RECEIPTS TO THE BEGGAR'S OPERA ON ITS PRODUCTION

Every body is aware of the prodigious and unexpected success of Gay's Beggar's Opera on its first production; it was offered to Colley Cibber at Drury Lane, and refused, and the author took it to Rich, at the Lincoln's-Inn-Fields theatre, by whom it was accepted, but not without hesitation. It ran for 62 nights (not 63 nights, as has been stated in some authorities) in the season of 1727-1728: of these, 32 nights were in succession; and, from the original Account-book of the manager, C. M. Rich, I am enabled to give an exact statement of the money taken at the doors on each night, distinguishi…