Event Comment: A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702), commenting upon Betterton's success with I Henry IV (see 9 Jan. 1699@1700) pictures Betterton entering his Closet and praying to Shakespeare for further assistance (p. 25), with the result that "tho' some of those Plays that Batterton Acted were Historical, and consequently highly irregular, yet they never fail'd to please" (p. 26). Sullen adds: Well, this lucky hit of Batterton's put D. Lane in a non-plus! Shakespear's Ghost was rais'd at the New-house, and he seem'd to inhabit it for ever: What's to be done then? Oh, says Rich I'll pray as well as he-What? Shall a Heathen Player have more Religion than a Lawyer? No, it shall never be said--with that Mr R@@ goes up to the Garret (a pair of Stairs higher than his own Apartment) and taking Ben Johnson's Picture with him, he implores. This work implies that Betterton presented Henry VIII in addition to I Henry IV and that Rich revived Volpone, The Alchymist, and The Silent Woman, which had, according to the author of this work, lain unacted for twenty years (p. 26)

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but Lucyle Hook, James Brydges Drops in at the Theatre, Huntington Library Bulletin, VIII (1945), 309, speculates that James Brydges' attendance at lif this day may have been prompted by his seeing this new play, as he stayed longer than he often did at a theatrical performance. The comedy was certainly acted before 12 March 1699@1700. James Brydges, Diary: I went to ye play in Lincolns inn fields, where I met Sr G. Coply, who set me down after it was ended (Huntington MS St 26). Downes, Roscius Anglicanus, p. 45: The Way of the World, a Comdey wrote by Mr Congreve, twas curiously Acted; Madam Bracegirdle performance her Part so exactly and just, gain'd the Applause of Court and City; but being too Keen a Satyr, had not the Success the Company Expected

Event Comment: Lady Marow to Arthur Kay, 12 March 1699@1700: The Way of the World, Congreve's new play doth not answer expectation, there being no plot in it but many witty things to ridicule the Chocolate House, and the fantastical part of the world (HMC, 15th Report, Appendix, Dartmouth MSS., Part I, p. 145). John Dryden to Mrs Steward, 12 March: Congreves New Play has had but moderate success; though it deserves much better (Letters of John Dryden, p. 134)

Event Comment: [By Richard Steele. Date of premiere unknown. Published 20 Dec.] Colley Cibber: I remember [Rich] once paid us nine Days in one Week: This happen'd when the Funeral...was first acted, with more than expected Success.-Apology, I, 263

Event Comment: [By George Farquhar. Date of premiere unknown. Published 5 March.] Preface: As to the Success of it...the French were prepossess'd, and the charms of Gallick Heels were too hard for an English Brain....There were some Gentlemen in the Pit the first Night, that took the Hint from the Prologue to damn the Play; but they made such a noise in the execution, that the People took the outcry for a reprieve....There is a Gentleman of the first Understanding, and a very good Critick, who said of Mr Wilks, that in this Part he out-acted himself, and all Men that he ever saw

Event Comment: [Text by Joseph Addison. Music by Thomas Clayton.] A new Opera never yet perform'd. By Subscription. None to be admitted into the Boxes or Pit but by the Subscribers' Tickets. [Both A Critical Discourse upon Operas (1709) and Jacobs (I, 3) refer to the unsatisfactory nature of the music; as a result, according to Jacobs, "It had not the Success due to its Merit."

Event Comment: Afterpiece: [By John Vanbrugh.] Never Acted before. Mainpiece: With all the Original Scenes, Machines, and Decorations. To which will be added several new ones, particularly the intire front prospect of Blenheim Castlev. And another Piece alluding to the late glorious Successes of her Majesty's Arms, &c

