Event Comment: The King's Company. Pepys, Diary: To the King's playhouse, where The Heyress, notwithstanding Kinaston's being beaten, is acted: and they say the King is very angry with Sir Charles Sedley for his being beaten, but he do deny it. But his part is done by Beeston, who is fain to read it out of a book all the while, and thereby spoils the part, and almost the play, it being one of the best parts in it; and though the design is, in the first conception of it, pretty good, yet it is but an indifferent play, wrote, they say, by my Lord Newcastle, But it was pleasant to see Beeston come in with others, supposing it to be dark, and yet he is forced to read his part by the light of the candles. and this I observing to a gentleman that sat by me, he was mightily pleased therewith, and spread it up and down. But that, that pleased me most in the play is, the first song that Knepp sings, she singing three or four; and, indeed, it was very finely sung, so as to make the whole house clap her.... My wife being in mighty ill humour all night, and in the morning I found it to be from her observing Knepp to wink and smile on me, and she says I smiled on her; and, poor wretch! I did perceive that she did, and do on all such occasions, mind my eyes. I did, with much difficulty, pacify her, and were friends, she desiring that hereafter, at that house, we might always sit either above in a box, or, if there be [no] room, close up to the lower boxes

Event Comment: The King's Company. Pepys, Diary: To the King's Playhouse, where we saw but part of Witt without mony, which I do not like much, but coming late put me out of tune, and it costing me four half-crowns for myself and company

Event Comment: The King's Company. Pepys, Diary: Thence to the King's play-house, and there saw Bartholomew Fayre, which do still please me; and is, as it is acted, the best comedy in the world, I believe. I chanced to sit by Tom Killigrew, who tells me that he is setting up a Nursery; that is, is going to build a house in Moorefields, wherein he will have common plays acted. But four operas it shall have in the year, to act six weeks at a time; where we shall have the best scenes and machines, the best musique, and every thing as magnificent as is in Christendome; and to that end hath sent for voices and painters and other persons from Italy

Event Comment: At the particular Desire of several Persons of Quality. Daily Advertiser, 25 Jan.: On Wednesday night last a Disturbance happen'd at Drury-Lane Playhouse, occasion'd by one of the principal Dancers not being there to dance at the end of the Entertainment, and after most of the People in the Pit and Galleries were gone, several Gentlemen in the Boxes pull'd up the Seats and Flooring of the same, tore down the Hangings, broke down the Partitions, all the Glasses and Sconces, the King's Arm 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 three or four hundred Pounds Damage, left the House in a very ruinous Condition. [See also London Magazine, IX (1740), 47-48, 100.

Event Comment: By Command of Their Majesties. To prevent Confusion Ladies and Gentlemen are requested to send their Servants to keep Places by Half past Four o'Clock. God save the King was sung "by the performers and by the audience five times: twice on the entrance of the King and Queen, once after the Play, twice after the Farce" (World, 19 Dec.). And see 23 Apr. 1790. Account-Book: In the Pit of this Night 525 Persons, this is the greatest Number ever remembered to be in at any One Time. R. P. [i.e. Richard Peake, sub-treasurer]. Receipts: #290 11s. 6d. (279.13.0; 9.18.6; 1.0.0)

Event Comment: The King's Company. This is the first known performance of the comedy, but it may not be the premiere. Evelyn, Diary: At night saw acted the Committe, a ridiculous play of Sir R. Howards where that Mimic Lacy acted the Irish-footeman to admiration: a very Satyrus or Roscius. Downes, Roscius Anglicanus, p. 16: @For his Just Acting, all gave him due Praise,@His Part in the Cheats, Jony Thump, Teg and Bayes,@In these Four Excelling; The Court gave him the Bays.

Event Comment: The Vestal-Virgin; or, The Roman Ladies (by Sir Robert Howard) was probably acted by February 1664@5. It was entered in the Stationers' Register on 7 March 1664@5 and published in 1665 in Four New plays. Downes (Roscius Anglicanus p. 15) lists it by title only. The King's Company

Event Comment: Pepys, Diary: To White Hall, and there in the Boarded-gallery did hear the musick with which the King is presented this night by Monsieur Grebus [Grabut], the master of his musick; both instrumentall--I think twenty-four violins--and vocall; an English song upon Peace. But, God forgive me! I never was so little pleased with a concert of musick in my life. The manner of setting of words and repeating them out of order, and that with a number of voices, makes me sick, the whole design of vocall musick being lost by it. Here was a great press of people; but I did not see many pleased with it, only the instrumental musick he had brought by pratice to play very just

