From the Boston Evening Post of 12 May 1740,
   quoting London Magazine for January, 1740:

   Wednesday, Jan. 25.  This night a disturbance happen'd at Drury-Lane
   Playhouse, occasion'd by two of the principal dancers not being there
   to dance at the end of the entertainment, whereupon several gentlemen
   in the boxes and pit pull'd up the seats and flooring of the same, tore
   down the hangings, broke down the partitions, and all the glasses and
   sconces; the King's arms over the middle front box was pull'd down and
   broke to pieces; they also destroy'd the harpsichord, bass viol, and
   other instruments in the orchestra; the curtain they cut to pieces with
   their swords, forc'd their way into the lesser green-room, where they
   broke the glasses, &c. and after destroying every thing they could well
   get asunder, to the amount of about 3 or 400 l.  damage, left the house
   in a very ruinous condition.

[log in to unmask]