Event Comment: [By Ambrose Phillips.] At the Desire of several Ladies of Quality. William Egerton: And in the Spring came on Mr Phillips's Tragedy, The Distrest Mother. Mrs Rogers, an Actress, who in her Turn, had made a considerable Figure on the Stage, was designed the Part of (Andromache, Hector's Widow, &. i.e.) the Distrest Mother. But the Author, as well as his Friends, were soon convinced that Mrs Oldfield was infinitely the more accomplished Person for so Capital a Part. Upon its being given to Her, Mrs Rogers raised a Posse of Profligates, fond of Tumult and Riot, who made such a Commotion in the House, that the Court hearing of it send four of the Royal Messengers, and a strong Guard, to suppress all Disorders. This being effected, the Play was brought upon the Stage and crowned with deserved Success (Egerton, pp. 31-32)

Event Comment: At the particular Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Original Weekly Journal, 21 Dec.: The Perjuror...'tis said, is set up in Opposition to that of the Nonjuror, but has not met with nigh the Applause and Success of the latter

Event Comment: Benefit the Author. Weekly Journal or Saturday's Post, 24 Jan.: Sir Walter Raleigh has been acted with Success; ...the Author, having, for his first Attempt in the Dramatick Way, shewn an uncommon Genius: The Diction seems to be extreamly just; the Sentiments noble; and, were it not for some Irregularities in working up the Catastrophe, it would be the best Tragedy that has appeared these many Years

Event Comment: [By Richard Savage.] Edition of 1724: I think it my Duty also, to return Thanks to the Town, for their favourable Reception of this Play; and for the Applause their Indulgence bestow'd on the Performance of the Young Actors: Particularly for my own Success, in a double Capacity, as Actor and Author

Event Comment: By His Majesty's Command. Daily Journal, 23 Nov.: The Italian Comedians, having not met with the Success they expected, we hear they design to return home soon after Christmas

Event Comment: N.B. This Tragedy being so long, tis found necessary to drop the Entertainment during its Success

Event Comment: At the particular Desire of several Persons of Quality. Daily Journal, 25 July: To Miss Raftor, on her Success in the Part of Polly in The Beggar's Opera (a poem)

Event Comment: In Three Acts. Set to Musick after the Italian Manner by Mr John Frederick Lampe. Daily Advertiser, 8 Nov.: The Arrival of his Highness the Prince of Orange, indeed, prevented many Persons of Quality from being there, who had taken Boxes; but 'tis presum'd it cannot fail of Success and Encouragement notwithstanding

Event Comment: Never Acted before. [By William Duncombe.] 5s., 3s., 2s., 1s. Prompter, 18 Feb.: Accordingly, the Reception it met with, answer'd what the Author might have expected, if parental Fondness had not over-rated it in his Esteem.... The ill Success then this Play met with, gave me as much Satisfaction, as I had already conceived Indignation against the Poet, for having been so servile, as to stoop to translate a Frenchman's Plagiarism

Event Comment: As 17 May. The Usefulness of the Stage (1738) stated (p. 18) that The Dragon of Wantley was acted at hay with little success and that the audience was dismissed on the third night [this night, presumably]

Event Comment: By partiuclar Desire. Benefit Chapman. Tickets at Chapman's House, Corner of Bow Street. [in the London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 7 April, Chapman published a letter regretting that this benefit will be on the night Handel has a performance at lif. Chapman states that he owes much to Handel and wishes him success. Because, he states, some 20,000 will want to attend lif, which cannot hold above twenty hundred, Chapman remarks that, if those who cannot get into lif will go to dl, he will be happy.

Event Comment: Mainpiece Never Acted there before. The Characters to be New Dress'd after the Manner of the Old English Comedy. And the Pieces of Music before the Play, and between the Acts, will be selected from the Old English Masters. Cross: The play went off with 'toll: success. [See contemporary comments in D@@ry L@@ne P@@yh@@se Broke Open. In a letter to Mr G@@@@(London, 1748) pp. 17-18.] Receipts: #150 (Cross); #152 19s. 6d. (Powel)