Event Comment: Pepys, Diary: Mrs Pierce tells me the two Marshalls at the King's house are Stephen Marshall's, the great Presbyterian's daughters [an erroneous rumor]; and that Nelly Gwin? and Beck Marshall, falling out the other day, the latter called the other my Lord Buckhurst's whore, Nell answered them, "I was but one man's whore, though I was brought up in a bawdy-house to fill strong waters to the guests; and you are a whore to three or four, though a Presbyter's praying daughter!" which was very pretty

Event Comment: The King's Company. This performance is on the L. C. list, 5@141, p.359: See also Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 346. There is no indication as to whether this is the premiere. The music for four songs was composed by Matthew Lock. See A New Collection of Songs and Poems...by Thomas D'Urfey, 1683

Event Comment: In an inquiry concerning how many days the King's Company had been unable to act in the spring, William Cartwright on this day stated that he had been ill and absent and had not been among the players more than four or five times since 1 Feb. 1680@1. See Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, p. 267

Event Comment: The United Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but Luttrell dated his copy of the separately-printed Prologue and Epilogue 5 April 1684 (J. W. Dodds, Thomas Southerne, p. 48). Very probably the play first appeared during the week of 31 March-5 April, immediately following Easter. The Prologue and Epilogue are reprinted in Wiley, Rare Prologues and Epilogues, pp. 191-94. This may have been the last new role William Smith undertook for some years; see Cibber, Apology, ed. Lowe, 1, 78-79, for the incident which prompted Smith's leaving the stage for awhile. One song, I never saw a face till now, with music by Captain Pack, is in The Theater of Music, the First Book, 1685; and another, O why did e'er my thoughts aspire, the music by R. King, is in the same collection. A third song, See how fair Corinna lies, the music by Captain Pack, is in A Collection of Twenty-Four Songs, 1685

Event Comment: The United Company. The date of the first performance is not certain, but Luttrell acquired his copy of the separately-printed Prologue and Epilogue on 18 Aug. 1684. (Bindley Collection, William Andrews Clark@Jr@Library), and the play was probably first performed on that day or in the preceding week. The Prologue and Epilogue are reprinted in Wiley, Rare Prologues and Epilogues, pp. 221-23. In the broadside the speaker of the Prologue is identified as Jevon. A sofg, Ah poor Oliver never boast, the verse by a Lady, and the music by R. King, is in A Collection of Twenty-Four Songs, 1685. Another, Damon if you wilt believe me, the verse by a Person of Quality and the music by Alexander Damascene, is in The Banquet of Musick, The Fifth Book, 1691. Two songs, Tell me no more I am deceived, the verse by Sir George Etherege and the music by J. B. Draghi, and Who can resist my Celia's charms, the music by J. B. Drahgi, and the verse by A Person of Quality, are in the printed play. This cast contains the last new role certainly assigned to John Wiltshire, who, according to (Cibber, Apology, ed. Lowe, I, 84-85), entered the army and was killed in action

Event Comment: The United Company. Tne date of the first performance is not known, but the Gentleman's Journal, March 1692 (licensed 9 March 1691@2), refers to its having already been produced. See also a letter concerning it dated 19 Jan. 1691@2. Probably the play was given in early February 1692. A song, How long must women wish in vain, the music by Robert King, is in Comes Amoris, The Fourth Book, 1693. Gentleman's Journal, March 1692: We have had lately a new Play, called, The Innocent Impostors. It hath been acted four times. Mr Shadwell Poet-Laureat, usher'd it into the Stage. It is said that the Author of it is not one of the Laity; therefore since he desires not to be known, I shall not presume to let you know his Name, tho the Play being Historical, and altogether of the Tragick kind, and withal treated with all the decency imaginable, can never be inglorious to its ingenious Author

Event Comment: For the Entertainment of the Four Indian Kings lately arriv'd in this Kingdom. Benefit Bowen. [For the Prologue see Bond, pp. 4, 99. See also Genest, II, 451.

Event Comment: For the Entertainment of the Four Indian Kings [but see queen's]

Event Comment: For the Entertainment of the Four Indian Kings lately arriv'd from Northern America, being the last Time of their appearing at a Play

Event Comment: At the particular Desire of the King of the Cherokees, the Prince, the four Generals, and the young Captain, lately arrived from South Carolina. At Common Prices

