The Benefit Performance
Newly established companies generally followed the standard practice
for benefit performances prevailing at tire patent houses. The benefit
seasoir firr members of the company started in tire spring
charity benefit
occurred at any time duriirg the year
and an autlror’s first benefit can1،•'
on tire third night of the production. For example, Henry Giffard's troupe
in Goodman’s Fields for the season of 1741-42 began the player’s benefit
on r
March. The dates had been set long in advance, and announcement
had appeared in a variety of newspapers. Tire opening benefit was f٥r
Mrs Giffard, the next was Garrick’s, tlren Yates’s, and a few others. F٥r
tlrem, seats were built on the stage in the fornr of an amphitlreatre, j
as was being done for the leading performers at Drury Lane and Covcft
Garden during the same season.
After these, interspersed with regular performances for the
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began the partial or slrared benefits for tire lesser
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and actressc
Sometimes two players shared a benefit; on otlrer niglrts six or seven might
Irave tickets. In due course and rank came the benefits for tine treasure
the prompter, the boxkeepers, numberers, doorkeepers, ٠ and the rest
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the house servants. Finally, tlnere nvas one for some playwright, now ٠٠
financial difficulties, or for an old actor wlno had lost regular employment;
This spring it was for Thomas Walker, the original Macheatl'i in The Beggar'
Opera, .now without any engagement.
Throughout the entire season five Inenefit niglnts had been offer،:
for "Tradesmen in Distress,” for "A Gentleman with a large Family
Misfortunes,” and for "Mrs Loder, a Widow in Distress, lnaving ،٢
clnildren unprovided for” ( London daily Post ٥»،/ General Advertiser, 21 pc
cember 1741). Such clrarity performances were arranged by every gf٥٩
of players that made any pretense to being an organized company. Ev،:
in late January 1746, when tire troupe at Goodman’s Fields rvas ab°:
to disband Irecause of small audiences, tire manager offered a number ٥:
benefit nights for widows, tradesmen, or parents of large families^!'
distress, of course. A generous response could often be depended up٥:
for such sufferers, or for "A Brave Soldier who suffered extremely at th،
Battle of Dettinggen.” Generous responses led to a practice of running