a pension for his aunt, and looks forward to a series of letters from Peter (Little and Kahrl,
Letters 1.25-27). Of course, it is possible that DG is constructing a ruse to cover his presence (perhaps intermittent) in Ipswich. BD is silent on any presence of Garrick in Ipswich after June, but Stone and Kahrl's chronology places Garrick's acting at Ipswich in "June-July." Most sources are also vague on Giffard's movements in July. We may conclude that this bill is not necessarily inconsistent with DG's activities in this summer period. [jd/pc]
1749-50 Season
Scrapbook. London Drury Lane: Beaufoy Collection, p. 6v
Drury Lane, Thursday,
5 April [1750]
Comus.
Lethe.
The Frenchman: DG
NOTE:
Benefit for Mrs. Foster.
[Comus] "With an occasional Prologue to be spoken by Mr. Garrick."
Facsimile bill: "Ten Copies re-printed for J.H. Burn, Jan. 1840". [LS]
1750-51 Season
W.b.473, before p. 359
Drury Lane; Thursday,
31 January [1751]
Romeo and Juliet.
Romeo: DG
NOTE:
1752 crossed out, 1751 inserted.
ART Vol. d45, p. 236
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
30 April [1751]
The Mourning Bride.
Osmyn: DG
The Chaplet.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mr. Pritchard
Command performance: "By Particular Desire." [gws]
1751-52 Season
ART Vol. d45, p. 254
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
6 November [1751]
The Stratagem.
Archer: DG
The Savoyard Travellers.
The Intriguing Chambermaid.
[gws]
W.b.475, p. 209
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
8 January [1752]
Much Ado About Nothing.
Benedick: DG
Harlequin Ranger.
[gws]
W.b.473, p. 256
Smock Alley, Dublin, Wednesday,
20 May [1752]
Romeo and Juliet.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mrs. Lee. At the time, Garrick in Dublin, having agreed to act with Sheridan. Garrick's name does not appear on playbill.
1752-53 Season
BILL Box G2 D84 1752-53, no. 1
Drury Lane, Thursday,
4 October [1752]
Romeo and Juliet.
Romeo: DG
The Lying Valet.
[jd/gws/pc/LS]
BILL Box G2 D84 1752-53, no. 2
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
24 October [1752]
King Henry the Eighth.
Queen Mab.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
Penciled year date (1753, not in hand of gws) is incorrect; October 24 fell on a Tuesday in 1752. [pc/LS]
PN 2598 G3 F5 Copy 4 Ex.ill. v. 4, opposite p. 206
Drury Lane, Thursday,
30 November 1752
Every Man in his Humour.
Kitely: DG
The Double Dissapointment.
[jd/pc/LS]
ART Vol. d45, p. 241
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
23 January [1753]
The Orphan.
Chamont: DG
The Genii.
[gws]
ART Vol. d45, p. 219
Drury Lane, Friday,
16 February [1753]
The Gamester.
[Unnamed character]: DG
NOTE:
Benefit for author [Edward Moore] ("The Ninth DAY for the Benefit of the AUTHOR"). No afterpiece listed. [gws]
W.b.476, p. 419
Drury Lane, Thursday,
1 March [1753]
Every Man in his Humour.
Kitely: DG
The Chaplet.
[gws]
BILL Box G2 D84 1752-53, no. 3
Drury Lane, Saturday,
31 March [1753]
Every Man in his Humour.
Kitely: DG
The Double Disappointment.
NOTE:
Benefit for Madlle. Auretti. [gws/pc/LS]
ART Vol. d45, p. 248
Drury Lane, Monday,
21 May [1753]
The Rehearsal.
Bayes: DG
The Genii.
[gws]
BILL Box G2 D84 1752-53, no. 4
Drury Lane, Thursday,
24 May [1753]
The Suspicious Husband.
Ranger: DG
NOTE:
Benefit for Mrs. Horton.
No afterpiece listed. Issued in advance of the day. Penciled note, unsigned, on back of bill: "This was played Fri. 25th according to Winston and Macmillan." Stone evidently accepts that determination against the date printed on the playbill, and dates the performance Friday May 25 in LS. No entry there for Thursday May 24. [gws/pc]
1753-54 Season
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 31
Drury Lane, Saturday,
8 September [1753]
The Beggar's Opera.
The Lying Valet.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. MS Annotation: "First night of season". 1753 in ink, contemporary hand. [gws/pc]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 32
Drury Lane, Thursday,
13 September [1753]
As You Like It.
The Chaplet.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. 1753 in ink, contemporary hand. [gws/pc]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 34
Drury Lane, Thursday,
10 October [1753]
Oroonoko.
Harlequin Ranger.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. 1753 in ink, contemporary hand. [gws/pc]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 35
Drury Lane, Friday,
12 October [1753]
The Conscious Lovers.
Harlequin Ranger.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. 1753 in ink, contemporary hand. [gws/pc]
W.b.476, p. 429
Drury Lane, Saturday,
13 October [1753]
The Suspicious Husband.
Ranger: DG
Duke and No Duke.
[gws]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 33
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
19 October [1753]
The Recruiting Officer.
Harlequin Ranger.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. 1753 in ink, contemporary hand. [gws/pc]
ART Vol. d45, p. 240
Drury Lane, Friday,
2 November [1753]
The Old Bachelor.
The Englishman in Paris.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on playbill. [gws]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 36
Drury Lane, Thursday,
8 November [1753]
The Relapse.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
No afterpiece listed.
Command performance: "By his MAJESTY'S COMMAND." 1753 in ink, contemporary hand. [gws/pc]
ART Vol. d45, p. 229
Drury Lane, Thursday,
15 November [1753]
King Lear.
King Lear: DG
The Chaplet.
[gws]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 37
Drury Lane, Monday,
19 November [1753]
Oroonoko.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. No afterpiece listed. 1753 in ink, contemporary hand. [gws/pc]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 38
Drury Lane, Friday,
23 November [1753]
The Non-Juror.
The Genii.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. 1753 in ink, contemporary hand. [gws/pc]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 39
Drury Lane, Monday,
26 November [1753]
The Man of Mode.
The Sheppard's Lottery.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. 1753 in ink, contemporary hand. [gws/pc]
ART Vol. d45, p. 205
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
5 December [1753]
Boadicia.
[Unnamed character]: DG
NOTE:
No afterpiece listed. Stone's note: "Duplicate in Autographs DL Kitty Clive etc. in MS vault" (this duplicate not found by JD). [gws]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 40
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
11 December [1753]
The Recruiting Officer.
The Devil to Pay.
NOTE: Benefit for "a Gentlewoman who hath a large Family in great Distress, being kept out of a good fortune." Garrick's name does not appear on bill. 1753 in ink, contemporary hand. [gws/pc]
W.b.472, p. 117
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
12 Decmeber [1753]
Boadicia.
NOTE: Benefit for author, Richard Glover ["The Author's Night"]. No afterpiece listed. "With New Pieces of Music between the Acts, adapted to the Play, and Compos'd by Dr. BOYCE." "No persons to be admitted behind the Scenes, nor any Money to be returned after the Curtain is drawn up." [gws]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 41
Drury Lane, Friday,
14 December [1753]
Sir Courtly Nice; Or, It Cannot Be.
The Englishman in Paris.
NOTE:
Command performance: "BY DESIRE." 1753 in ink, contemporary hand. [gws/pc]
W.b.475, p. 188
Drury Lane, Thursday,
27 December [1753]
The Beggar's Opera.
Fortunatus.
[gws]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 42
Drury Lane, Saturday,
29 December [1753]
The Busy Body.
Fortunatus.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. Command performance: "BY DESIRE."
1753 in ink, contemporary hand. [gws/pc]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 43
Drury Lane, Monday,
31 December [1753]
The Man of Mode.
Fortunatus.
NOTE: Garrick's name does not appear on bill. 1753 in ink, contemporary hand. [gws/pc]
ART Vol. d45, p. 225
Drury Lane, Saturday,
5 January [1754]
Jane Shore.
Hastings: DG
Fortunatus.
[gws]
W.b.476, p. 423
Drury Lane, Friday,
10 January [1754]
The Strategem.
Archer: DG
Fortunatus.
[gws]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 96
Drury Lane, Friday,
11 January [1754]
The Conscious Lovers.
Fortunatus.
NOTE: Garrick's name does not appear on bill. 1754 in ink, contemporary hand. [gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1753-54, no. 1
Drury Lane, Monday,
14 January [1754]
Macbeth.
Fortunatus.
[gws/pc/LS]
ART Vol. d45, p. 221
Drury Lane, Thursday,
17 January 1754
Hamlet.
Hamlet: DG
The Anatomist.
NOTE:
Command performance: "By Particular Desire." [gws]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 97
Drury Lane, Saturday,
19 January [1754]
The Provok'd Husband.
Fortunatus.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
1754 in ink, contemporary hand. [gws/pc]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 98
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
22 January [1754]
The Careless Husband.
Fortunatus.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
1754 in ink, contemporary hand. [gws/pc]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 99
Drury Lane, Thursday,
24 January [1754]
Twelfth Night.
Fortunatus.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
1754 in ink, contemporary hand.
[gws/pc]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 100
Drury Lane, Monday,
4 February [1754]
The Inconstant.
Fortunatus.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
1754 in ink, contemporary hand.
[gws/pc]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 101
Drury Lane, Thursday,
7 February [1754]
The Inconstant.
Fortunatus.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
1754 in ink, contemporary hand.
[gws/pc]
ART Vol. d45, p. 227
Drury Lane, Friday,
8 February [1754]
King John.
The Bastard: DG
The Lying Valet.
[gws]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 102
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
12 February [1754]
Twelfth Night.
The Knights.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
1754 in ink, contemporary hand.
[gws/pc]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 103
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
26 February [1754]
Virginia.
[Unnamed character]: DG
NOTE:
No afterpiece listed.
1754 in ink, contemporary hand.
[gws/pc]
ART Vol. d45, p. 259
Drury Lane, Thursday,
28 February [1754]
Virginia.
[Unnamed character]: DG
NOTE: Benefit for author [Samuel Crisp]. No afterpiece listed. [gws]
BILL Box G2 D84 1753-54, no. 2
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
26 March [1754]
The Stratagem.
Archer: DG
The Atomist.
NOTE:
Benefit for Made. Auretti.
[gws/pc/LS]
BILL Box G2 D84 1753-54, no. 3
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 104 (apparent duplicate copies)
Drury Lane, Friday,
15 April [1754]
King Henry the Eighth.
Fortunatus.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. On W.b.474 copy, 1754 in ink, contemporary hand. [pc/LS/gws]
W.b.473, p. 305
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
16 April [1754]
Miss in her Teens.
Fribble: DG
ART Vol. d45, p. 250
Drury Lane, Thursday,
2 May [1754]
Richard the III.
NOTE: Benefit for Mr. Burton and Miss Minors. No afterpiece listed.
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. [gws]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 105
Drury Lane, Saturday,
4 May [1754]
The Conscious Lovers.
The Englishman in Paris.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mr. Philips and Mrs. Cowper
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
1754 in ink, contemporary hand.
[gws/pc]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 106
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
7 May [1754]
The Busy Body.
The Gambler.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mrs. Mills.
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
1754 in ink, contemporary hand.
[gws/pc]
W.b.474, p. 35
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
8 May [1754]
Creusa; Queen of Athens.
[Unnamed character]: DG
NOTE: No afterpiece listed. Garrick's name does not appear on playbill. [gws]
BILL Box G2 D84 1753-54, no. 4
W.b.474, p. 393 (duplicate copies)
Drury Lane, Thursday,
9 May [1754]
King Henry the Eighth.
The Chaplet.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mr. Scrase, Mr. Vaughan, and the Sub-Treasurer.
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. [gws/pc/LS]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 107
Drury Lane, Friday,
10 May [1754]
The Merry Wives of Windsor.
The Oracle.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mr. and Mrs. Simson and Master Simson.
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
1754 in ink, contemporary hand.
[gws/pc]
W.b.475, p. 126
Drury Lane, Monday,
20 May [1754]
The Beggar's Opera.
The King and the Miller.
NOTE:
Benefit for Gray, Dunbar, Smith, and Broad. [jd/pc]
1754-55 Season
BILL Box G2 D84 1754-55, no. 1
Drury Lane, Friday,
11 October [1754]
Romeo and Juliet.
Romeo: DG
NOTE:
1745 inserted in ink, contemporary hand.
[gws/pc]
1755-56 Season
PN 2598 G3 F5 Copy 4 Ex.ill. v. 9, opposite p. 28
Drury Lane, Thursday,
2 September 1755
The Suspicious Husband.
Ranger: DG
The Anatomist.
[jd/pc/LS]
W.b.476, p. 427
Drury Lane, Friday,
17 October [1755]
The Rehearsal.
Bayes: DG
The King and the Miller.
[jd/pc]
PN 2598 G3 F5 Copy 5 Ex.ill. v. 1, opposite p. 126
BILL Box G2 D84 1755-56, no. 1, copy 1
BILL Box G2 D84 1755-56, no. 1, copy 2
BILL Box G2 D84 1755-56, no. 1, copy 3
BILL Box G2 D84 1755-56, no. 1, copy 4
BILL Box G2 D84 1755-56, no. 1, copy 5
(duplicate copies)
Drury Lane, Thursday,
23 October [1755]
King Richard the IIId.
King Richard: DG
The Anatomist.
NOTE: "1755" in pencil on BILL Box copy 1, no. 1.
[jd/gws/pc/LS]
BILL Box G2 D84 1755-56, no. 1, copy 6
Drury Lane, Thursday,
23 October [1755]
King Richard the IIId.
King Richard: DG
The Anatomist.
NOTE: Presumed forgery [noted in card catalogue]. Pencil note on back: "Forged bill from Garrick portfolio-236 cs 1253." [gws/pc]
ART Vol. d45, p. 247
Drury Lane, Thursday,
13 November [1755]
The Provok'd Wife.
Sir John Brute: DG
The Chinese Festival.
[gws]
ART Vol. d94, p. 65
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
23 November [1755]
Barbarossa.
Achmet: DG
The Anatomist.
[gws]
ART Vol. d45, p. 255
Drury Lane, Monday,
24 November [1755]
The Suspicious Husband.
Ranger: DG
The Devil to Pay.
NOTE: Command performance: "BY DESIRE." [gws]
ART Vol. d94, p. 64
Drury Lane, Friday,
28 November [1755]
The Chances.
Don John: DG
The Tragedy of Tragedies; Or, The Life and Death of Tom Thumb the Great.
[gws]
W.b.470, p. 33
Drury Lane, Friday,
12 December [1755]
The Alchymist.
Abel Drugger: DG
The Chaplet.
[gws]
ART Vol. d45, p. 203
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
30 December [1755]
The Alchymist.
Abel Drugger: DG
The Oracle.
NOTE: Command performance: "BY DESIRE." [gws]
W.b.473, p. 451
Drury Lane; Monday,
5 January [1756]
Much Ado About Nothing.
Benedick: DG
[gws]
ART Vol. d94, p. 5
Drury Lane, Friday,
9 January [1755]
The Mourning Bride.
Osmyn: DG
The Apprentice.
NOTE:
Command performance: "By COMMAND of His Highness the Prince of Wales." [gws]
ART Vol. d45, p. 217
Drury Lane, Monday,
12 January [1756]
The Fair Penitent.
Lothario: DG
The Apprentice.
NOTE: Benefit for the author of the farce [Arthur Murphy]. [gws]
PN 2598 G3 F5 Copy 4 Ex.ill. v. 12, opposite p. 196
Drury Lane, Monday,
19 January 1756
Tancred and Sigismunda.
