Event Comment: Rich's Company. That this day was the premiere is implied by the
Post Boy, 6-9 July 1700: This Day at the Theatre Royal in
Drury-Lane, will be presented a
New Comedy, never Acted before, called
Courtship Alamode. Preface, Edition of 1700: This Play was so long expected e're it came into the World, that I'm oblig'd in Justice to my self, to excuse its appearance at at time when there were scarce Witnesses in Town of its Birth. It was enter'd in the other House [
lif], where
Mr Betterton did me all the Justice I cou'd indeed reasonably hope for. But that Example he gave, was not it seems to be follow'd by the whole Company, since 'tis known that
Mr Bowman (I mention his Name to keep the reflection from other sharers) kept the first Character of my Play six weeks, and then cou'd hardly read six lines on't. How far that Way of management makes of late for the Interest and Honour of that House, is easie to be judg'd. Some who valu'd their reputations more, were indeed rarely or never absent. To these I gave my thanks; but finding that six or seven people cou'd not perform what was design'd for fifteen, I was oblig'd to remove it after so many sham Rehearsals, and in two days it got footing upon the other Stage [
dl]. Where twas immediately cast to the best Advantage, and Plaid in less than twenty days. [In the
Dedication Penkethman states that he saw the play into print after its being received well by the town.]
A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1700), pp. 104-5:
Ramble: Courtship Alamode, the Author, one
Crawford, a
Caledonian.
Sullen: I remember it, and its Adventures; it was enter'd into the
New-House, at the Recommendation of a certain
Scotch Lord, and sojourning there six Months to no purpose, it travell'd afterwards to the Old-House, where it was with much ado Acted. Ramble: And Damn'd-there I was in with you