Event Comment: Oratorio: Written by Milton. Set to Music by Handel. Among the instrumental performers are Messrs Ashley andSons, Patria, Sarjant, Billington, Mahon, Boyce, Mountain, Howard, Lavenu, Simpson, Gwilliam, Purney, Munro, Leander, Kaye, Sharp, Lyon, &c. Double Drums by J. Ashley. The whole under the direction of Harrison and Ashley. At Play-house Prices. No money to be returned. Places for the Boxes to be had of Brandon at the Theatre. The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin precisely at 6:30 [same throughout oratorio season]. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Books of the Performance, with the names of the performers to their respective songs, price 6d., may be had at the Theatre, and to prevent imposition in the streets, the Manager's books are printed with the following words at the bottom of each title-page, "Printed by H. Macleish, Duke's court, Drury-Lane.

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; F 2, by Samuel Birch, based on James Powell's unacted play, The Narcotic, 1787; incidental music by Thomas Attwood (see 28 Nov.). Larpent MS 1182; not published; synopsis of plot in Morning Chronicle, 30 Oct.]. Receipts: #309 19s. 6d. (222.7.6; 86.1.0; 1.11.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Holman. Mainpiece: Acted but once [28 Mar. 1795] these 5 years. In IV a Grand Banquet. Morning Chronicle, 1 Apr.: Tickets to he had of Holman, No. 73, New-street, Hanover-square. Account-Book: Paid George? Papendick for [unspecified] Manuscript Plays of Kotzebue #200. Receipts: #350 2s. (257.6; 6.1; tickets: 86.15)

Event Comment: 2nd piece [1st time; MD 5, by George Holman, based on Die Rauber, by Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller. Prologue by John Taylor (Poems, I, 65)]: With new Scenery, Dresses and Decorations. The Musick composed by Attwood, and selected from Dr Arnold, Callcott, and Mozart. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Morning Chronicle, 4 Sept. 1799;: This day is published The Red Cross Knights (2s.). Ibid, 22 Aug.: It was remarked from its extreme length and the frequent fall of the drop scene that it was a play in ten acts instead of five--indeed this method of preparing for a new scene disjoints the business, and of course tends greatly to injure the effect

Event Comment: Benefit for Johnstone. 1st piece: By permission of G. Colman, Esq.; never performed here. [Bannister Jun.'s 1st appearance at this theatre was on 2 Feb. 1779.] 3rd piece: Not performed here these 3 years. [No play of this title had been hitherto acted anywhere. But it appears to be the same as The Sailor's Prize, for which see cg, 1 May 1795.] Morning Chronicle, 22 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Johnstone, No. 19, Piazza, Covent Garden. Receipts: #478 (208.6.6; 13.17.6; tickets: 255.16.0)

Event Comment: The King's Company. The date of the premiere is not known, but as the play was entered in the Stationers' Register, 26 June 1673, it was probably acted in May 1673 or earlier. For a discussion of its possible dates, see Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 403. A song, The day is come, I see it rise, set by Robert Smith, is in Choice Songs and Ayres, The First Book, 1673. Dedication to the edition of 1673:...though it succeeded on the Stage

Event Comment: The King's Company. The date of the first production is not known. As the licensing date for this play was 30 April 1678, it probably was acted before Easter, but it may have had its first production immediately after Easter, Sunday 31 March 1678

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. The date of the first performance is not known. Luttrell, however, dated the copy he purchased 6 July 1680 (VanLennep, Two Restoration Comedies, pp. 57-58) and attributed it to Mrs Aphra Behn. If copies were available in early July, the play was most probably performed in June 1680. Langbaine (English Dramatick Poets, p. 547) had heard that Mrs Behn was the author, but A Comparison between the Two Stages (p. 11) attributed it to Thomas Betterton. For a discussion of the authorship, see also Ten English Farces, ed. Leo Hughes and A. H. Scouten (Austin, Texas, 1948), pp. 203-4

Event Comment: The King's Company. The date of the first performance is not known. Wilson (Six Restoration Play-Dates, pp. 222-23) argues from a number of references (principally in the Epilogue) to events of early 1681 which point to a premiere near May 1681: to the dissolution of Parliament, 28 March 1681; to the comet which appeared in November 1680 and disappeared in January 1680@1; to the Hatfield Maid; to William Lilly, the astrologer, who is referred to as though alive, thus suggesting a premiere before his death, 9 June 1681. It is possible that the premiere may have been earlier than this. In 1681 was published Poeta de Tristibus; or, The Poet's Complaint, whose author had obviously read the Prologue and Epilogue to The Unhappy Favourite. He represents himself as a disappointed dramatist whose tragedy has been rejected by both houses because "their Summer-store@Will all this Winter last." With the work entered in the Term Catalogues in 1682 and a copy purchased by Narcissus Luttrell with his note "4d 1681 12 Nov" (see A Bibliography of John Dryden, ed. Macdonald, pp. 235-36), his quotations from the Epilogue to The Unhappy Favourite and references to the Prologue would offer no difficulties if it were not that the "Author's Epistle" in which the references are made is dated "at Dover the Tenth day of January 1680@1," thus suggesting that he had seen the Prologue and Epilogue before that date. Nevertheless, some of the references in the Epilogue (to Heraclitus Ridens, beginning on 1 Feb. 1680@1, and Democritus Ridens, beginning on 14 March 1680@1) preclude a January premiere for the Prologue and Epilogue. Possibly the dating of the "Author's Epistle" is in error