Tancred: DG
Miss in Her Teens.
NOTE:
Command performance: "At the Particular Desire of several Ladies of Quality."
Miss in Her Teens also "By Desire." [jd/pc/LS]
BILL Box G2 D84 1755-56, no. 2
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
21 January [1756]
The Winter's Tale.
Catherine & Petruchio.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. [pc]
ART Vol. d45, p. 262
Drury Lane, Monday,
26 January [1756]
The Winter's Tale.
[Unnamed character]: DG
Catherine & Petruchio.
[gws]
BILL Box G2 D84 1755-56, no. 3
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
28 January [1756]
The Winter's Tale.
[Unnamed character]: DG
Catherine & Petruchio.
NOTE:
1755 in ink, contemporary hand. [gws/pc]
ART Vol. d45, p. 265
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
10 February [1756]
Zara.
Lusignan: DG
Prologue to Britannia: A Masque.
Spoken by DG "In the character of a Sailor"
[gws]
BILL Box G2 D84 1755-56, no. 4
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
11 February [1756]
The Tempest.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
"a NEW English OPERA", "Never Perform'd Before."
1755 in ink, crossed out; 1756 supplied, in contemporary hand. [pc]
ART Vol. d45, p. 215
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
17 February [1756]
Every Man in his Humour.
Kitely: DG
The Anatomist.
NOTE:
Command performance: "By Particular Desire." [gws]
W.a.168, opposite p. 288
Drury Lane, Friday,
27 February [1756]
Athlestan.
[Unnamed character]: DG
NOTE:
No afterpiece listed. [gws]
BILL Box G2 D84 1755-56, no. 5
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
2 March [1756]
All's Well that Ends Well.
The Genii.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
1756 in ink, contemporary hand. [gws/pc]
ART Vol. d94, p. 66
Drury Lane, Monday,
15 March 1756
Athelstan.
[Unnamed character]: DG
The Apprentice.
PN 2598 G3 F5 Copy 4 Ex.ill. v. 14, opposite p. 304
Drury Lane, Thursday,
18 March 1756
Athelstan.
[Unnamed character]: DG
The Englishman in Paris.
NOTE:
Benefit for author, i.e. Dr. John Brown. [jd/pc/LS]
ART Vol. d45, p. 258
Drury Lane, Monday,
22 March [1756]
Tancred & Sigismunda.
Tancred: DG
The Apprentice.
NOTE: Benefit for Mrs Cibber. [gws]
ART Vol. d45, p. 252
Drury Lane, Thursday,
25 March [1756]
Rule a Wife and Have a Wife.
Leon: DG
The Apprentice.
NOTE: Benefit for Mr. Woodward. [gws]
ART Vol. d94, p. 67
Drury Lane, Friday,
30 March [1756]
The Mistake.
[Unnamed character]: DG
Britannia.
Prologue (in character of a Sailor): DG
[gws]
PN 2598 G3 F5 Copy 5 Ex.ill. v. 2, opposite p. 282
W.b.472, p. 101
BILL Box G2 D84 1755-56, no. 6, copy 1
W.b.476, p. 421 (duplicate copies)
Drury Lane, Saturday,
3 April [1756]
The Fair Penitent.
Lothario: DG
The Englishman from Paris.
NOTE: The farce "Written by Mr. Murphy." Benefit for author, i.e. Mr. Murphy. Benefit bill printed in advance, announcing play for "Tomorrow." Date: Over the period of Garrick's career April 3 falls on a Saturday only in 1756 and 1762. LS gives
The Fair Penitent for 3 April 1756 and cites Murphy's benefit [jd]. GWS has written on W.b.476, p. 421, "Duplicate in loose bills," but did not note duplicates in PN2598 G3 F5 Copy 5 Ex.ill. v.2 or W.b.476. [jd/gws/pc/LS]
BILL Box G2 D84 1755-56, no. 6, copy 2
Drury Lane, Saturday,
3 April [1756]
The Fair Penitent.
Lothario: DG
NOTE: Presumed forgery. The farce "Written by Mr. Murphy." Benefit (for Murphy) bill announcing play for "Tomorrow." GWS: "confirmed in loose bills." Notation on back: "Forged bill from large Garrick portfolio - 236 cs 1253." Comparison of forgery with authentic bill (above) of same date indicates different paper and slightly longer and wider spacing of letters, producing a slightly longer line of type in the text box. The font seems to be identical. [gws/pc]
Craven Collection of Playbills, No. 242027
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
6 April [1756]
Jane Shore.
Hastings: DG
Catharine & Petruchio.
NOTE: Benefit for Mr. Ross. [jd/LS]
W.a.167, opposite p. 154
Drury Lane, Thursday,
10 April [1756]
Much Ado About Nothing.
Benedick: DG
The Mock Orators.
[gws]
ART Vol. d45, p. 55
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
21 April [1756]
Romeo and Juliet.
Orpheus and Euridice and ["Intermix'd with"] The Metamorphoses of Harlequin.
NOTE:
Command performance: "BY DESIRE."
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. [pc]
Craven Collection of Playbills, No. 242028
Drury Lane, Thursday,
22 April [1756]
The Earl of Essex.
Lethe.
"New Character": DG
NOTE:
Benefit for Mr. Leviez.
jd / LS
BILL Box G2 D84 1755-56, no. 7
Drury Lane, Friday,
23 April [1756]
The Stratagem.
Archer: DG
The Intriguing Chambermaid.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mr. and Mrs. Davis.
1776 crossed out, 1756.
[pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1755-56, no. 8
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
11 May [1756]
King Henry the Eighth.
Harlequin Mountebank.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mr. Saunderson. Garrick's name does not appear on bill. 1756 in ink, contemporary hand.
[gws/pc]
PN 2598 G3 F5 Copy 4 Ex.ill. v. 2, opposite p. 126
Drury Lane, Friday,
21 May 1756
Rule a Wife and Have a Wife.
Leon: DG
Lethe.
[Unnamed character]: DG
NOTE:
" ... a new Character to be perform's by Mr. Garrick" in
Lethe..
Command performance: "At the particular Desire of several Persons of Quality."
[jd/pc/LS]
ART Vol. d45, p. 231
Drury Lane, Monday,
24 May [1756]
Love for Love.
Lethe.
"A NEW Character": DG
NOTE: Benefit for Mrs. Horton. Garrick's name does not appear on cast list of
Love for Love. [gws]
BILL Box G2 D84 1755-56, no. 9
Drury Lane, Thursday,
27 May [1756]
Hamlet: Prince of Denmark.
Hamlet: DG
The Englishman in Paris.
NOTE:
1756 in ink, contemporary hand.
[gws/pc]
1756-57 Season
BILL Box G2 D84 1756-57, no. 1 (oversized)
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
21 September [1756]
King Richard the Third.
The Anatomist.
NOTE: Oversized bill printed in red and black. Garrick's name not on bill. [jd/pc/LS]
BILL Box G2 D84 1756-57 no. 2
W.b.475, p. 408 (duplicate copies)
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
12 October [1756]
Romeo and Juliet.
Romeo: DG
The Devil to Pay.
NOTE:
1756 written in ink in a contemporary hand on BILL Box G2 D84 1756-57 no. 2. W.b.475, p. 408 is fragmentary: the top line ("At the Theatre Royal in Drury-Lane" is trimmed off.
[gws/pc]
W.a.167, opposite p. 192
ART Vol. d45, p. 54 (duplicate copies)
Drury Lane, Friday,
15 October [1756]
Romeo and Juliet.
Romeo: DG
The Apprentice.
NOTE:
W.a.167, opposite p. 192 is a fragmentary bill, trimmed at top and bottom to fit page.
[gws]
Scrapbook [from Wright sale]: Richard III (item 1)
Drury Lane, Thursday,
23 October [1756]
King Richard the Third.
King Richard: DG
The Anatomist.
[jd/pc/LS]
ART Vol. d45, p. 162
Drury Lane, Friday,
29 October [1756]
The Double Dealer.
The Englishman Returned from Paris.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. Manuscript playbill.
[gws]
BILL Box G2 D84 1756-57, no. 3
Drury Lane, Thursday,
18 November [1756]
The Rehearsal.
Bayes: DG
The King & the Miller.
NOTE:
Command performance: "At the Desire of several Persons of QUALITY."
[gws/pc]
W.a.170, opposite p. 130
Drury Lane, Thursday,
25 November [1756]
The Wonder a Woman keeps a Secret.
Don Felix: DG
Fortunatus.
[gws]
W.b.474, p. 77
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
1 December [1756]
Comus.
The Englishman in Paris.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
[gws]
ART Vol. d45, p. 263
Drury Lane, Thursday,
2 December [1756]
The Wonder; A Woman keeps a Secret.
Don Felix: DG
The King and the Miller.
[gws]
ART Vol. d45, p. 207
Drury Lane, Saturday,
11 December [1756]
Cato.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
[gws]
W.b.473, p. 173
Drury Lane, Monday,
13 December [1756]
Hamlet.
Hamlet: DG
NOTE:
Small format announcement, width of one newspaper column.
BILL Box G2 D84 1756-57, no. 4
W.b.473, p. 371 (duplicate copies)
Drury Lane, Friday,
17 December [1756]
Amphitryon, Or, The Two Sosias.
Lethe.
Lord Chalkstone: DG
[gws/pc]
ART Vol. d45, p. 238
Drury Lane, Saturday,
18 December [1756]
Much Ado About Nothing.
Benedick: DG
Country Dance.
"By the characters of the Play."
NOTE:
Command performance: "BY DESIRE."
Benefit for "The general lying in HOSPITAL for Married and Unmarried Women, in Duke's Street, Grosvenor Square."
[gws]
Craven Collection of Playbills, No. 242017
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
18 January [1757]
The Orphan: Or, The Unhappy Marriage.
Chamont: DG
Lilliput.
[jd/LS]
W.b.473, p. 388
Drury Lane, Thursday,
27 January [1757]
Zara.
Lusignan: DG
BILL Box G2 D84 1756-57, no. 5
Drury Lane, Saturday,
5 February [1757]
Cato.
The Author.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
[gws/pc]
W.a.168, after p. 362
Drury Lane, Saturday,
12 February [1757]
The Earl of Essex.
The Author.
NOTE:
Garrick's name not listed on bill.
[gws]
BILL Box G2 D84 1756-57, no. 6
Drury Lane, Saturday
,
21 February [1757]
The Wonder; A Woman keeps a Secret.
Don Felix: DG
Catharine & Petruchio.
[gws/pc]
W.b.474, p. 83
Drury Lane, Thursday,
10 March [1757]
Fair Quaker of Deal.
The Author.
NOTE:
Command performance: "BY DESIRE."
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
[gws]
ART Vol. d45, p. 243
Drury Lane, Friday,
25 March [1757]
I Pellegrini, An Oratorio.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
[pc]
1757-58 Season
BILL Box G2 D84 1757-58, no. 1
Drury Lane, Friday,
11 November [1757]
The Tempest.
Harlequin Ranger.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
[pc]
Craven Collection of Playbills, No. 242016
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
31 May [1758]
Every Man in his Humour.
Kitely: DG
The Upholsterer.
[Unnamed character]: DG
[jd/LS/pc]
1758-59 Season
ART Vol. d94, p. 16
Drury Lane, Saturday,
23 September [1758]
Much Ado About Nothing.
Benedick: DG
The Devil to Pay.
[gws]
ART Vol. d94, p. 17
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
26 September [1758]
Hamlet; Prince of Darkness.
[Unnamed character]: DG
The Mock-Doctor.
[gws]
ART Vol. d94, p. 18
Drury Lane, Saturday,
7 October [1758]
The Wonder; A Woman keeps a Secret.
Don Felix: DG
The Chaplet.
NOTE:
Command performance: "By DESIRE."
[gws]
BILL Box G2 D84 1758-59, no. 1
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
10 October [1758]
Measure for Measure.
Queen Mab.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
[pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1758-59, no. 2
Drury Lane, Saturday,
14 October [1758]
The Provok'd Wife.
Sir John Brute: DG
The King and the Miller.
NOTE:
1758 in ink, contemporary hand.
[gws/pc]
ART Vol. d94, p. 20
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
20 October [1758]
King Lear.
Lear: DG
The Virgin Unmask'd.
[gws]
ART Vol. d94, p. 19
Drury Lane, Saturday,
21 October [1758]
The Suspicious Husband.
Ranger: DG
The Chaplet.
[gws]
ART Vol. d94, p. 21
Drury Lane, Thursday,
2 November [1758]
Jane Shore.
Hastings: DG
The Anatomist.
[gws]
ART Vol. d94, p. 22
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
15 November [1758]
Isabella; or, The Fatal Marriage.
Biron: DG
The Lottery.
[gws]
ART Vol. d94, p. 23
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
22 November [1758]
The Alchymist.
Abel Drugger: DG
Queen Mab.
NOTE:
Command performance: "BY PARTICULAR DESIRE."
[gws]
ART Vol. d94, p. 25
Drury Lane, Thursday,
23 November [1758]
Rule a Wife and Have a Wife.
Leon: DG
The Lottery.
[gws]
ART Vol. d94, p. 24
Drury Lane, Thursday,
24 November [1758]
The Rehearsal.
Bayes: DG
The Anatomist.
NOTE:
Command performance: "BY PARTICULAR DESIRE."
[gws]
BILL Box G2 D84 1758-59, no. 3
Drury Lane, Saturday,
2 December [1758]
The Busy Body.
The Busy Body: DG
The Anatomist.
NOTE: "Being the FirstTime of his appearing in that Character."
1758 in ink, contemporary hand.
[gws]
ART Vol. d94, p. 26
Drury Lane, Monday,
4 December [1758]
The Busy Body.
The Busy Body: DG
The Chaplet.
[gws]
BILL Box G2 D84 1758-59, no. 4
Drury Lane, Saturday,
9 December [1758]
The Busy Body.
The Busy Body: DG
The Swiss. ("a Pantomime Dance")
The Chaplet.
NOTE: "Being the Fifth Time of his appearing in that Character."
1758 in ink, contemporary hand. [gws]
W.b.470, p. 25
Drury Lane, Thursday,
21 December 1758
Rule a Wife and Have a Wife.
Leon: DG
The Rout.
[gws]
W.b.481, p. 43
Drury Lane, Saturday,
23 December [1758]
Much Ado About Nothing.
Benedick: DG
Queen Mab.
[gws]
ART Vol. d94, p. 12
Drury Lane, Friday,
12 January [1759]
Antony and Cleopatra.
Marc Antony: DG
NOTE:
Command performance: "By COMMAND of His Royal Highness" the Prince of Wales.
No afterpiece listed.
[gws]
W.b.481, p. 61
Drury Lane, Monday,
15 January [1759]
The Busy Body.
The Busy Body: DG
The Lottery.
NOTE:
Command performance: "BY DESIRE."
[gws]
W.b.481, p. 53
Drury Lane, Thursday,
18 January [1759]
Antony and Cleopatra.
Marc Antony: DG
The Bacchanalian Song.
[gws]
ART Vol. d94, p. 7
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
31 January [1759]
The Provok'd Wife.
Sir John Brute: DG
The Prussian Camp. ("a Pantomime DANCE")
The Mock-Doctor.
NOTE: "1758" in ink in contemporary hand crossed-out; replaced with "1759" in pencil by gws.
[gws]
ART Vol. d94, p. 8
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
27 February [1759]
King Richard the Third.
[Unnamed character]: DG
The Guardian.