Event Comment: CCross: (Pam: publish'd). Play dislik'd. Hiss'd much. [The pamphlet referred to was "Mr Garrick's Conduct as Manager of TRDL considered in a Letter Addressed to him," by E. F. 18 Oct.: As a manager, Sir, it is your business not only to prepare the Evening's Entertainment, but to prepare it in the best manner you are able; and the manager who does otherwise uses his customers ill." The burden of the author's complaints was: (1) the theatre has been operating for a month yet Garrick has appeared in only one character; (2) that he should buy himself off with speaking a prologue only, then sell that to the public at 6d. shows vanity, avarice, and lack of managerial responsibility; (3) that plays such as Albumazar (simple and poorly cast) and Scornful Lady, (with irreligious and atheistical parts) should not have been passed off on the public, whose expectations were raised high at the thought of Garrick's management. Macklin even had to apologize to the audience as he played the part of Sir Roger in the latter play. E. F. closed by urging: "Get up the best of our English Tragedies and Comedies; encourage the rising Wits and be under no apprehesion of the want of success." If you use common sense in casting your actors, as your former managers did (with all their other faults) in casting you, you will not yourself have to play every night. Above all remember your responsibility to the public.] Receipts: #100 (Cross); #127 4s. 6d. (Powel)

Event Comment: To the Author of the General Advertiser. Sir: When I read the letter in your paper [see 7 Nov.] concerning Tom Harbin's intention of having a Benefit at Covent Garden, I own I was much pleas'd, as it would give me the opportunity of making him merry, who has often made me so: But I have since been in some concern to hear he was to perform himself--I would not have him appear in an Ill-Light; and as it is easy to conceive what confusion a Man unus'd to the stage must be in, to appear on it, I would in Friendship advise him to desist from that design.-If he does it from an opinion of his Capacity, I am sorry for him: but if it is only to draw people together, I think he need not have any Apprehensions on that Account:--For there ever was and ever will be in London, a number of Persons of Fortune and Generosity, sufficient to do what he wants, whenever they have an Inclination to serve a man they like.--And as he is Generally allow'd to be what is call'd a Fiddle in Company, and plays as often as anybody, it would be but right to keep him in tune: For my part I shall use my interest in his Favour and wish him success with his Acquaintance. I am &c. T. Meanwell. Lloyd's Coffee House, 14 Nov. [See 14 Dec.

Event Comment: Never were the theatres more in Estimation than at present, nor was there ever a time at which so much pains appear to have been taken, in order to continue them upon a good footing. We owe our thanks to Mr Garrick for engaging in the expence of such a number of additional performers, but we owe him also our applause for the success with which they have played (Inspector No 203, in Daily Advertiser and London Gazette). Receipts: #110 (Cross)

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.

Event Comment: [The Public Advertiser published a long New Historical Epilogue, intended by the Author as a proper sequel to the Tragedy of the Brothers. It speaks of the authentic history in the play, and of the effective moral lesson, closing: @As public woes a Prince's crimes pursue,@So public blessings are his Virtues' due.@Shout Britons, shout!--auspicious Fortune Bless!@And cry, Long live--OUR title to success!@ This was followed by a Letter from Mr Booth in the Shades to Dr Young, on his Tragedy call'd the Brothers (an elaborate puff). In it Booth forgives Young for withdrawing the play from rehearsal thirty years earlier, and thus precluding his playing the part of Demetrius: "And I the more readily pardon you, as you have not disgraced me by giving the part to any of my successors, till this Garrick appeared, whose reputation, I can assure you, is by no means confined to your world, and who, I am told, hath more than supply'd my place, hath rendered the loss even of Betterton himself very supportable." He then lets Young in on a secret that there will be a performance of his play in the shades by all the old actors as soon as Curll can steal a copy of it for them.] We are assured that on Thursday the 22nd instant will be publish'd a Comedy in 2 acts, call'd The Rehearsal; or, Bayes in Petticoats, witten by Mrs Clive, and to be performed that evening, after the Mourning Bride, for her Benefit at Drury Lane. Mr Yates's Benefit will be on Thursday the 5th of April, when the tragedy of the Gamester will be played, being the twelfth day. A new farce will be added to it, the preparing of which has oblig'd Yates to defer his Benefit till the above day. Receipts: #150 (Cross)