Event Comment: The United Company. The date of the first performance is not precisely known, but a broadside copy of the Epilogue, in the Bodleian Library, has a licensing date of 20 Aug. 1685, a MS date of 24 Aug. 1685. The play was licensed on 11 Sept. 1685. These dates suggest a premiere in mid-to late-August 1685. For Anne Bracegirdle as Clita and speaker of the Epilogue, see Lucyle Hook, Anne Bracegirdle's First Appearance, Theatre Notebook, XIII (1959), 135. The Prologue and Epilogue, separately printed, are reprinted in Wiley, Rare Prologues and Epilogues, pp. 239-41. The broadside Prologue has a more detailed heading than that in the edition of 1686: Prologue To A Commonwealth of Women, Spoke by Mr Haynes, Habited like a Whig, Captain of the Scyth-men in the West, a Scythe in his Hand. Two songs, set by Samuel Ackroyde, are in The Theater of Musick, The Third Book, 1686

Event Comment: The United Company. Newdigate newsletters, 4 March 1685@6: This day a new play called The Devil of a Wife was Acted with great Applause at that formerly called the Ds Playhouse (Wilson, Theatre Notes from the Newdigate Newsletters, p. 82). See also 6 March 1685@6

Event Comment: The United Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but Luttrell's date of acquistion of the separately-printed Prologue and Epilogue is 6 Feb. 1687@8 (see A. S. Borgman, The Life and Death of William Mountford [Cambridge, Mass., 1935], p. 26n). Very probably the play had its premiere early in February. The Prologue and Epilogue are reprinted in Wiley, Rare Prologues and Epilogues, pp. 256-58. A song, Lucinda close or veil those eyes, with music by J. B. Draghi, is in The Banquet of Musick, The Second Book, 1688. Charles Gildon, The Lives and Characters of the English Dramatick Poets (London, 1698 (?), p. 102: [It] did not succeed as the Author wish'd

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of the first production is not known, but the play was probably not acted later than September 1695, as it was advertised in the London Gazette, No. 3122, 10-14 Oct. 1695. Preface, Edition of 1696: It was the first I ever made Publick by appearing on the Stage, which (with the Advantage it met with, of admirable Acting) is all the Recommendations I have for exposing it...Ariadne. A song, Restless, in thought disturbed, set by John Eccles and sung by Mrs Hodgson, is in A Collection of Songs, 1696

Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the premiere is not known, but the fact that the play was advertised in the London Gazette, No. 3153, 27-30 Jan. 1695@6, suggests that it was first given in December 1695, certainly no later than early January 1696

Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but the fact that the play was advertised in the Post Boy, 9-12 May 1696, suggests that it was first acted not later than April 1696. It may, however, have been first performed sometime earlier, for two songs for it were set by Henry Purcell, who had died in November 1695. See Purcell's Works, Purcell Society, XXI (1917), vi-vii. A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702), p. 18: Pausanias, or Lover of his Country, Damn'd, tho writ by a person of Quality, and protected by Southern. One song, My dearest, my fairest, is a dialogue between Mr Cooke and Mrs Hodgson

Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but the fact that the play was advertised in the Post Boy, 25-27 Aug. 1696, suggests that it was first acted not later than July 1696 and possibly in June 1696. In the edition of 1696 are two dialogues, set by Clarke, the words by Haynes, and sung by Bowen and Mrs Cross. A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702), p. 18: Cornish Comedy: No matter whose, 'twas Damn'd

Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but the fact that the play was advertised in the Post Man, 7-9 July 1698, suggests a premiere in June 1698. In addition, the Preface replies to Jeremy Collier, whose Short View had a second edition appear in mid-May, and the presence of some younger actors--Fairbank and Bullock, for example--in the cast suggests a summer performance. The music for the songs was composed by Daniel Purcell. A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702), p. 20: Damn'd

Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the first production is not known, but the fact that the play was advertised in the Post Boy, 2-4 May 1699, suggests that the premiere occurred not later than early April

Event Comment: SShuter having engag'd with Mr Rich Garrick in Bayes said you are a good Actor & I am sorry you have left me-a Clap (Cross). Both plays put up for last time of performing this season. Full prices throughout performance. No money returned after curtain is up. Tis hoped no gentlemen will take it ill that they cannot possibly be admitted behind the scenes or into the orchestra, the Entertainment depending chiefly upon the Machinery and Music. Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Brett. Public Advertiser, 27 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Brett, No. 7, Catherine-street, Strand. [In mainpiece the playbill retains Booth as Peachum, but "Moody in the absence of Wilson [sic] played Peachum" (Public Advertiser, 3 May).] Receipts: #248 13s. (148/12; tickets: 100/1) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: Benefit for Edwin. Afterpiece: With the Triumphal Entryv of King Chrononhotonthologos into Queerumania attended with Drums, Trumpets, Fiddles, Flutes, Fifes, Flagellets, Lutes, Bagpipes, Tabours and Pipes, Marrow-Bones and Cleavers, Post-Horns, French Horns, Cows Horns, Salt-Boxes, Broom-stickado's. The different Instruments will be played after the Manner of the Queen's Band at Queerum. The most comical Tragedy that ever was Tragedized by any comical Company of Tragedians. Public Advertiser, 23 Aug.: Tickets to be had of Edwin, No. 19, Piazza, Covent-Garden

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 10 years [acted 17 Dec. 1783]. ["The humour of this play is obsolete, for though admirably performed, it received marks of disapprobation at the conclusion" (Thespian Magazine, Dec. 1792, p. 149).] Receipts: #318 8s. 6d. (221.10.6; 92.9.0; 4.9.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Mr Love play'd The King-Mr Packer being ill (Hopkins). Receipts: #181 8s. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: Miss Younge being ill, Mrs King play'd Arpasia very bad much hiss'd (Hopkins Diary). Paid salary list #626 16s. 6d.; Collett #2 13s. 2d.; Mr Packer on note #30; Mr Sadler for cloth #1 15s. Rec'd Stopages #14 2s. 6d. Receipts: #153 19s. (Treasurer's Book)