[gws]
ART Vol. d94, p. 9
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
6 March [1759]
Eurydice.
[Unnamed character]: DG
The Lying Valet.
[gws]
ART Vol. d94, p. 11
Drury Lane, Thursday,
8 March [1759]
King Richard the Third.
King Richard: DG
NOTE:
Command performance: "By COMMAND of His Royal Highness The PRINCE of Wales."
No afterpiece listed.
[gws]
ART Vol. d45, p. 213
Drury Lane, Saturday
,
17 March [1759]
Eurydice.
[Unnamed character]: DG
The Prussian Camp.
The Chaplet.
NOTE:
Command performance: "HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS the PRINCE of WALES."
[gws]
ART Vol. d94, p. 10
Drury Lane, Monday,
19 March [1759]
Zara.
Lusignan: DG
Lethe.
Lord Chalkstone: DG
NOTE:
Benefit for Mrs. Cibber.
[gws]
ART Vol. d94, p. 12
Drury Lane, Saturday,
24 March [1759]
Venice Preservd.
Jaffier: DG
The Male-Coquette.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mr. Mossop.
[gws]
Craven Collection of Playbills, No. 242018
Drury Lane, Saturday,
31 March [1759]
Every Man in his Humour.
Kitely: DG
The Male Coquette.
NOTE:
Command performance: "By COMMAND of His Royal Highness" the Prince of Wales. "1758" in ink, contemporary hand, which is incorrect. [jd/LS/pc]
ART Vol. d94, p. 13
Drury Lane, Thursday,
5 April [1759]
Romeo and Juliet.
Romeo: DG
Miss in Her Teens.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mr. Havard.
[gws]
ART Vol. d94, p. 14
Drury Lane, Saturday,
7 April [1759]
The Strategem.
Archer: DG
The Reprisals; Or The Tars of Old England.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mr. Yates. "Being the Last Time of Acting till Easter Holidays." "1758" in ink, contemporary hand; replaced with "1759" in pencil by gws. [gws]
BILL Box G2 D84 1758-59, no. 5
Drury Lane, Saturday,
21 April [1759]
The Orphan of China.
[Unnamed character]: DG
NOTE: "Never Acted Before AT THE Theatre Royal..." "The Scenes, Habits and Decorations Entirely New. No afterpiece listed. "1758" in ink, contemporary hand, crossed out; replaced with "1759" in pencil, not by gws.
ART Vol. d94, p. 15
Drury Lane, Friday
,
27 April [1759]
The Provok'd Husband.
Lord Townly: DG
The Apprentice.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mr. Blakes.
[gws]
BILL Box G2 D84 1758-59, no. 6
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
1 May [1759]
The Orphan of China.
[Unnamed character]: DG
NOTE: No afterpiece listed. [gws/pc]
Craven Collection of Playbills, No. 242019
Drury Lane, Thursday,
3 May [1759]
The Orphan of China.
[Unnamed character]: DG
NOTE:
Benefit for the author, [i.e. Arthur Murphy].
No afterpiece listed.
[jd/LS/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1758-59, no. 7
Drury Lane, Monday,
14 May [1759]
Othello.
Diversions of the Morning.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mr. Wilkinson.
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
1758 in ink, contemporary hand crossed out; replaced in pencil with "1759" by gws.
[gws/pc]
1759-60 Season
BILL Box G2 D84 1759-60, no. 1
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
21 November [1759]
Isabella, Or, The Fatal Marriage.
Biron: DG
High Life Below Stairs.
NOTE:
1759 in ink, contemporary hand.
[gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1759-60, no. 2
W.b.481, p. 69 (duplicate copies)
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
28 November [1759]
King Lear.
King Lear: DG
The Mock-Doctor.
NOTE:
1759 written in ink in a contemporary hand on BILL Box G2 D84 1759-60, no. 2. Command performance: "BY PARTICULAR DESIRE."
[gws/pc]
ART Vol. d94, p. 37
Drury Lane, Monday,
3 December [1759]
Oroonoko.
Oroonoko: DG
The Intriguing Chambermaid.
NOTE: "1759" in ink, contemporary hand. [gws/pc]
W.b.481, p. 57
Drury Lane, Saturday,
12 January [1760]
Every Man in His Humour.
Kitely: DG
Harliequin's Invasion.
NOTE:
Command performance: "BY DESIRE."
[gws/pc]
W.b.475, p. 275
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
5 February [1760]
The Desert Island.
The Way to Keep Him.
[Unnamed character]: DG
[gws/pc]
ART Vol. d94, p. 27
Drury Lane, Saturday,
16 February [1760]
The Orphan of China.
Zamti: DG
NOTE:
Command performance: "By COMMAND of His Royal Highness" the Prince of Wales.
No afterpiece listed.
[gws/pc]
ART Vol. d94, p. 28
Drury Lane, Thursday,
21 February [1760]
The Siege of Aquileia.
[Unnamed character]: DG
NOTE:
No afterpiece listed.
[gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1759-60, no. 3
Drury Lane, Thursday,
13 March [1760]
The Rehearsal.
Bayes: DG
Cow-Keepers. ("the last NEW Pantomime Dance")
The Anatomist.
NOTE:
Command performance: "BY DESIRE."
"1759" in ink, contemporary hand crossed out; replaced with "1760" in pencil by gws.
[gws/pc]
ART Vol. d94, p. 29
Drury Lane, Thursday,
20 March [1760]
The Mistake.
[Unnamed character]: DG
Every Woman in her Humour.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mrs. Clive.
[gws/pc]
W.b.474, p. 441
Drury Lane, Thursday,
10 April [1760]
The Wonder.
The Guardian.
[Unnamed character]: DG
NOTE:
Benefit for Mr. Fleetwood.
"1759" corrected by gws to "1760."
[gws/pc]
ART Vol. d94, p. 30
Drury Lane, Friday,
11 April [1760]
The Fair Penitent.
Lothario: DG
The Upholsterer.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mr. & Mrs. Davies.
[gws]
ART Vol. d94, p. 31
Drury Lane, Monday,
14 April [1760]
The Orphan.
Chamont: DG
Galigantus.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mrs. Yates. "Mrs. CIBBER'S Illness has oblig'd Mrs. YATES to change her Play from
Jane Shore
to
The Orphan. Tickets deliver'd for Jane Shore will be taken." "1759" in ink, contemporary hand crossed out; replaced in pencil with "1760" by gws. [gws/pc]
ART Vol. d94, p. 32
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
15 April [1760]
Venice Preserv'd .
Pierre: DG
High Life Below Stairs.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mr. Holland.
Command performance: "BY DESIRE."
[gws/pc]
W.b.474, p. 439
Drury Lane, Thursday,
17 April [1760]
The Alchemist.
Abel Drugger: DG
The Apprentice.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mrs. Vernon.
Command performance: "(By Desire) the Original Prologue by Mr. King."
"1759"(?) corrected by gws to "1760."
[gws/pc]
ART Vol. d94, p. 48
Drury Lane, Monday,
21 April [1760]
Hamlet.
Prologue: DG
The Upholsterer.
NOTE:
Benefit for Blakes.
[gws/pc]
ART Vol. d94, p. 33
Drury Lane, Thursday,
24 April [1760]
The Tender Husband.
Sir Harry Gubbin: DG
The Male-Coquette.
Prologue: DG
NOTE:
Benefit for Mr. O'Brien.
Command performance: "By Desire."
[gws/pc]
ART Vol. d94, p. 34
Drury Lane, Saturday,
26 April [1760]
The Conscious Lovers.
The Way to Keep Him.
Mr. Lovemore: DG
NOTE:
Benefit for Mrs. Glen.
[gws/pc]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 139
Drury Lane, Thursday,
1 May [1760]
King Richard the Third.
The Englishman in Paris.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mr. Austin and Mr. Wood.
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
1760 in ink, contemporary hand.
[gws/pc]
W.b.474, p. 443
Drury Lane, Friday,
2 May [1760]
The Rehearsal.
Bayes: DG
The Cow-Keepers.
NOTE:
Command performance: "By COMMAND of His ROYAL HIGHNESS The Prince of Wales."
"End of Act II: the Cow-Keepers ... End of Play, A New Comic Dance ..."
1759, corrected by gws to 1760.
[gws/pc]
W.b.97, after p. 52
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
6 May [1760]
Romeo and Juliet.
Catherine and Petruchio.
Catharine: Mrs. Clive
NOTE:
Benefit for Mr. Clough, Mr. Raftor, Mr. Walker, Mr. Watkins.
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
[gws/pc]
ART Vol. d94, p. 35
Drury Lane, Saturday,
10 May [1760]
Hamlet, Prince of Denmark.
Hamlet: DG
NOTE:
Command performance: "By COMMAND of his Royal HIGHNESS" the Prince of Wales.
No afterpiece listed.
[gws/pc]
W.b.481, p. 65
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
20 May [1760]
The Provok'd Wife.
Sir John Brute: DG
Love A-la-Mode.
[gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1759-60, no. 4
Drury Lane, Saturday,
31 May [1760]
King Richard the IIId.
King Richard: DG
The Cow-Keepers.
NOTE:
Command performance: "By COMMAND of His Royal Highness The PRINCE of Wales."
No afterpiece listed.
1759 in ink, contemporary hand crossed out; corrected to "1760" in pencil by gws.
[gws/pc]
1760-61 Season
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 1
Drury Lane, Thursday,
2 October [1760]
The Beggar's Opera.
Harlequin Ranger.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
[pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 2
Drury Lane, Friday,
3 October [1760]
The Rehearsal.
Bayes: DG
Duke and No Duke.
[gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 3, copy 1
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 3, copy 2 (duplicate copies)
Drury Lane, Saturday,
4 October [1760]
The Beggar's Opera.
Harlequin Ranger.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. On copy 1, 1760 in ink, contemporary hand. The date is partially torn off copy 2. [gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 4
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
7 October [1760]
As You Like It.
Queen Mab.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
[gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 5
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
8 October [1760]
Zara.
Lusignan: DG
The Cow-Keepers.
Lethe.
Lord Chalkstone: DG
[gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 6
Drury Lane, Thursday,
9 October [1760]
King Richard the Third.
The Cow-Keepers.
Duke and No Duke.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. 1760 in ink, contemporary hand. King Richard played by Mr. Sheridan, (added in a contemporary hand "at this"), "Being the First Time of his appearing on that Stage these Sixteen Years."
[gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 7
Drury Lane, Friday,
10 October [1760]
The Way of the World.
Queen Mab.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
No date appears on bill; gws initialed but no date supplied.
[gws/pc/jd]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 8
Drury Lane, Saturday,
11 October [1760]
Merope.
Harlequin's Invasion.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. "Not Acted THIS SEASON."
[gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 9
Drury Lane, Monday,
13 October [1760]
King Richard the Third.
Harlequin's Invasion.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
[gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 10
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
14 October [1760]
The Careless Husband.
Harlequin's Invasion.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
[gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 11
Drury Lane, Thursday,
16 October [1760]
The Beggar's Opera.
Harelquin's Invasion.
NOTE:
Command performance: "BY DESIRE."
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
[gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 12
Drury Lane, Saturday,
18 October [1760]
Cato.
High Life Below Stairs.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
[gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 13
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
21 October [1760]
Cato.
Harlequin's Invasion.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
[gws/pc]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 140
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 14 (duplicate copies)
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
22 October [1760]
The Provok'd Husband.
The Intriguing Chambermaid.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
[pc/gws]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 15
Drury Lane, Monday,
17 November [1760]
The Confederacy.
The Prussian Camp. ["the Pantomime Dance"]
The Tears and Triumph of Parnassus. ["An Ode for Music"]
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. In ink, contemporary hand: "This the first Play since the 25th the Day of the King's Death."
[gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 16
Drury Lane, Thursday,
20 November [1760]
The Fair Penitent.
Lothario: DG
The Prussian Camp. ["the Pantomime Dance"]
The Tears and Triumph of Parnassus. ["An Ode for Music"]
NOTE:
"1760" in ink, contemporary hand, as well as "at this" after Mr. Garrick's name (right side of playbill).
[gws/pc]
ART Vol. d94, p. 46
Drury Lane, Friday,
21 November [1760]
King Richard the Third.
[Unnamed character]: DG
NOTE:
Command performance: "BY HIS MAJESTY'S COMMAND." No afterpiece listed.
[gws]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 17
Drury Lane, Saturday,
22 November [1760]
The Fair Minor.
The Mad-Doctor.
The Prussian Camp. ["the Pantomime Dance"]
The Devil to Pay.
NOTE: "Never Acted There Before." Garrick's name does not appear on bill. "At this" in ink, contemporary hand, right side of playbill. [gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 18
Drury Lane, Monday,
24 November [1760]
The Minor.
The Colliers. ["a Pantomime Dance"]
The Mad-Doctor.
Duke and No Duke.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. [gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 19
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
25 November [1760]
The Minor.
The Colliers. ["a Pantomime Dance"]
The Mad-Doctor.
The Tears and Triumph of Parnassus. ["An Ode for Music"]
The Intriguing Chambermaid.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
[gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 20
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
26 November [1760]
The Minor.
The Colliers. ["a Pantomime Dance"]
The Prussian Camp. ["the Pantomime Dance"]
The Devil to Pay.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
[gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 21
Drury Lane, Thursday,
27 November [1760]
Hamlet, Prince of Denmark.
The Mad-Doctor.
The Double Disappointment.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
[gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 22
Drury Lane, Friday,
28 November [1760]
The Minor.
The Prussian Camp. ["the Pantomime Dance"]
The Double Disappointment.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
[gws/pc]
W.b.481, p. 73
Drury Lane, Saturday,
29 November [1760]
The Fair Penitent.
Lothario: DG
Harlequin Ranger.
[gws]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 23, copy 1
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 23, copy 2 (duplicate copies)
Drury Lane, Monday,
31 November [sic] [1 December] [1760]
The Minor.
The Mad-Doctor.
Harlequin Ranger.
NOTE: "The Sixth Day" (i.e., of
The Minor). Garrick's name does not appear on bill. On copy 1, "1759" in ink in a contemporary hand is crossed out in pencil (not gws), replaced with "Dec. 1, 1760."
[gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 24
Drury Lane, Monday,
8 December [1760]
The Beggar's Opera.
Polly Honeycomb.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
[gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 25
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
9 December [1760]
The Minor.
The Colliers.
The Italian Gardiner.
Polly Honeycomb.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
[gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 26
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 141 (duplicate copies)
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
10 December [1760]
Hamlet.
Queen Mab.
NOTE:
Command performance: "BY DESIRE." Garrick's name does not appear on bill. "1760" in ink in contemporary hand on BILL Vol. G2 C85 1753-1766, p. 141. [gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 27, copy 1
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 27, copy 2 (duplicate copies)
Drury Lane, Thursday,
11 December [1760]
The Tempest.
Polly Honeycomb.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. On copy 2, "1759" in ink in contemporary hand is crossed out and corrected to 1760 in pencil. "Not Acted these TWO YEARS." [gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 28
Drury Lane, Friday,
12 December [1760]
The Rehearsal. Bayes: DG
The Mad-Doctor.
The Italian Gardiner.
NOTE: Command performance, "By His MAJESTY'S COMMAND." A second version of the playbill was printed later in the day with the addition of Polly Honeycomb, at the king's desire (see entry in London Stage, part 4, p. 830). [gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 29
Drury Lane, Saturday,
13 December [1760]
The Confederacy.
The Enchanter; or, Love and Magic.