Event Comment: The King's Opera House in the Haymarket. A new Opera...Dances and other Decorations entirely New. Pit and Boxes to be put together, and no Persons to be admitted without Tickets, which will be deliver'd this Day, at the Office in the Haymarket, at Half a Guinea each. Gallery 5s. By His Majesty's Command, no Persons Whatever to be admitted behind the Scenes. The Gallery will be open'd at Four o'Clock. Pit and Boxes at Five. To begin at Six o'clock. This Day Attendance will be given at the Opera-Office from Nine to One in order to deliver the Silver Tickets to the Subscribers. Each Subscriber is desir'd to send his printed Receipt, it being necessary for the Delivery of the Tickets [customary notice on the bills throughout the season]. BBurney, History of Music, IV, 445: A pasticcio, music mainly composed by Galuppi, now the resident composer for the Opera House. Edition lists libretto by Francesco Vanneschi

Event Comment: N.B. That the Ladies and Gentlemen may not be detained at the Theatre while Tickets are given them, they are desir'd to send for them to Mr Arne's House in Craven Buildings near Drury Lane, Number 17, or to Mr Bradshaw, Box-Keeper, at the Kings Arms in Great Russel St., where tickets may be had, and places taken. Boxes 6s. Pit 4s. First Gallery 2s. 6d. Upper Gallery 1s. 6d. Ladies are desir'd to send their servants to keep places by Four o'clock. NB: Mr Arne humbly hopes the Town will not be offended at this small advance of Prices, being at an extraordinary expence for copying all the Music, building the stage, additional instrumental performers, chorus singers, and erecting an Organ. [The attendance apparently was heavy. See note to repeated performance on 19 March.] Mainpiece: Written by Dryden and set to Music by Handel

Event Comment: A Musical Drama, in Two Parts...with Dances and other Decorations Entirely new. Pit and Boxes to be put together, and no Persons to be admitted without Tickets, which will be delivered this Day, at the Opera Office in the Haymarket, at Half a Guinea each. Gallery 5s. By His Majesty's Command, No Persons whatsoever to be admitted behind the Scenes. The Gallery to be open'd at Four o'Clock. Pit and Boxes at Five. To begin at Six o'clock. A New Opera [composed by Gluck; text by F. Vanneschi]. The Subscribers to the Opera are desired to make the last Payment of their Subscription Money to the Treasurer, at the Opera Office in the Haymarket, where Attendance will be given this and every Day, from Ten till Two, to receive the same, and deliver out the Silver Tickets. [Repeated until 28 Jan.] The new Musical Italian Drama; entitled La Caduta de Giganti, or the Fall of the Giants, writ on Occasion of the expulsion of the Rebels, was perform'd last Night at King's Theatre in the Haymarket. The performance was received and carried on with great Attention, Tranquility, and Applause: and not a little enliven'd by the Presence of his Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland.--Daily Advertiser, 8 Jan

Event Comment: We hear that Mr Monette, who brought over the French Comedians having been four months under confinement in the King's Bench, on account of the Debts he had contracted in that Undertaking, has applied to the Managers of Drury Lane, for a Benefit Play, in hope that the Goodness and Generosity of the Public will contribute to his enlargement, and enable him to return to his own country (General Advertiser)

Event Comment: [The theatres this night met competition from (I) an Assembly at the king's Theatre in the Haymarket, tickets 26s. each, to admit one Gentleman and two ladies. (2) another Assembly at the Five Bells Tavern, behind the New Church, in the Strand, where was opened the Temple of Taste, where will be exhibited a grand concert of Music. Also an attempt towards the Introduction of a new rational entertainment, consisting of an Occasional Prologue by a Gentleman; a panegyric on the Utility of Public Speaking, in which the Design is particularly illustrated; Propositions made from a Gentleman in the Chair, to be debated by the company, such as the Gay and Polite may be supposed to understand, and speak upon with success; to conclude with an Original Epilogue; the whole interspers'd with several grand concertos, Overtures, and Full pieces of Musick. This design, which has for its object the interest of Knowledge, Eloquence and Politeness, needs no Apology, and can be opposed by those, with whom to be at variance, is Virtue. No subject of so Sacred Nature as Religion, will be there canvass'd nor anything that can give Occasion to Indecency, or unmannerly reflection on any Undertaking or Party.-In this attempt all Men of Taste are interested, as they will have an opportunity not only of being pleased, but giving pleasure by considering every subject with candour, and reasoning upon it, with Eloquence and propriety. To this entertainment, the Ladies are likewise invited, who have an unexceptionable right to be present at all Attempts, calculated for the promotion of knowledge, and as their appearance will naturally secure polite behavior, so they may reap some advantage from the Circulation of ideas, which is such an Assembly must necessarily take place. The price of entrance-half a crown each. To begin precisely at seven. The room which is very commodious, will be elegantly illuminated. The SUBJECT for the first Night's Debate will be, "If the Custom of Portioning Daughters was entirely suppress'd, would it not be a good Expedient towards the promotion of Matrimony and the felicity of that state." It continued on four Wednesday nights. Then seems to have died.