*p1692 01 00 dl The Marriage-Hater Matched. Edition of 1692: L. Brainless-Bowman; Sir Philip Freewit-Monfort; Sir Lawr. Limber-Sandford; Capt. Darewell-Hodson; Myn Here Van Grin-Leigh; Bias-Bright; Solon-Dogget; Callow-Bowen; MacBuffle-Trefuse; Thummum-Smeaton; Splutter-Colly Cibber?; Lady Subtle-Mrs Barry; Lady Bumfiddle-Mrs Cory; Phaebe-Mrs Bracegirdle; Berenice-Mrs Lassels; La Pupsey-Mrs Butler; Margery-Mrs Lawson; Prologue Mr Monford Enters, meets Mrs Bracegirdle dressed in Boy's Cloaths, who seeing her him, Endeavours to go back, but he taking hold of her, speaks-Mr Monford; Epilogue-La Pupsey with her Lapdog in Masquerade.*c1692 01 00 dl The <i>United Company</i>. The exact date of the first production is not known, but the play was entered in the <i>Term Catalogues</i>, February 1691@2, and mentioned in the <i>Gentleman's Journal</i>, February 1691@2 (licensed 12 February 1691@2). In all probability, it was first acted not later than January 1691@2. The music to one song, <i>As soon as the Chaos</i>, was composed by $Henry Purcell=. See <i>Purcell, Works</i>, <i>Purcell Society</i>, XX (1916), xvii. Two songs--<i>Bonny lad prithee lay thy pipe down</i>, with music by $Tollet=; <i>Great Jove once made love like a bull</i>, with music by $Mountfort=--are in <i>The Banquet of Musick</i>, The Sixth and Last Book, 1692. Dedication, Edition of 1692: Having at last so well acquitted it self on the Stage (tho' the thronging, imperfect Action, and worse than all, the faulty length, which I will never be guilty of again, render'd it little Diversion the first day). A Letter to $Mr D'Urfey= [by $Charles Gildon=], Edition of 1692: If there be any fault in this Play, 'tis that which few are guilty of; that is, there are too many good Characters, too full of Humour, a very Pardonable failing, which only proceeds from Variety, the life of Pleasure and Wit, tho' that gave it the disadvantage of seeming too long the first days Acting, tho' the Stage's being throng'd with Spectators, did not a little contribute to the imperfect Acting of it, which accidental Misfortunes concurring with the Endeavours of an opposite Faction, must needs have damn'd it, had it not by the Force and Vigour of its own Worthy, rais'd it self the second day with the general Applause of all that saw it....But the <i>Marriage-hater</i> went further, and in spight of all the disadvantages it labour'd under of Action and Audience, pleas'd on, after several times Repetition. See also <i>Poeta Infamis; or, A Poet not worth Hanging</i> (1692) for a variety of comments upon this play. <i>London Mercury</i>, 26 Feb. 1691@2: Query 4. Whether in Justice he [$D'Urfey=] is not obliged to present $Mr Dogget= (who acted <i>Solon</i> to so much Advantage) with half the Profit of his Third Day, since in the Opinions of most Persons, the good Success of his Comedy was half owing to that admirable Actor? Query 5. Whether, if there be any Wit in bringing a Person upon the Stage with an extravagantly broad-brimmed Hat, and a Muff of the same Size, so it will not be a very easy Matter for the next Poet that writes a Play, to Out-hat and Out-muff his Predecessors, and consequently to Out-wit him? $Downes=, <i>Roscius Anglicanus</i>, p. 42: Mr Dogget perform'd the part of Solon Inimitably. <i>Gentleman's Journal</i>, p. 454, February 1691@2 (licensed 12 Feb. 1691@2): I send you <i>the Marriage-hater match'd</i>, a new Comedy by Mr Durfey; it hath met with very good success, having been plaid six days together, and is a diverting Play. <i>Gentleman's Journal</i>, January 1691@2: Now I speak of Music I must tell you that we shall have speedily a new Opera, wherein something very surprising is promised us; Mr Purcel who joyns to the Delicacy and Beauty of the <i>Italian way</i>, the $Graces and Gayety of the French=, composes the Music, as he hath done for <i>the Prophetess</i>, and the last Opera called <i>King Arthur</i>, which hath been plaid several times the last Month [presumably December 1691].