NOTE: Afterpiece "Never Performed Before." Garrick's name does not appear on bill. "BOOKS of the Entertainment will be sold at the Theatre at 6d. Each." [gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 30
Drury Lane, Monday,
15 December [1760]
The Way of the World.
The Enchanter; or, Love and Magic.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
[gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 31
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
16 December [1760]
Much Ado About Nothing.
Benedick: DG
The Enchanter; or, Love and Magic.
NOTE: "BOOKS of the Entertainment will be sold at the Theatre at 6d. Each." [gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 32
Drury Lane, Thursday,
18 December [1760]
The Alchymist.
Abel Drugger: DG
The Enchanter; or, Love and Magic.
NOTE:
Command performance: "By Particular Desire." "BOOKS of the Entertainment will be sold at the Theatre at 6d. Each."
[gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 33
Drury Lane, Friday,
19 December [1760]
The Fair Penitent.
Lothario: DG
The Englishman in Paris.
NOTE:
Command performance: "BY DESIRE." "
The Enchanter is oblig'd to be deferr'd on Account of the Indisposition of Mrs. VINCENT."
[gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 34
W.b.474, p. 309 (duplicate copies)
Drury Lane, Saturday,
20 December [1760]
King John.
The Bastard: DG
Polly Honeycomb.
NOTE: "Acted but Once these Eight Years" [i.e., King John]. Bottom section of BILL Box copy is missing. [gws/pc]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 142
Drury Lane, Monday,
22 December [1760]
The Minor.
The Guardian.
The Guardian: DG
NOTE:
Benefit for Mr. Foote.
Command performance: "BY DESIRE."
1760 in ink, contemporary hand. [gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 35
ART Vol. d94, p. 47 (duplicate copies)
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
23 December [1760]
King John.
The Bastard: DG
NOTE: Command performance: "By HIS MAJESTY'S COMMAND."
No afterpiece listed. [gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 36, copy 1
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 36, copy 2 (variant copies)
Drury Lane, Friday,
26 December [1760]
Romeo and Juliet.
Harlequin's Invasion.
NOTE: Garrick's name does not appear on bill. On copy 2, "1760" is added in ink in a contemporary hand. Text is exactly the same. Only differences (copy 1/copy 2): Mr/Mr. King; Mrs/Mrs. Bennet; Sig/Sig. Grimaldi; the symbol used before "No Admittance behind the scenes..." [gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 37, copy 1
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 37, copy 2 (variant copies)
Drury Lane, Saturday,
27 December [1760]
The Tempest.
Harlequin's Invasion.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. On copy 2, "1759" is added in ink in a contemporary hand; crossed out in pencil and replaced with "1760" (not by gws). Text is exactly the same. Variants (copy 1/copy 2): different press figures; Mr/Mr. King; Mrs/Mrs. Bennet; Sig/Sig. Grimaldi. [gws (copy 1)/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 38
Drury Lane, Monday,
29 December [1760]
The Committee; Or, The Faithful Irishman.
The Enchanter.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. "Not Acted these TEN YEARS."
[gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 39
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
30 December [1760]
The Conscious Lovers.
The Enchanter.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
[gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 40
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 143 (duplicate copies)
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
31 December [1760]
Every Man in his Humour.
Kitely: DG
Polly Honeycomb.
NOTE:
Benefit for the author of the farce [i.e. George Colman]. On Bill Vol. copy, "1760" is added in ink in a contemporary hand. [gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 41
Drury Lane, Thursday,
1 January [1761]
The Beggar's Opera.
Harlequin's Invasion.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. [gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 42
Drury Lane, Saturday,
3 January [1761]
The Earl of Essex.
Polly Honeycomb.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. "Never Acted Before." Bottom section damaged. [gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 43
Drury Lane, Monday,
5 January [1761]
The Earl of Essex. ("Never Acted but Once")
High Life Below Stairs.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. [gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 44
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
6 January [1761]
Stratagem.
Archer: DG
The Enchanter.
NOTE: Command performance, "BY DESIRE."
[gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 45
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
7 January [1761]
The Earl of Essex.
The Enchanter.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
[gws/pc]
ART Vol. d94, p. 38
Drury Lane, Thursday,
8 January [1761]
Jane Shore.
Hastings: DG
Polly Honeycomb.
NOTE:
Command performance: "BY HIS MAJESTY'S COMMAND."
[gws]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 46
Drury Lane, Friday,
9 January [1761]
The Minor.
Polly Honeycomb.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
[gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 47
Drury Lane, Monday,
12 January [1761]
The Way to keep Him.
[Unnamed character]: DG
The Chaplet.
NOTE: "The Second Day" for
The Way to Keep Him.
The Chaplet "Not Acted This Season." [gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 48
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 49 (variant copies)
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
14 January [1761]
The Earl of Essex. ("The Fourth Day")
High Life Below Stairs.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. On no. 48, "1761" and "100. Night:" are added in ink in a contemporary hand. Different press figures on each copy. [gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 50, copy 1
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 50, copy 2
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 144 (duplicate copies)
Drury Lane, Thursday,
15 January [1761]
The Way to keep Him. ("The Fourth Day")
[Unnamed character]: DG
The Chaplet.
NOTE: On BILL Vol. copy, "1760" in ink is crossed out and "1761" has been inserted, both in a contemporary hand. [gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 51
Drury Lane, Saturday,
17 January [1761]
The Earl of Essex.
The Enchanter.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. "The [?] DAY" (top line damaged). [gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 52
Drury Lane, Monday,
19 January [1761]
The Minor.
Polly Honeycomb.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
[gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 53
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
20 January [1761]
The Way to keep Him.
[Unnamed character]: DG
Polly Honeycomb.
NOTE: "The Sixth Day" of
The Way to Keep Him. [gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 54
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
21 January [1761]
The Earl of Essex.
The Guardian.
The Guardian: DG
NOTE: "The Sixth Day" of
The Earl of Essex.
[gws/pc]
ART Vol. d94, p. 39
Drury Lane, Friday,
23 January [1761]
Agis.
[Unnamed character]: DG
Polly Honeycomb.
NOTE:
Command performance: "BY HIS MAJESTY'S COMMAND."
[gws]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 55, copy 1
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 55, copy 2
W.b.475, p. 14 (variant copies)
Drury Lane, Saturday,
24 January [1761]
The Minor.
The Enchanted Peasant. ("A New Pantomime Dance")
Lethe.
Lord Chalkstone: DG
NOTE: On BILL Box copy 2, "1761" is added in ink in a contemporary hand. Both BILL Box copy 2 and W.b.475, p. 14 have some lines missing from the bottom. BILL Box copy 1 has a period after "Mr. HOLLAND" and BILL Box copy 2 has a comma. [gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 56
Drury Lane, Monday,
26 January [1761]
The Earl of Essex.
The Enchanted Peasant. ("A New Pantomime Dance")
Polly Honeycomb.
NOTE: "The SEVENTH DAY" of
The Earl of Essex. Garrick's name does not appear on bill. [gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 57
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
27 January [1761]
The Way to keep Him.
[Unnamed character]: DG
The Devil to Pay.
NOTE:
The Devil to Pay is "By Desire."
[gws/pc]
W.b.481, p. 79
Drury Lane, Thursday,
29 January [1761]
Jane Shore.
Hastings: DG
The Enchanter.
[gws]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 58, copy 1
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 58, copy 2 (duplicate copies)
Drury Lane, Monday,
2 February [1761]
The Tempest.
Edgar & Emmeline. ("Never perform'd but Once")
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. On copy 1, "1760" is added in ink in a contemporary hand; corrected to "1761" in pencil. [gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 59
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
3 February [1761]
Agis.
[Unnamed character]: DG
Edgar & Emmeline.
NOTE:
Edgar & Emmeline "Never perform'd but Twice." Top of bill cut off; "DL" inserted in pencil in upper right margin.
[gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 60
Drury Lane, Thursday,
5 Feburary [1761]
Zara.
Lusignan: DG
Edgar & Emmeline.
NOTE:
Command performance: King George III ["BY HIS MAJESTY'S COMMAND"]. "To which (By Command) will be added (Being the Fourth Day)
Edgar & Emmeline. [gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 61
Drury Lane, Saturday,
14 February [1761]
The Jealous Wife.
[Unnamed character]: DG
The Cuckow. ("A NEW Pantomime Dance")
NOTE:
The Jealous Wife "Never Acted but Once." [gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 62
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 145 (duplicate copies)
Drury Lane, Monday,
16 February [1761]
The Jealous Wife.
[Unnamed character]: DG
The Cuckow. ("A NEW Pantomime Dance")
NOTE:
Benefit for the author [George Colman], "The Author's Night." On BILL Vol. copy, "1761" added in ink in a contemporary hand. [gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
17 February [1761]
The Jealous Wife.
[Unnamed character]: DG
The Cuckow. ("A NEW Pantomime Dance")
NOTE: "The Fourth Night." [gws/pc]
ART Vol. d94, p. 40
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 64 (duplicate copies)
Drury Lane, Thursday,
19 February [1761]
The Jealous Wife.
[Unnamed character]: DG
The Cuckow. ("A NEW Pantomime Dance")
NOTE:
Command performance: "By His Majesty's Command" (George III). On ART Vol. d94, p. 40, "1760" is written in a contemporary hand, corrected to "1761" by gws. Last line of BILL Box copy is missing. [gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 65
Drury Lane, Saturday,
21 February [1761]
The Jealous Wife.
[Unnamed character]: DG
The Cuckow ["A NEW Pantomime Dance"].
NOTE:
Benefit for the author [George Colman], "The Author's Night." [gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 66
Drury Lane, Monday,
23 February [1761]
The Jealous Wife.
[Unnamed character]: DG
The Italian Gardiner. ("a Pantomime Dance")
NOTE: "The Seventh Night." [gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 67
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
24 February [1761]
The Earl of Essex.
Polly Honeycomb.
NOTE: Garrick's name does not appear on bill. [gws/pc]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 146
Drury Lane, Thursday,
26 February [1761]
The Jealous Wife.
[Unnamed character]: DG
The Enchanted Peasant.
NOTE:
1761 in ink, contemporary hand.
[gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 68
Drury Lane, Friday,
27 February [1761]
Judith [A New Sacred Oratorio].
NOTE: Garrick's name does not appear on bill. "COMPOSED By Dr. Arne." Special printer's device at top. [gws/pc]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 147
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 69 (duplicate copies)
Drury Lane, Saturday,
28 February [1761]
The Jealous Wife.
[Unnamed character]: DG
The Enchanted Peasant. ("a Pantomime Dance")
NOTE:
Benefit for the author [George Colman], "The Author's Night." On Bill Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 147, "1761" is written in ink in a contemporary hand. [gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 70
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
3 March [1761]
The Jealous Wife.
[Unnamed character]: DG
The Cuckow. ("A Pantomime Dance")
NOTE: "The Eleventh Night." "1761" in ink, contemporary hand. [gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 71
Drury Lane, Thursday,
5 March [1761]
Zara.
Lusignan: DG
Edgar & Emmeline.
NOTE:
Command performance: "BY DESIRE." [gws/pc]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 148
W.b.475, p. 405 (duplicate copies)
Drury Lane, Saturday,
7 March [1761]
The Jealous Wife.
[Unnamed character]: DG
NOTE:
No afterpiece listed: "A New Pantomime Dance." "The Twelfth Night" (of
The Jealous Wife. On BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 148, "1761" is written in ink in a contemporary hand. [gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 72
Drury Lane, Thursday,
12 March [1761]
The Jealous Wife.
[Unnamed character]: DG
NOTE: "The Fourteenth Night." No afterpiece listed: "A New Pantomime Dance." "The Comedy of The Jealous Wife will be discontinued till Mrs. PRITCHARD'S Benefit, the 25th Instant." 1761 in ink, contemporary hand. [gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 73
Drury Lane, Saturday,
14 March [1761]
The Beggar's Opera.
Queen Mab.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. "Being the Last Time of the Company's performing till Easter Holidays." "JANE SHORE is oblig'd to be deferr'd on Account of the Indisposition of some of the PRINCIPAL PERFORMERS."
[gws]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 74
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
25 March [1761]
The Jealous Wife.
[Unnamed character]: DG
Polly Honeycomb.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mrs. Pritchard.
[gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 75, copy 1
ART Vol. d94, p. 41 (duplicate copies)
Drury Lane, Thursday,
26 March [1761]
The Inconstant.
Capt. Duretete: DG
The Cow-Keepers.
The Island of Slaves.
NOTE: Variant. "This present Thursday, being the 26th of March." Benefit for Mrs. Clive. "Part of the Pit will be laid into the Boxes, where Servants will be admitted to keep Places, and on the Stage, which will be form'd into an Amphitheatre. Ladies are desired to send their Servants by Three o'Clock. Nothing under the FULL PRICE will be taken. No Gentleman can possibly be admitted into the Orchestra." Cast list of
The Island of Slaves varies from benefit bill: Havard/King/Packer/Johnson/Clive (see next item).
[gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 75, copy 2
Drury Lane, Thursday,
26 March [1761]
The Inconstant.
Capt. Duretete: DG
The Island of Slaves.
NOTE: Variant. "On Thursday, the 26th of March." Benefit for Mrs. Clive. Command performance: "At the Desire of Several Persons of QUALITY." "Tickets and Places to be had of Mrs CLIVE, in Henrietta-Street; and of Mr Varney at the Stage-door." "Part of the Pit will be laid into the Boxes."
Cast List of
The Island of Slaves varies from theater bill: Bransby/King/Austin/Johnson/Clive (see previous item).
[gws/pc]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 150
Drury Lane, Friday,
27 March [1761]
The Way to Keep Him.
[Unnamed character]: DG
High Life Below Stairs.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mr. Yates.
1761 in ink, contemporary hand.
[gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 76
Drury Lane, Saturday,
28 March [1761]
Othello.
Harlequin's Invasion.
NOTE: Variant. Brabantio is Burton. "This present Saturday, being the 28th of March..." "Not Acted these Five Years." Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
[gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 77
Drury Lane, Saturday,
28 March [1761]
Othello.
Unidentified farce.
NOTE: Variant. Garrick's name does not appear on bill. Presumed benefit for Davies, who is Brabantio. Advance bill: "On Saturday, the 28th of March..." At bottom: "Tickets to be had at Mr. DAVIES's, Bookseller, in Russell-Street, Covent-Garden; and of Mr Varney, at the Stage-door, where Places may be taken." No mention of this in LS.
[pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 78
Drury Lane, Monday,
30 March [1761]
The Fair Penitent.
Lothario: DG
New Coronation Ode. ("Written by Mr. HAVARD")
[Unidentified farce]
NOTE: Variant. "On Monday next, being the 30th of March." Benefit for Mr. Havard. Command performance: "By Particular Desire." "Tickets to be had at Mr. HAVARD'S..." [gws/pc]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 151
Drury Lane, Monday,
30 March [1761]
The Fair Penitent.
Lothario: DG
Polly Honeycomb.
NOTE: Variant. "This present Monday..." Benefit for Mr. Havard. "1761" in ink, contemporary hand. [gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 79
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
31 March [1761]
The Jealous Wife.
[Unnamed character]: DG
[Unnamed farce]
NOTE: Benefit for Mr. Palmer. "On TUESDAY next, the 31st of MARCH." [gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 80
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
1 April [1761]
Every Man in his Humour.
Kitely: DG
The Picture of a Playhouse; Or, Bucks have at Ye All.
The New Hippocrates; or, A Lesson for Quacks.
NOTE: Benefit for Mr King.
The Picture of a Playhouse performed "By Desire." The New Hippocrates "Never perform'd before."
[gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 81, copy 1
Drury Lane, Friday,
3 April [1761]
The Provok'd Wife.
Sir John Brute: DG
The Contrivances.
NOTE: Variant. "On Friday next, being the 3d of April." "With Entertainments of DANCING." Benefit for Mr. Lowe.
The Contrivances "Not Acted these Sixteen Years." [pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 81, copy 2
Drury Lane, Friday,
3 April [1761]
The Provok'd Wife.
Sir John Brute: DG
The Contrivances.
NOTE: Variant. "This present Friday, being the 3d of April."
"The Last New Dance, by Sig. and Siga. Giorgi..." Benefit for Mr. Lowe.
The Contrivances "Not Acted these Sixteen Years." Cast identical to previous bill, minor typographical differences. [pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 82
W.b.474, p. 445 (duplicate copies)
Drury Lane, Saturday,
4 April [1761]
The Strategem.
Archer: DG
Lethe.
NOTE:
Command performance: King George III ("By His MAJESTY'S COMMAND"). On W.b.474, p. 445, "1760" is written in ink in a contemporary hand, corrected to "1761" by gws.
[gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 83
Drury Lane, Monday,
6 April [1761]
Romeo and Juliet.
Mercutio: DG
Taste. (first act only)
Modern Tragedy.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mr. Holland. Garrick's first appearance as Mercutio. "Mr. Holland's Benefit is obliged to be defer'd to the above Day, that Mr. Garrick may have Time to be prepared in the Character of Mercutio."
[gws/pc]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 153
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
7 April [1761]
The Suspicious Husband.
Ranger: DG
Polly Honeycomb.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mr. & Mrs. Davies.
1761 in ink, contemporary hand.
[gws/pc]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 154
Craven Collection of Playbills, No. 242020 (duplicate copies)
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
8 April [1761]
The Jealous Wife.
[Unnamed character]: DG
The Chaplet.
NOTE:
Benefit for Miss Pritchard.
Command performance: "By particular Desire of several Ladies of Quality."
1761 in ink, contemporary hand. On BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 154, "1760" is written in ink in a contemporary hand, corrected to "1761" by gws.
[gws/pc/jd/LS]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 84
Drury Lane, Thursday,
9 April [1761]
Hamlet.
The Guardian.
The Guardian: DG
NOTE:
Benefit for Mrs. Vincent.
[gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 85
Drury Lane, Friday,
10 April [1761]
The Strategem.
[Unspecified farce]
Scrub: DG
NOTE: Variant. "On Friday next, being the 10th of April." Garrick as Scrub "For THAT NIGHT." Benefit for Mr. O'Brien. [gws/pc]
ART Vol. d94, p. 42
Drury Lane, Friday,
10 April [1761]
The Stratagem.
Scrub: DG
Duke and No Duke.
NOTE: Variant. "This present Friday." Benefit for Mr. O'Brein.
[gws]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 86, copy 1
Drury Lane, Saturday,
11 April [1761]
The Conscious Lovers.
The Enchanter.
NOTE: Variant ("This present Saturday, being the 11th of April..."). Benefit for Master Leoni. "1761" in ink, contemporary hand. Garrick's name does not appear on bill. [gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 86, copy 2
Drury Lane, Saturday,
11 April [1761]
The Conscious Lovers.
The Enchanter.
NOTE: Variant ("On Saturday next, being the 11th of April..."). Benefit for Master Leoni. Garrick's name does not appear on bill. [gws/pc]
ART Vol. d94, p. 43
Drury Lane, Romeo and Juliet
,
13 April [1761]
Romeo and Juliet.
Mercutio: DG
The New Hippocrates, Or, A Lesson for Quacks.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mr. & Mrs. Kennedy.
[gws]
Craven Collection of Playbills, No. 242021
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 87 (duplicate copies)
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
14 April [1761]
The Alchemist.
Abel Drugger: DG
The Enchanter.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mr. Champnes and Miss Young. [jd/LS]
ART Vol. d94, p. 44
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
15 April [1761]
Every Man in his Humour.
Kitely: DG
Duke and No Duke.
NOTE:
Command performance: "BY HIS MAJESTY'S COMMAND." [gws]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 88, copy 1
Drury Lane, Thursday,
16 April [1761]
The Careless Husband.
The May-Day Morning; or, Fingalian Lass. ("A NEW COMIC DANCE")
The Englishman in Paris.
NOTE: Variant ("This present Thursday, being the 16th of April...").
Benefit for Miss Dawson. Command performance: "At the Particular Desire of the Tripoline Ambassador." Garrick's name does not appear on bill. [pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 88, copy 2
Drury Lane, Thursday,
16 April [1761]
The Careless Husband.
The May-Day Morning; or, Fingalian Lass. ("A NEW COMIC DANCE")
The Englishman in Paris.
NOTE: Variant ("On Thursday next, being the 16th of April...").
Benefit for Miss Dawson. Command performance: "At the Particular Desire of the Tripoline Ambassador." Garrick's name does not appear on bill. [pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 89
Drury Lane, Friday,
17 April [1761]
A Bold Stroke for a Wife.
Queen Mab.
NOTE: Variant (advance bill: "On Friday next"). Garrick's name does not appear on bill. Variant cast list (Anne Lovely: Ms. Haughton [thus LS]). "Not Acted these SIX YEARS."
[jd/pc/LS]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 90
Drury Lane, Friday,
17 April [1761]
A Bold Stroke for a Wife.
Queen Mab.
NOTE: Variant (advance bill: "On Friday"). Garrick's name does not appear on bill. Variant cast list (Anne Lovely: Mrs. Clive [LS: Ms. Haughton]). "Not Acted these SIX YEARS." [jd/pc/LS]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 91
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
21 April [1761]
King Richard the Third.
High Life Below Stairs.
NOTE:
Command performance: "By the Particular Desire of Several Persons of Quality."
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
[gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 92
Drury Lane, Thursday,
23 April [1761]
Venice Preserv'd.
The Fingalian Dance.
The Contrivances.
NOTE: Benefit for Mr. Burton. Garrick's name does not appear on bill. "Tickets deliver'd for The Lady's Last Stake will be taken."
[gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 93
Drury Lane, Friday,
24 April [1761]
Woman is a Riddle.
Teady Wolloughan's Whimsical Roratorial Description of a Man o'War and Sea-Fight.
The Cow-keepers.
Love A-La-Mode.
NOTE: Benefit for Mr. Austin and Mr. Moody. Garrick's name does not appear on bill. [gws/pc]
Craven Collection of Playbills, No. 242022
Drury Lane, Monday,
27 April [1761]
Zara.
Lusignan: DG
The Register-Office.
[jd/LS]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 94
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 155 (duplicate copies)
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
29 April [1761]
Macbeth.
High Life Below Stairs.
NOTE: Benefit for Mr. Pritchard, Treasurer. On BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 155, "1761" is written in ink in a contemporary hand. Garrick's name not listed on bill.
[gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 95
Drury Lane, Thursday,
30 April [1761]
Othello.
Lethe.
Lord Chalkstone: DG
NOTE:
Benefit for Miss Mowatt. "Acted but Once these FIVE YEARS."
[gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 96
Drury Lane, Friday,
1 May [1761]
King Henry the Eighth.
The Register Office. ("Never perform'd but Twice")
NOTE: Garrick's name does not appear on bill. "1760" in ink, contemporary hand, crossed out, 1761 inserted in pencil. [pc]
Craven Collection of Playbills, No. 242023
Drury Lane, Friday,
15 May [1761]
The Stratagem.
Scrub: DG
Taste (first act only).
Modern Tragedy (additional act of Taste).
[jd/LS]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 97
Drury Lane, Saturday,
16 May [1761]
The Confederacy.
Polly Honeycomb.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mr. Varney, Housekeeper. Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
[gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 98
BILL Box G2 D84 1760-61, no. 99 (duplicate copies)
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
26 May [1761]
King Henry the Eighth.
Harlequin's Invasion.
NOTE: Garrick's name does not appear on bill. No. 98: "1760" in ink in contemporary hand, corrected in pencil. [gws (no. 99 only)/pc]
ART Vol. d94, p. 45
Drury Lane, Thursday,
28 May [1761]
King Lear.
King Lear: DG
The Enchanter.
NOTE:
Command performance: "BY HIS MAJESTY'S COMMAND." [gws]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 156
Drury Lane, Monday,
1 June [1761]
The Jealous Wife.
[Unnamed character]: DG
Queen Mab.
NOTE:
Command performance: "By particular Desire."
1761 in ink, contemporary hand. [gws/pc]
W.b.481, p. 85
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
3 June [1761]
Hamlet.
Hamlet: DG
Polly Honeycomb.
[jd]
1761-62 Season
ART Vol. d94, p. 49
Drury Lane, Monday,
14 September [1761]
The Rehearsal.
Bayes: DG
The Enchanter.
NOTE:
Command performance: "By COMMAND of Their MAJESTIES."
No afterpiece listed. [gws]
ART Vol. d94, p. 50
Drury Lane, Thursday,
1 October [1761]
Much Ado About Nothing.
Benedick: DG
Harlequin Ranger.
NOTE: Command performance: "By COMMAND of Their MAJESTIES." [gws]
BILL Box G2 D84 1761-62, no. 1
Drury Lane, Friday,
9 October [1761]
King Henry the Eighth.
NOTE: "The Seventh Night." No afterpiece listed. Garrick's name does not appear on bill. "1761" in ink, contemporary hand.
[pc]
Craven Collection of Playbills, No. 242024
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
28 October [1761]
Jane Shore.
Hastings: DG
Arcadia; Or, The Sheperd's Wedding.
[jd/LS/pc]
ART Vol. d94, p. 51
Drury Lane, Saturday,
31 October [1761]
Macbeth.
Macbeth: DG
High Life Below Stairs.
NOTE: 1761 in contemporary hand. [jd/pc]
W.b.474, p. 447
[Drury Lane], Friday,
20 November [1761]
The Suspicious Husband.
Ranger: DG
The Old Maid.
NOTE: Theatre name cut off. "To which (By Command) will be added The Old Maid." "The whole to conclude with THE CORONATION." "1761" in ink, contemporary hand. [gws]
W.b.474, p. 437
Drury Lane, Monday,
30 November [1761]
Cymbeline.
[Unnamed character]: DG
The Double Disappointment.
NOTE: "1755" in ink, contemporary hand, corrected to "1761" in pencil. [gws]
ART Vol. d94, p. 52
Drury Lane, Thursday,
3 December [1761]
Cymbeline.
[Unnamed character]: DG
The Old Maid.
NOTE:
Command performance: "By COMMAND of Their MAJESTIES."
[gws]
BILL Box G2 D84 1761-62, no. 2
Drury Lane, Friday,
11 December [1761]
Hecuba.
Prologue: DG
Edgar and Emmeline.
NOTE: "Never Acted Before." "1761" in ink, contemporary hand. [gws]
W.a.168, opposite p. 362
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
16 December [1761]
Cymbeline.
[Unnamed character]: DG
Queen Mab.
[gws]
W.b.476, p. 417
Drury Lane, Friday,
18 December [1761]
Every Man in his Humour.
Kitely: DG
The Old Maid.
NOTE:
Command performance: "By particular Desire."
[gws]
Craven Collection of Playbills, No. 242025
Drury Lane, Monday,
21 December [1761]
The Way to Keep Him.
Lovemore: DG
Queen Mab.
[jd/LS]
BILL Box G2 D84 1761-62, no. 3
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
6 January [1762]
Cymbeline.
[Unnamed character]: DG
The Genii.
NOTE: "1761" in ink, contemporary hand, crossed out; replaced in pencil with "1762." [gws/pc]
W.b.474, p. 348
Drury Lane, Thursday,
21 January [1762]
The Way to Keep Him.
Lovemore: DG
The Genii.
NOTE:
Command performance: "By COMMAND of Their MAJESTIES." [gws]
W.b.474, p. 449
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
3 February [1762]
The Provok'd Wife.
Sir John Brute: DG
The Enchanter.
NOTE:
Command performance: "BY DESIRE." "1761" in contemporary hand corrected by gws to "1762." [gws]
ART Vol. d94, p. 54
Drury Lane, Thursday,
4 February [1762]
Florizel and Perdita, or, the Winter's Tale.
[Unnamed character]: DG
Catharine and Petruchio.
NOTE:
Command performance: "By COMMAND of Their MAJESTIES."
[gws]
Craven Collection of Playbills, No. 242026
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
10 February [1762]
The School for Lovers.
[Unnamed character]: DG
The Chaplet.
[jd/LS]
ART Vol. d94, p. 56
Drury Lane, Thursday,
18 February [1762]
The School for Lovers.
[Unnamed character]: DG
The Old Maid.
NOTE:
Command performance: "By COMMAND of Their MAJESTIES."
[gws]
ART Vol. d94, p. 57
Drury Lane, Thursday,
18 March [1762]
Tancred and Sigismunda.
Tancred: DG
High Life Below Stairs.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mrs. Cibber.
[gws]
ART Vol. d94, p. 58
Drury Lane, Thursday,
1 April [1762]
The Constant Couple.
The Farmer's Return from London (interlude)
Miss in Her Teens.
Farmer: DG
NOTE:
Benefit for O'Brien.
[gws]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 157
Drury Lane, Saturday,
3 April [1762]
Jane Shore.
Hastings: DG
High Life Below Stairs.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mrs. Yates.
"1762" in ink, contemporary hand.
[gws/pc]
W.b.481, p. 85
Drury Lane, Thursday,
15 April [1762]
The Beggar's Opera.
Farmer's Return from London. Polly Honeycomb.
Farmer: DG
NOTE:
Benefit for Mr. Lowe.
[gws]
BILL Box G2 D84 1761-62, no. 4
Drury Lane, Saturday,
17 April [1762]
King Lear.
King Lear: DG
The Intriguing Chambermaid.
NOTE:
Command performance: "By particular Desire." "1761" in ink, contemporary hand; altered to "1762" by gws. [gws]
PN 2598 G3 F5 Copy 4 Ex.ill. v. 6, opposite p. 326
Drury Lane, Monday,
19 April 1762
The Jealous Wife.
Oakly: DG
The Musical Lady.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mr. & Mrs. Davies. [jd/pc/LS]
Craven Collection of Playbills, No. 242029
Drury Lane, Friday,
23 April [1762]
The Provok'd Wife.
Sir John Brute: DG
The Englishman in Paris.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mr. Champnes and Miss Young. [jd/LS]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 158
Drury Lane, Saturday,
24 April [1762]
The Double Gallant.
The Farmer's Return from London. The Musical Lady.
Farmer: DG
NOTE:
Benefit for Signor Grimald and Mr. Vincent.
1762 in ink, contemporary hand.
[gws/pc]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 159
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
28 April [1762]
Cymbeline.
Posthumus: DG
The Old Maid.
NOTE: Variant ("This present Wednesday, being the 28th of April...").
Benefit for Mr. Noverre and Miss Bride. "1762" in ink, contemporary hand. [gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1761-62, no. 5
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
28 April [1762]
Cymbeline.
Posthumus: DG
[Unnamed farce ("A Farce")].
NOTE: Variant ("On Wednesday next, being the 28th of April..."). Benefit for Mr. Noverre and Miss Bride. In ink, contemporary hand, on backing: "Connor died whilst in an am[orous?] rencontre with a lady of ple[asure?] in St. James Park. Octr.[ ] L.T.R" (text partially cut-off). [gws]
BILL Box G2 D84 1761-62, no. 6
Drury Lane, Thursday,
29 April [1762]
The Provok'd Wife.
Sir John Brute: DG
The Farmer's Return from London.
Farmer: DG
The Genii.
NOTE: Command performance: King George III and Queen ["By COMMAND of Their MAJESTIES"]. "Tickets deliver'd for Macbeth on this Night, will be taken on Saturday the 15th of May to The Jealous Wife."
[gws/pc]
W.b.474, p. 412
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
5 May [1762]
The Funeral.
The Farmer's Return from London.
High Life Below Stairs.
Farmer: DG
NOTE:
Benefit for Mr. Pritchard. "1761" in ink, contemporary hand; corrected by gws to "1762." [gws]
1762-63 Season
W.b.475, p. 149
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
20 October [1762]
Venice Preserv'd.
Jaffier: DG
The Musical Lady.
[gws]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 160
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
27 October [1762]
Romeo and Juliet.
Fortunatus.
NOTE:
Garrick's name not listed on bill.
"1762" in ink, contemporary hand.
[gws/pc]
W.b.470, p. 29
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
2 November [1762]
The Wonder: A Woman Keeps a Secret.
Don Felix: DG
Fortunatus.
[gws]
ART Vol. d94, p. 61
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
3 November [1762]
The Second Part of King Henry the Fourth.
King Henry: DG
The Apprentice.
[gws]
BILL Box G2 D84 1762-63, no. 1 (oversized)
Drury Lane, Monday,
8 November [1762]
Cymbeline.
Posthumus: DG
The Genii.
NOTE: Command performance: "BY PARTICULAR DESIRE." Poster, printed in alternate colors of black and red. "1756" in ink, contemporary hand, crossed out; replaced with "1762." [pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1762-63, no. 2
Drury Lane, Thursday,
18 November [1762]
The Alchymist.
Abel Drugger: DG
The Genii.
NOTE: "Not Acted THIS SEASON." "1762" in ink, contemporary hand.
[gws/pc]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 162
Drury Lane, Friday,
17 December [1762]
Zara.
Lusignan: DG
The Musical Lady.
NOTE:
Benefit for "The General Lying-in-Hospital."
Command performance: "By PARTICULAR DESIRE of the Foreign Ambassadors, and others of Nobility."
1762 in ink, contemporary hand.
[gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1762-63, no. 3 (oversized)
Drury Lane, Saturday,
18 December [1762]
King Richard the Third.
King Richard: DG
Miss in Her Teens.
NOTE: Poster, alternating lines of red and black. "1756" in ink, contemporary hand; in error, for "1762." [jd/pc]
W.b.481, p. 93
Craven Collection of Playbills, No. 242030 (duplicate copies)
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
21 December [1762]
Rule a Wife and Have a Wife.
[Unnamed character]: DG
The Witches; or Harlequin Cherokee.
NOTE: 22nd time for the "New Pantomime." On W.b.481, p. 93, "1762" is written in ink in a contemporary hand. [gws/jd/LS]
ART Vol. d94, p. 53
Drury Lane, Friday,
21 January [1763]
Elvira.
[Unnamed character]: DG
The Old Maid.
NOTE:
Benefit for author [i.e. David Mallet, author of
Elvira.].
[gws]
ART Vol. d45, p. 212
Drury Lane, Monday,
24 January [1763]
Elvira.
[Unnamed character]: DG
High Life below Stairs.
[gws]
W.b.475, p. 8
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
25 January [1763]
The Two Gentlemen of Verona.
The Farmer's Return from London.
Farmer: DG
Fortunatus.
NOTE:
Benefit for "the Author of the Alterations [of
The Two Gentlemen of Verona]" [i.e. Benjamin Victor, written in ink in Folger PR 2838 1763 c.1 Sh. Col.]. [gws]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 163
Drury Lane, Saturday,
29 January [1763]
Elvira.
[Unnamed character]: DG
Miss in Her Teens.
NOTE:
Benefit for author ("The Author's Night," i.e. David Mallet, author of
Elvira). "1763" in ink, contemporary hand. [gws/pc]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 164
Drury Lane, Thursday,
3 February [1763]
The Discovery.
[Unnamed character]: DG
NOTE:
No afterpiece listed. Pencil note in leaf margin: "Sir Anthony Branville his last original part". "1763" in ink, contemporary hand. [gws/pc]
ART Vol. d94, p. 55
Drury Lane, Monday,
7 February [1763]
The Discovery.
[Unnamed character]: DG
The Old Maid.
NOTE:
Command performance: Their Majesties. No afterpiece listed.
[gws]
Craven Collection of Playbills, No. 242031
Drury Lane, Saturday,
12 March [1763]
The Discovery.
[Unnamed character]: DG
Polly Honeycomb.
[jd/LS]
W.b.476, p. 425
Drury Lane, Saturday,
26 March [1763]
Venice Preserv'd.
Jaffier: DG
The School Boy.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mr. Holland.
[gws]
ART Vol. d94, p. 59
Drury Lane, Monday,
4 April [1763]
Hamlet.
Ghost: DG
High Life Below Stairs.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mr. Palmer.
[gws]
Craven Collection of Playbills, No. 242032
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
5 April [1763]
The Wonder, A Woman keeps a Secret.
Don Felix: DG
The Englishman in Paris.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mr. King. [jd/LS]
ART Vol. d94, p. 60
Drury Lane, Friday,
8 April [1763]
The Fair Penitent.
Scioloto: DG
The Devil to Pay.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mrs. Yates.
"1762" in ink, contemporary hand, crossed out. "1763" in pencil (gws). [gws]
W.b.481, p. 89
Drury Lane, Monday,
11 Arpil [1763]
The Way to Keep Him.
Lovemore: DG
Miss in Her Teens.
NOTE:
Benefit for Miss Pope.
[gws]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 165
Drury Lane, Friday,
15 April [1763]
The second part of King Henry the Fourth.
King Henry: DG
The Witches.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mr. Love.
"1763" in ink, contemporary hand.
[gws/pc]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 166
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
26 April [1763]
The Discovery.
[Unnamed character]: DG
Miss in Her Teens.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mr. Hopkins and Mrs. Hopkins. "1763" in ink, contemporary hand.
[gws/pc]
1763-64 Season
Scrapbook: Drury Lane and Covent Garden 1725-1780, vol. 2 1763-1764, p. [3]
Drury Lane, Monday,
10 October [1763]
Philaster.
Polly Honeycomb.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. [jd/LS]
BILL Box G2 D84 1763-64, no. 1
Drury Lane, Saturday,
21 January [1764]
King Henry the Fourth, part 2.
The Rites of Hecate; Or, Harlequin from the Moon.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
"1764" in ink, contemporary hand. [gws/pc]
Scrapbook: Drury Lane and Covent Garden 1725-1780, v.2 1763-1764, p. [32]
Drury Lane, Saturday,
14 April [1764]
Othello.
The Lying Valet.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mr. Vernon.
Command performance: "By Particular Desire."
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. [jd/LS]
Scrapbook: Drury Lane and Covent Garden 1725-1780, vol. 2 1763-1764, p. [37]
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
1 May [1764]
The Provok's Husband.
Thomas and Sally.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mr. Burton and Miss Plym.
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. [jd/LS]
1764-65 Season
BILL Box G2 D84 1764-65, no. 1
Drury Lane, Friday,
22 November [1764]
Hamlet.
The Genii.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
"1764" in modern hand. [gws/pc]
W.a.169, after p. 58
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
27 November [1764]
Macbeth.
The Deuce is In Him.
[gws]
BILL Box G2 D84 1764-65, no. 2
Drury Lane, Saturday,
15 December [1764]
The Jealous Wife.
The Genii.
NOTE: Garrick's name does not appear on bill. [pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1764-65, no. 3
Drury Lane, Saturday,
12 January [1765]
King Lear.
The Devil to Pay.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. [pc]
Scrapbook: Drury Lane and Covent Garden 1725-1780, v.3 1764-1765, p. [37]
Drury Lane, Thursday,
7 March [1765]
The Fair Penitent.
The Capricious Lovers.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. [jd/LS]
Scrapbook: Drury Lane and Covent Garden 1725-1780, v.3 1764-1765, p. [39]
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
24 April [1765]
The Beggar's Opera.
Polly Honeycomb.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mrs. Vincent.
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. [jd/LS]
BILL Box G2 D84 1764-65, no. 4
Drury Lane, Friday,
3 May [1765]
Cymbeline.
The Musical Lady.
NOTE:
Cymbeline "For the Last Time this Season." Benefit for Mr. Burton and Miss Plym. Garrick's name does not appear on bill. "1765" in modern hand. [gws/pc]
1765-66 Season
BILL Box G2 D84 1765-66, no. 1
Drury Lane, Saturday,
14 September [1765]
The Beggar's Opera.
Polly Honeycomb.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. 1765 in ink; contemporary hand. "On Tuesday next, ROMEO and JULIET." [pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1765-66, no. 2
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
17 September [1765]
Romeo and Juliet.
The Musical Lady.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. 1765 in ink, contemporary hand. "On Thursday next, The JEALOUS WIFE." [pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1765-66, no. 3
Drury Lane, Saturday,
21 September [1765]
The Orphan.
High Life Below Stairs.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. 1765 in ink, contemporary hand. "On Tuesday, All in the Wrong, with The Witches." [pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1765-66, no. 4
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
1 October [1765]
The London Merchant.
The Deuce is in Him.
NOTE: Garrick's name does not appear on bill. 1765 in ink, contemporary hand. "To-morrow, VENICE PRESERV'D." [pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1765-66, no. 5
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
9 October [1765]
Tancred and Sigismunda. ("NOT ACTED THIS SEASON")
Daphne and Amintor. ("Perform'd but Once")
NOTE: Garrick's name does not appear on bill. 1765 in ink, contemporary hand. "Tomorrow, (By Desire) The FOUNDLING." [pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1765-66, no. 6
Drury Lane, Thursday,
10 October [1765]
The Jealous Wife.
Fortunatus.
("perform'd but Twice This Season")
NOTE: Command performance of afterpiece, "BY DESIRE." Garrick's name does not appear on bill. 1765 in ink, contemporary hand. "The Comic Opera of Daphne & Amintor is oblig'd to be deferr'd on Account of Miss Young's Illness." "To-morrow (Not acted this Season) The Way to Keep Him." [pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1765-66, no. 7
Drury Lane, Saturday,
12 October [1765]
Zara. ("NOT ACTED THIS SEASO" [sic.])
Daphne and Amintor. ("Perform'd but Once")
NOTE: Garrick's name does not appear on bill. 1765 in ink, contemporary hand. "Books of the Opera to be had at the Theatre."
[pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1765-66, no. 8
Drury Lane, Thursday,
17 October [1765]
The Foundling.
Daphne and Amintor.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
1765 in ink, contemporary hand.
[pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1765-66, no. 9
Drury Lane, Friday,
18 October [1765]
The Provok'd Husband. ("NOT ACTED THIS SEASON")
Daphne and Amintor.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. 1765 in ink, contemporary hand. Bottom part of playbill damaged. [pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1765-66, no. 10
Drury Lane, Friday,
25 October [1765]
The Orphan of China. ("NOT ACTED THIS SEASON")
Daphne and Amintor.
NOTE: Garrick's name does not appear on bill. 1765 in ink, contemporary hand. "To-morrow (By Desire) The ORPHAN." [pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1765-66, no. 11
Drury Lane, Saturday,
26 October [1765]
The Orphan.
Daphne and Amintor.
NOTE: Benefit for the author of the afterpiece [i.e. Isaac Bickerstaff]. Garrick's name does not appear on bill. 1765 in ink, contemporary hand. [pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1765-66, no. 12
Drury Lane, Thursday,
31 October [1765]
The Mistake.
Daphne and Amintor.
NOTE: Garrick's name does not appear on bill. 1765 in ink, contemporary hand. "To-morrow, (By Particular Desire) VENICE PRESERV'D."
[pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1765-66, no. 13
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
12 November [1765]
All in the Wrong.
Daphne and Amintor.
NOTE: Afterpiece: "by Desire." Garrick's name does not appear on bill. 1765 in ink, contemporary hand. Bottom part of playbill damaged. [pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1765-66, no. 14
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
13 November [1765]
Venice Preserv'd.
High Life Below Stairs.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
1765 in ink, contemporary hand.
[pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1765-66, no. 15
Drury Lane, Thursday,
14 November [1765]
Much Ado About Nothing.
Benedick: DG
Daphne and Amintor.
NOTE:
Command performance: King George III and Queen ["BY COMMAND OF THEIR MAJESTIES"]. "1765" added in pencil. [gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1765-66, no. 16
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
19 November [1765]
The School for Lovers.
Harlequin's Invasion. ("With ALTERATIONS and ADDITIONS"; "Acted but Twice these Five Years")
NOTE: Command performance: "BY DESIRE." Garrick's name does not appear on bill. 1765 in ink, contemporary hand. Bottom part of playbill damaged. [pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1765-66, no. 17
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
20 November [1765]
Cymbeline.
Daphne and Amintor.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
1765 in ink, contemporary hand.
[pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1765-66, no. 18
Drury Lane, Monday,
9 December [1765]
The Plain Dealer. ("ACTED BUT ONCE THESE TWENTY YEARS"; "ALTERED FROM WYCHERLY" [sic.])
The Virgin Unmask'd. ("Acted but Once these Five Years")
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. 1765 in ink, contemporary hand.
[pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1765-66, no. 19
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
10 December [1765]
Mahomet.
Harlequin's Invasion.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. 1765 in ink, contemporary hand.
[pc]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 171
Drury Lane, Friday,
27 December [1765]
The Mourning Bride.
Harlequin's Invasion.
NOTE: Garrick's name does not appear on bill. 1765 in ink, contemporary hand. [gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1765-66, no. 20
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
8 January [1766]
Cymbeline.
The Hermit: Or, Harlequin at Rhodes. ("A NEW Patomime Entertainment")
NOTE: Garrick's name does not appear on bill. 1765 in ink, contemporary hand, crossed out; corrected to 1766 in pencil.
[pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1765-66, no. 21
Drury Lane, Thursday,
9 January [1766]
King Henry the Fourth, part I.
The Hermit: Or, Harlequin at Rhodes.
NOTE: Garrick's name does not appear on bill. 1765 in ink, contemporary hand, crossed out; 1766 inserted. [pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1765-66, no. 22
Drury Lane, Saturday,
11 January [1766]
King Lear.
The Hermit: Or, Harlequin at Rhodes.
NOTE: Garrick's name does not appear on bill. 1765 in ink, contemporary hand, crossed out; 1766 inserted. "On Monday (acted but Once these Six Tears) MEROPE" [sic.] [not acted due to illness].
[pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1765-66, no. 23
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
14 January [1766]
All in the Wrong.
The Hermit: Or, Harlequin at Rhodes.
NOTE: Command performance: "BY DESIRE." Garrick's name does not appear on bill. 1765 in ink, contemporary hand, crossed out; 1766 inserted. [pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1765-66, no. 24
Drury Lane, Thursday,
16 January [1766]
The Jealous Wife.
The Hermit: Or, Harlequin at Rhodes.
NOTE: Garrick's name does not appear on bill. 1765 in ink, contemporary hand, crossed out; 1766 inserted. "To-morrow, (acted but once these Six Years) MEROPE."
[pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1765-66, no. 25
Drury Lane, Friday,
17 January [1766]
Merope. ("ACTED BUT ONCE THESE SIX YEARS")
The Hermit: Or, Harlequin at Rhodes.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
1765 in ink, contemporary hand, crossed out; 1766 inserted.
[pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1765-66, no. 26
Drury Lane, Monday,
20 January [1766]
The Mourning Bride.
The Hermit: Or, Harlequin at Rhodes.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
1765 in ink, contemporary hand, crossed out; 1766 inserted.
[pc]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 175
Drury Lane, Monday,
10 February [1766]
The Distressed Mother.
The Hermit, or, The Harlequin at Rhodes.
NOTE:
Garrick's name not listed on bill.
1766 in ink, contemporary hand. [gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1765-66, no. 27
Drury Lane, Monday,
17 February [1766]
The Orphan of China.
Daphne and Amintor.
NOTE: Garrick's name does not appear on bill. 1765 in ink, contemporary hand, crossed out; 1766 inserted. "To-morrow, the English Opera of ALMENA To which (By Desire) will be added The FAIRY TALE: For the Benefit of the AUTHOR and COMPOSERS." [pc]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 174
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
24 February [1766]
The Orphan.
The Hermit, or, Harlequin at Rhodes.
NOTE:
Garrick's name not listed on bill.
1763 in ink, contemporary hand. [gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1765-66, no. 28
Drury Lane, Monday,
10 March [1766]
The Clandestine Marriage.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
No afterpiece listed. 1765 in ink, contemporary hand, crossed out; 1766 inserted in pencil.
[pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1765-66, no. 29
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
8 April [1766]
Rule a Wife and Have a Wife.
Fortunatus.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mrs. Abington.
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
1767 in ink, contemporary hand, crossed out; 1766 inserted.
[pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1765-66, no. 30
Drury Lane, Thursday,
10 April [1766]
The Clandestine Marriage.
NOTE: Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
No afterpiece listed. [jd/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1765-66, no. 31
Drury Lane, Saturday,
12 April [1766]
Falstaff's Wedding. Being a Sequel to the Second Part of King Henry the Fourth. ("Never ACTED Before"; "Written in Imitation of Shakespeare")
The Fairy Tale.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mr. Love.
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
1765 in ink, contemporary hand, crossed out; 1766 inserted by gws. [gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1765-66, no. 32
Drury Lane, Friday,
25 April [1766]
Love's Last Shift, Or, The Fool in Fashion.
Miss in her Teens.
NOTE: Benefit for Mr. Dodd. Garrick's name does not appear on bill. "To-morrow, [Acted but once these Twenty Years) ALL for LOVE..." 1767 in ink, contemporary hand, crossed out; 1766 inserted by gws. [gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1765-66, no. 33
Drury Lane, Monday,
28 April [1766]
Hamlet.
The Devil to Pay.
NOTE:
Benefit for Sig. Grimaldi and Mr. Aldridge.
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
[Note in pencil paper-clipped to this bill and next: "Although initialed by Stone as correct, the bills seem to be 1766 rather than '67. Apr 28 and 29 fall on Mon and Tue in '66, not '67. 1766 corroborated by D.L.C. [Drury Lane Calendar] p. 119. All the same, Stone gets it right in his entry for 28 Apr 1766 in LS 1660-1800." Corrected date of 1766 in pencil by a different hand from that of "gws."] 1767 in ink, contemporary hand, crossed out; corrected to 1766 (see below).
[gws/pc/LS]
BILL Box G2 D84 1765-66, no. 34
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
29 April [1766]
King Lear.
The Musical Lady.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mr. & Mrs. Baddeley. Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
[Note in pencil paper-clipped to this bill and the bill for Mon 28 Apr: "Although initialed by Stone as correct, the bills seem to be 1766 rather than '67. Apr 28 and 29 fall on Mon and Tue in '66, not '67. 1766 corroborated by D.L.C. [Drury Lane Calendar] p. 119. All the same, Stone gets it right in his entry for 28 Apr 1766 in LS 1660-1800." Corrected date of 1766 in pencil is by a different hand from that of "gws." 1767 in ink, contemporary hand, crossed out; corrected to 1766.] [gws/pc/LS]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 176
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
30 April [1766]
The Tempest.
Fortunatus.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mr. Rooker.
Garrick's name not listed on bill.
1766 in ink, contemporary hand. [gws/pc]
BILL Vol G2 C85 1753-66, p. 177
Drury Lane, Monday,
12 May [1766]
The Suspicious Husband.
The Duce is in Him.
NOTE:
Benefit for Dickinson.
Garrick's name not listed on bill.
1766 in ink, contemporary hand. [gws/pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1765-66, no. 35
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
14 May [1766]
The Tempest.
The Fairy Tale.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mr. Mortimer, Mr. Tomlinson, and Mr. West.
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. "To-morrow, By Desire, The Clandestine Marriage." 1765 in ink, contemporary hand, crossed out; 1766 inserted in pencil. [pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1765-66, no. 36
Drury Lane, Friday,
16 May [1766]
The Conscious Lovers.
Miss in her Teens.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mr. Smith and Mr. Cridland.
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
1765 in ink, contemporary hand, crossed out; 1766 inserted in pencil.
[pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1765-66, no. 37
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
20 May [1766]
The Stratagem.
The Devil to Pay.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mr. Bowers and Mr. Veal.
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
1765 in ink, contemporary hand, crossed out; 1766 inserted in pencil.
[pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1765-66, no. 38
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
21 May [1766]
The Busy Body.
Miss in her Teens.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mr. Foley, Mr. Kaygill, Mr. Robinson, and Mr. Lings.
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
1765 in ink, contemporary hand, crossed out; 1766 inserted in pencil.
[pc]
ART Vol. d94, p. 62
Drury Lane, Thursday,
22 May [1766]
Every Man in his Humour.
Kitely: DG
The Devil to Pay.
NOTE:
"Towards raising a FUND, for the Relief of Those, who from their Infirmities shall be obliged to retire from the Stage." Early evidence of the formation of the Theatrical Fund. [gws]
1766-67 Season
BILL Box G2 D84 1766-67, no. 1
Drury Lane, Saturday,
20 September [1766]
The Busybody.
The Devil to Pay.
NOTE: Garrick's name does not appear on bill. Year written in ink in a contemporary hand.
BILL Box G2 D84 1766-67, no. 2
Drury Lane, Thursday,
9 October [1766]
The Plain Dealer.
The Hermit.
NOTE: Command performance: "BY PARTICULAR DESIRE." Garrick is listed as appearing in the following day's performance of The Provk'd Wife. Year written in ink in a contemporary hand.
BILL Box G2 D84 1766-67, no. 3
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
14 October [1766]
Venice Perserv'd.
The Hermit; or Harlequin at Rhodes.
NOTE: Year written in ink in a contemporary hand.
W.b.481, p. 97
Drury Lane, Saturday,
18 October [1766]
Zara.
Lusignan: DG
Lethe.
Lord Chalkstone: DG
[gws]
BILL Box G2 D84 1766-67, no. 4
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
22 October [1766]
The Clandestine Marriage.
The Hermit.
NOTE: Garrick listed as performing in the following day's performance of Much Ado About Nothing. Year written in ink in a contemporary hand.
BILL Box G2 D84 1766-67, no. 5
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
4 November [1766]
Tamerlane.
Queen Mab.
NOTE: Garrick's name does not appear on bill. Year written in ink in a contemporary hand.
BILL Box G2 D84 1766-67, no. 6
Drury Lane, Thursday,
4 December [1766]
The Rehearsal. Bayes: DG
Polly Honeycomb.
NOTE: Command performance: "BY COMMAND OF Their MAJESTIES." Year written in ink in a contemporary hand. [gws]
BILL Box G2 D84 1766-67, no. 7
Drury Lane, Friday,
5 December [1766]
The Plain Dealer.
The Cunning Man.
NOTE: Command performance: "BY DESIRE." Garrick's name does not appear on bill. Year written in ink in a contemporary hand.
BILL Box G2 D84 1766-67, no. 8
Drury Lane, Friday,
12 December [1766]
The Wonder.
The Deuce in Him.
NOTE: Garrick's name does not appear on bill. Year written in ink in a contemporary hand.
W.b.481, p. 101
Drury Lane, Thursday,
12 February [1767]
The Jealous Wife.
Oakly: DG
Neck, or Nothing.
NOTE:
Command performance: Their Majesties. [gws]
BILL Box G2 D84 1766-67, no. 9
Drury Lane, Friday,
20 February 1767
King John.
The Cunning Man.
NOTE: Garrick's name does not appear on bill. Year is printed.
PN 2581 G5 Ex.ill. v. 2, following p. 1048 (a)
BILL Box G2 D84 1766-67, no. 10 (duplicate copies)
Drury Lane, Saturday,
7 March [1767]
Rule a Wife and Have a Wife.
Leon: DG
The Devil to Pay.
NOTE: Year written in ink in a contemporary hand in BILL Box playbill (gws). [jd/gws/pc/LS]
BILL Box G2 D84 1766-67, no. 11 (oversized)
Drury Lane, Thursday,
19 March 1767
The Suspicious Husband.
Ranger: DG
The Cunning Man.
NOTE:
Command performance: "BY PARTICULAR DESIRE." Poster, printed in alternate colors of black and red. Year is printed. [pc]
W.b.475, p. 223
Drury Lane, Monday,
23 March 1767
The Clandestine Marriage.
[Unnamed farce]
NOTE:
Benefit for Mrs. Clive. Command performance: "By PARTICULAR DESIRE."
GWS doubts if this is an original bill, refers to loose bills. Another hand, initials illegible, says "Certainly original." No loose bill for this date is discoverable in BILL Boxes (jd). Variant (see W.b.97, following p. 76). [gws]
W.b.97, following p. 76
Drury Lane, Monday,
23 March 1767
The Clandestine Marriage.
High Life Below Stairs.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mrs. Clive.
Command performance: "By PARTICULAR DESIRE."
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. A careful ink reproduction of an original bill. Facsimile variant (see also W.b.475, p. 223). [pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1766-67, no. 12
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
24 March 1767
Medea.
[Unnamed farce]
NOTE: Benefit for Mrs. Yates. This play shares equal billing with a performance of
The False Friend and an unnamed farce on Tuesday, 31 March 1767, for the benefit of Mr. Yates. Garrick's name does not appear on bill. [gws]
T.a.112, opposite p. 55
Drury Lane, Saturday,
28 March 1767
Dido.
Daphne and Amintor.
NOTE:
Benefit for Holland.
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. [pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1766-67, no. 13
Drury Lane, Friday,
8 May 1767
King Henry the Fourth, part two.
The Capricious Lovers.
NOTE: Benefit for Mr. Aickin and Mrs. Lee. Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
T.a.112, p. 60
Drury Lane, Thursday,
14 May 1767
Dido.
The Register Office.
NOTE:
Benefit for author [i.e. Joseph Reed, author of
Dido].
Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
Reed is also the author of The Register Office.
[pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1766-67, no. 14
Drury Lane, Monday,
18 May 1767
Romeo and Juliet.
The Register Office.
NOTE: Benefit for Mr. Duquesney. Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
ART Vol. d94, p. 63
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
3 June [1767]
The Suspicious Husband.
Ranger: DG
Daphne and Amintor.
NOTE:
"Towards raising a FUND, for the Relief of those, who from their Infirmities shall be obliged to retire from the Stage." An indication of the great crowds expected (or desired) is found in the caveat printed at the bottom of the bill: "Ladies and Gentlemen who have taken TICKETS for the PIT and BOXES are requested to be early at the Theatre, to prevent their being incommoded in getting to their Places." Since advance tickets were normally not sold for the Pit, the implication is that part of the pit has been "laid into boxes," as often explained in other bills. [gws]
BILL Box G2 D84 1766-67, no. 15
Drury Lane, Monday,
13 July 1767
Romeo and Juliet.
The Contrivances.
NOTE: "By Comedians from the Theatres Royal in London." Not in
The London Stage 1660-1800.
1767-68 Season
W.b.476, p. 415
Drury Lane, Friday,
25 September [1767]
The Provok'd Wife.
Sir John Brute: DG
The Devil to Pay.
[gws]
PN 2581 G5 Ex.ill. v. 2, following p. 1048 (b)
Drury Lane, Monday,
18 April 1768
The Way to Keep Him.
The Hermit; or, Harlequin at Rhodes.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mr. & Mrs. Hopkins (Hopkins was one of Garrick's prompters). Garrick's name does not appear on bill. [LS]
PN 2581 G5 Ex.ill. v. 2, following p. 1048 (c)
Drury Lane, Saturday,
30 April 1768
The Provok'd Husband.
The Lyar.
NOTE:
Benefit for Mr. J. Palmer. Variant (inferred: LS gives additional beneficiary, Duquesney). Garrick's name does not appear on bill. [pc]
PN 2581 G5 Ex.ill. v. 2, following p. 1048 (d)
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
4 May 1768
The Suspicious Husband.
[Unnamed farce]
NOTE:
Benefit for Mr. Tassoni. Variant (inferred: LS gives additional beneficiaries: Mr. Hurst and Mrs. Dorman). Garrick's name does not appear on bill. LS gives title of farce:
The Deuce is In Him. [LS]
W.a.169, opposite p. 84
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
31 May [1768]
Hamlet.
Hamlet: DG
The Absent Man.
NOTE:
"Towards raising a FUND, for the relief of those who from their Age or Infirmities, shall be obliged to retire from the stage."
[jd/pc]
1768-69 Season
ART Vol. d45, p. 15a
Drury Lane, Thursday,
29 September 1768
King Richard the Third.
Richard: DG
The Wake.
NOTE:
Command performance: "BY PARTICULAR DESIRE." [gws]
PN 2581 G5 Ex.ill. v. 2, following p. 1048 (e)
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
2 November 1768
The Wonder.
Don Felix: DG
The Lottery.
[LS]
PN 2581 G5 Ex.ill. v. 2, following p. 1048 (f)
Drury Lane, Saturday,
26 November 1768
Jane Shore.
Queen Mab.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. [LS]
PN 2581 G5 Ex.ill. v. 2, following p. 1048 (g)
Drury Lane, Monday,
5 December 1768
The Country Girl.
Queen Mab.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. [LS]
BILL Box G2 D84 1768-69, no. 1
Drury Lane, Friday,
27 January 1769
Every Man in his Humour. Kitely: DG
Wit's Last Stake.
Craven Collection of Playbills, No. 242037a
Drury Lane, Thursday,
2 March [1769]
The Fatal Discovery.
The Padlock.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. This bill is also printed on the same sheet with a bill post-dated Tuesday, 14 March 1769 (see next entry). The latter bill is a benefit bill (for Mr. King), printed 12 days before the fact, a clear instance of the prior printing of benefit bills. [jd/LS]
BILL Box G2 D84 1768-69, no. 2
Drury Lane, Saturday,
11 March 1769
The Royal Slave.
A Peep behind the Curtain.
NOTE: Benefit for Mr. Barry. Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
BILL Box G2 D84 1768-69, no. 3
Drury Lane, Monday,
13 March 1769
Zenobia.
Daphne and Amintor.
NOTE: Benefit for Mr. Holland. Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
Craven Collection of Playbills, No. 242037b
Drury Lane, Thursday,
14 March [1769]
False Delicacy.
[Unnamed farce]
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. Advance bill for benefit for Mr. King: "On Tuesday, the 14th of March, 1769..." This bill is printed on the same sheet with Craven Collection bill for Thursday, 2 March 1769 (see previous entry) [jd/LS]
1769-70 Season
PN 2581 G5 Ex.ill. v. 2, following p. 1048 (i)
Drury Lane, Monday,
16 October 1769
The Hypocrite.
The Jubilee.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on bill. [LS]
W.b.475, p. 31
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
6 December 1769
The Suspicious Husband.
Ranger: DG
Hob in the Well.
[pc]
BILL Box G2 D84 1769-70, no. 1
Drury Lane, Thursday,
8 March 1770
King Lear. King Lear: DG
The Lyar.
[gws]
1770-71 Season
ART Vol. d45, p. 26
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
28 November 1770
Zara.
Lusignan: DG
Miss in Her Teens.
NOTE:
Poster, two color (lines alternating black and red); size over twice as large as regulation play bill. Extremely rare. [gws]
W.b.475, p. 278
Drury Lane, Monday,
8 April 1771
Cymon.
The Mayor of Garratt.
NOTE: Benefit for Mr. & Mrs. Hopkins.
L.g.295
Drury Lane, Thursday,
30 May 1771
Hamlet.
[Unnamed farce]
NOTE: Benefit for Mr. Percey, box-keeper. Garrick's name does not appear on playbill.
1771-72 Season
BILL Box G2 D84 1771-72, no. 1
Drury Lane, Saturday,
23 November 1771
King Lear.
The Institution of the Garter; or, Arthur's Round Table Restor'd
NOTE: Garrick's name does not appear on playbill. [gws]
W.b.481, p. 105
Drury Lane, Friday,
6 December 1771
The Suspicious Husband.
Ranger: DG
Thomas and Sally.
W.b.481, p. 115
Drury Lane, Thursday,
26 March 1772
The Rehearsal.
Bayes: DG
The Chaplet.
[gws]
Craven Collection of Playbills, No. 242033
Drury Lane, Saturday,
30 May [1772]
King Richard the Third.
King Richard: DG
Miss in her Teens.
[jd/LS]
1772-73 Season
BILL Box G2 D84 1772-73, no. 1
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
15 December 1772
The Wonder.
Don Felix: DG
The Register Office.
[gws]
Craven Collection of Playbills, No. 242035
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
5 February [1773]
The Chances.
Don John: DG
The Wedding Ring.
NOTE:
Command performance: "BY PARTICULAR DESIRE." [jd/LS]
BILL Box G2 D84 1772-73, no. 2
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
17 February 1773
King Lear.
King Lear: DG
The Musical Lady.
[gws]
BILL Box G2 D84 1772-73, no. 3
Drury Lane, Friday,
19 February 1773
King Lear.
King Lear: DG
A Trip to Scotland.
[gws]
Craven Collection of Playbills, No. 242023
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
23 February [1773]
The Provok'd Wife.
Sir John Brute: DG
High Life Below Stairs.
[jd/LS]
BILL Box G2 D84 1772-73, no. 4
Drury Lane, Monday,
22 March 1773
Othello.
The Irish Widow.
NOTE: Benefit for Mr. Barry. Written on playbill: "This play deferred till 29 Apr 73;
Alonzo and
Wedding Ring played instead. GWS. See Hopkins Diary." Garrick's name does not appear on bill. [gws]
BILL Box G2 D84 1772-73, no. 5
Drury Lane, Monday,
19 April 1773
As You Like It.
Harlequin's Invasion.
NOTE: Command performance, "BY PARTICULAR DESIRE." Benefit for Mr. Hopkins, prompter, and Mrs. Hopkins. Garrick's name does not appear on bill. [gws]
BILL Box G2 D84 1772-73, no. 6
Drury Lane, Thursday,
29 April 1773
Othello.
The Irish Widow.
NOTE: Benefit for Mr. Barry. "This present Thursday" (variant of following playbill). Garrick's name does not appear on bill. [gws]
BILL Box G2 D84 1772-73, no. 7
Drury Lane, Thursday,
29 April 1773
Othello.
The Irish Widow.
NOTE: Benefit for Mr. Barry. "On Thursday next" (variant of previous playbill). [gws]
BILL Box G2 D84 1772-73, no. 8
Drury Lane, Monday,
10 May 1773
Macbeth.
Like Master Like Man.
NOTE: Benefit for Mr. Champnes and Mrs. Scott. Garrick's name does not appear on bill. [gws]
BILL Box G2 D84 1772-73, no. 9
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
12 May 1773
The Tempest.
["A Pantomime"]
NOTE: Benefit for Mr. Ackman. Advance playbill: "On Wednesday next." [gws]
Craven Collection of Playbills, No. 242036
Drury Lane, Saturday,
22 May [1773]
Zara.
Lusignan: DG
The Irish Widow.
[jd/LS]
BILL Box G2 D84 1772-73, no. 10
Drury Lane, Monday,
31 May 1773
Cymbeline.
The Register Office.
NOTE: Benefit for Mr. Watson, Mr. Roberts, and Mr. Palmer. Garrick's name does not appear on bill.
1773-74 Season
BILL Box G2 D84 1773-74, no. 1
Drury Lane, Friday,
22 October 1773
Rule a Wife and Have a Wife. Leon: DG
The Padlock.
NOTE: Afterpiece is "By Desire." [gws]
BILL Box G2 D84 1773-74, no. 2
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
9 November 1773
The Fair Quaker; Or, The Humours of the Navy.
The Lyar.
NOTE: "For the First Time." Garrick's name does not appear on bill. Left side of bill severely damaged.
[gws]
W.b.474, p. 451
Drury Lane, Monday,
15 November 1773
The Chances.
Don John: DG
The Mayor of Garratt.
BILL Box G2 D84 1773-74, no. 3
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
17 May 1774
King Lear. King Lear: DG
Neck or Nothing.
NOTE: Benefit "towards raising a FUND for the Relief of those, who from their Infirmities, shall be obliged to retire from the Stage." [gws]
1774-75 Season
L.g.296
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
6 December 1774
The Alchymist. Abel Drugger: DG
The Deserter
NOTE: Command performance, "By Particular Desire."
BILL Box G2 D84 1774-75, no. 1
Drury Lane, Friday,
6 January 1775
The Provok'd Wife. Sir John Brute: DG
The Deserter.
W.a.169, opposite p. 110
Drury Lane, Thursday,
9 March [1775]
Braganza.
The Rival Candidates.
NOTE:
Garrick's name does not appear on this bill. [jd/pc]
1775-76 Season
W.b.470, p. 43
Drury Lane,
[January/February?] [1776]
The Discovery.
Sir Anthony Branville: DG
NOTE: Command performance: "BY PARTICULAR DESIRE." Fragment includes cast list of
The Discovery only. No date on bill; LS speculates 20, 22, 24, 26, or 29 January or 7 February 1776. [gws]
W.b.481, p. 117
Drury Lane, Friday,
7 March 1776
Zara.
Lusignan: DG
The Spleen, or Islington Spa.
NOTE:
Command performance: "BY PARTICULAR DESIRE." [gws]
ART Vol. d94, p. 68
Drury Lane, Thursday,
11 April [1776]
The Alchymist.
Abel Drugger: DG
The Spleen, or Islington Spa.
NOTE:
"Being the last Time of his performing that Character." [gws]
BILL Box G2 D84 1775-76, no. 1
Drury Lane, Tuesday,
30 April 1776
The Provok'd Wife. Sir John Brute: DG
The Padlock.
W.b.474, p. 453
Bill Box G2 D84 1775-76, no. 2, copy 1
Bill Box G2 D84 1775-76, no. 2, copy 2
Bill Box G2 D84 1775-76, no. 2, copy 3
Bill Box G2 D84 1775-76, no. 2, copy 4 (apparent duplicate copies)
Drury Lane, Thursday,
23 May 1776
The Suspicious Husband.
Ranger: DG
The Deserter.
NOTE:
Mrs. Siddons as Mrs. Strictland. [gws]
Bill Box G2 D84 1775-76, no. 2, copy 5
Drury Lane, Thursday,
23 May 1776
The Suspicious Husband.
Ranger: DG
The Deserter.
NOTE:
Stone identifies this bill as a forgery (annotation on front: "confirmed in loose bills | gws"; annotation on back: "Forged bill from large Garrick portfolio - 236 cs 1253"). For a discussion of the question of forgery, see ["Dating and Authentication."](forgery1)
[gws]
Scrapbook [from Wright sale], Richard III, item 2
Drury Lane, Monday,
27 May 1776
King Richard the Third.
Richard: DG
The Devil to Pay.
[LS]
BILL Box G2 D84 1775-76, no. 3, copy 1
BILL Box G2 D84 1775-76, no. 3, copy 2 (apparent duplicate copies)
Drury Lane, Monday,
27 May 1776
King Richard the Third Richard: DG
The Devil to Pay
NOTE:
Presumably a variant of Scrapbook [from Wright sale], Richard III, item 2. Mrs. Siddons as Lady Anne. [gws]
BILL Box G2 D84 1775-76, no. 3, copy 3
Drury Lane, Monday,
27 May 1776
King Richard the Third Richard: DG
The Devil to Pay
NOTE:
Stone identifies this bill as a forgery: "Confirmed in loose bills | gws." Annotation on back: "Forged bill from large Garrick portfolio - 236 cs 1253." [gws]
BILL Box G2 D84 1775-76, no. 4
Drury Lane, Thursday,
30 May 1776
Hamlet Hamlet: DG
The Deuce is in Him
NOTE: "Being the last time of his performing that Character." "Towards encreasing a FUND, for the Relief of those who from their Infirmities shall be obliged to retire from the Stage." [gws]
W.b.481, p. 119
BILL Box G2 D84 1775-76, no. 5 (duplicate copies)
Drury Lane, Wednesday,
5 June 1776
King Richard the Third.
King Richard: DG
Bonton, or High Life Above Stairs.
NOTE: Command performance: "By command of their Majesties." Lady Anne by Mrs. Siddons. [gws]
W.b.481, p. 123
Drury Lane, Saturday,
8 June 1776
King Lear.
King Lear: DG
The Devil to Pay.
NOTE:
"Being the last Time of his appearing in that Character."
W.b.476, p. 237
Drury Lane, Monday, 10 June [1776]
ART Vol. d94, p. 69
Bill Box G2 D84 1775-76, no. 6, copy 1
Bill Box G2 D84 1775-76, no. 6, copy 2
Bill Box G2 D84 1775-76, no. 6, copy 3 (apparent duplicate copies)
The Wonder.
Don Felix: DG
The Waterman.
NOTE:
"The Last Time of the Company's performing this Season" and DG's last performance. "The Profits of this Night being appropriated to the Benefit of The Theatrical Fund, the Usual Address upon that Occasion Will be spoken by Mr. GARRICK, before the Play." See W.b.476, p. 240 for newspaper publication of the playbill and of DG's farewell address, as well as L.g.282. Written on ART Vol. d94, p. 69 in a contemporary hand: "His Last Appearance." [gws]
W.b.481, p. 139
Drury Lane, Monday,
10 June 1776
The Wonder.
Don Felix: DG
The Waterman.
NOTE: Facsimile playbill in manuscript. Includes handwritten annotation: "This was Garrick's last appearance."
[gws]
Bill Box G2 D84 1775-76, no. 6, copy 4
Drury Lane, Monday,
10 June 1776
The Wonder.
Don Felix: DG
The Waterman.
NOTE: A forgery. Stone comments: "orig[inal] in loose bills | gws." Annotated on reverse: "Forged bill from large Garrick portfolio - 236 cs 1253." For a discussion of the question of forgery, see "Dating and Authentication." [gws]
1741-42 Season (facsimiles)
BILL Box G2 G62 1741-42 Goodman's Fields [1]
Goodman's Fields, [Monday],
19 October 1741
King Richard the Third.
King Richard: "A Gentleman, who never appeared on any stage." (i.e., DG)
The Virgin Unmask'd.
NOTE:
Facsimile playbill. At top: "OCTOBER 19, 1741. GOODMAN'S FIELDS. At the late Theatre in GOODMAN'S FIELDS this day will be performed a Concert of Vocal, and Instrumental Music, divided into two parts.... N. B. Between the two parts of the Concert will be presented an historical play, called the Life and Death of King Richard the Third..." At bottom: "Both of which plays will be performed gratis, by persons for their diversion. The Concert will begin exactly at Six o'clock." [jd/pc/LS]
BILL Box G2 G62 1741-42 Goodman's Fields [2]
Goodman's Fields, [Monday],
19 October 1741
King Richard the Third.
King Richard: "A Gentleman, who never appeared on any stage." (i.e., DG)
The Virgin Unmask'd.
NOTE: Facsimile playbill. At top: "A Copy of the PLAY BILL that announced the first appearance of Mr. GARRICK." Text substantially as in BILL Box G2 G62 1741-42 [1]. Heavily folded and creased. [jd/pc/LS]
BILL Box G2 G62 1741-42 Goodman's Fields [3]
Goodman's Fields, [Monday],
19 October 1741
King Richard the Third.
King Richard: "A GENTLEMAN, Who never appeared on any Stage." (i.e., DG)
The Virgin Unmask'd.
NOTE: Facsimile playbill. At top: "PLAY BILL that announced GARRICK'S first appearance in London." Text substantially as in BILL Box G2 G62 1741-42 [1]. [jd/pc/LS]
BILL Box G2 G62 1741-42 Goodman's Fields [4]
ART Vol. a22 v. 1, opposite p. 38
W.b.481, p. 7 (duplicate copies)
Goodman's Fields, [Monday],
19 October 1741
King Richard the Third.
King Richard: "A GENTLEMAN, (Who never appeared on any Stage)" (i.e., DG)
The Virgin Unmask'd.
NOTE: Facsimile playbill, variant of next entry (type sizes are slightly different). At top: "The PLAY BILL that announced the first appearance of Mr. GARRICK." Text substantially as in BILL Box G2 G62 1741-42 [1]. [jd/pc/LS]
W.b.473, p. 122
W.b.472, p. 75 (duplicate copies)
Goodman's Fields, [Monday],
19 October 1741
King Richard the Third.
King Richard: "A GENTLEMAN, (Who never appeared on any Stage)" (i.e., DG)
The Virgin Unmask'd.
NOTE:
Facsimile playbill, variant of previous entry (type sizes are slightly different). At top: "The PLAY BILL that announced the first appearance of MR. GARRICK." The same information as contained in W.b.473, p. 121 (small format announcement the width of a newspaper column), reset in format of playbill. Text substantially as in BILL Box G2 G62 1741-42, no. 1. [jd/pc/LS]
ART Vol. d45, p. 13
Goodman's Fields, [Monday],
19 October 1741
King Richard the Third.
King Richard: "A GENTLEMAN (Who never appeared on any Stage)" (i.e., DG)
The Virgin Unmask'd.
NOTE: Facsimile playbill. "A Concert of Vocal & Instrumental Music,DIVIDED INTO TWO PARTS." Between the two parts: "LIFE AND DEATH OF KING RICHARD THE THIRD." [jd/pc/LS]
PN 2598 G3 F5 Copy 4 Ex.ill. v. 2, opposite p. 84
Goodman's Fields, [Monday],
19 October 1741
King Richard the Third.
King Richard: "A GENTLEMAN (Who never appeared on any Stage" (i.e., DG)
The Virgin Unmask'd.
NOTE: Facsimile playbill. "A Concert of Vocal & Instrumental Music, DIVIDED INTO TWO PARTS ... Between the Two Parts of the Concert..." [jd/pc/LS]
Scrapbook [from Wright sale], Richard III, item 3
Goodman's Fields, [Monday],
19 October 1741
King Richard the Third.
King Richard: "A GENTLEMAN (Who never appeared on any Stage" (i.e., DG)
The Virgin Unmask'd.
NOTE:
Facsimile playbill. Contents in scrapbook unnumbered. [jd/LS]