Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but the fact that the play was advertised in the Post Boy, 11-13 May 1697, suggests that it was first acted about mid-April, a month before publication. For an account of the history of the play before its production, see Cibber, Apology, I, 217-18

Event Comment: Rich's Company. Lady Morley attended this performance. Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, p. 377: Lady Morley and Three in the Box at Cinthia and Endimion 16s

Event Comment: Rich's Company. Lady Morley attended this performance. Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, p. 377: Lady Morley and two in the Box at Psyche 15s

Event Comment: Rich's Company. Lady Morley attended this performance. Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, p. 377: Lady Morley and one in the Box at Oroonoko 8s

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but the fact that the play was advertised in the Post Man, 24-26 June 1697, suggests that it was probably first acted not later than May 1697, and there is no specific indication of a premiere earlier than May. In Songs Compleat, 1719, the music for one song is attributed to Croft

Event Comment: Rich's Company. Lady Morley attended this performance. Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, p. 377: Lady Morley and two in the Box at Esopp 12s

Event Comment: Rich's Company. Lady Morley attended this performance. Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, p. 377: Lady Morley and one in the Pitt att the Tempest 3s

Event Comment: Rich's Company. Lady Morley attended this performance. Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, p. 377: Lady Morley and ffour in the Box att Don Sebastian #1

Event Comment: Rich's Company. Lady Morley attended this performance. Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, p. 377: Lady Morley and one in the Pitt at Lancashire Witches 2s. 6d

Event Comment: Rich's Company. Lady Morley attended this performance. Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, p. 377: Lady Morley and one in the Box att Sham Lawyer 8s. [There is no certainty that this performance was the premiere, but the fact that the play was advertised in the Post Boy, 26-28 June 1697 (Luttrell's copy, Huntington Library, bears his acquisition date of 24 June 1697) suggests that its premiere occured in late May.] Title Page, Edition of 1697: As it was Damnably Acted at the Theatre-Royal in Drury Lane

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of the premiere is not known, but the fact that the play was advertised in the Post Man, 8-10 June 1697, suggests a first performance in late May or the beginning of June. Preface: I [Motteux] write the Masque of Hercules, and Mr Eccles, having set it with his usual Success, and yet more masterly than my Mars and Venus, if possible, I prevail'd with the ingenious Mr J. Oldmixon to give me a short Pastoral, while I scribbled over a Farce after the Italian Manner, and an Imitation of part of a diverting French Comedy of one Act (for such Plays are very common in Foreign Parts). Then I wanted nothing but a Tragedy....At last I bethought myself of one already studied, called The Unnatural Brother, written by an ingenious Gentleman and acted 6 Months ago, tho not with the success it deserv'd. Yet the latter Part was extremely applauded: So I was persuaded to make bold with it, as I do....I could easily contract the most moving Part of the Story into the Compass of one Act, with some Additions....All this was done in a very short time, the warm Season threatening me with your Absence....The foregoing Lines were published as a Preface to that Masque, some few copies of which were printed for the use of the Audience, the first day of the Novelty's being Acted. A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702), p. 20: Every Word stolen, and then Damn'd

Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the first performance is not precisely known, but the opera was in preparation on 15 June 1697. In addition, it was advertised in the Post Boy, 22-24 June 1697, that it would be published on 25 June 1697. As it was occasionally the custom of the theatres to have copies of operatic pieces available at the theatre for a performance, it is possible that the premiere occurred at the end of the week of 21-26 June 1697. Furthermore, a certain performance on 1 July 1697, a benefit for the "Undertaker" of it, probably the third performance, similarly suggests a premiere a few days earlier

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but the Prologue refers to The World in the Moon, suggesting a premiere during (or shortly after) the run of that opera. Since The Innocent Mistress was advertised in the Post Boy, 29-31 July 1697, this fact points also to a late June premiere. A song, When I languished and wished, set by John Eccles and sung by Mrs Hodgson, is in Wit and Mirth, Second Edition, 1707. Gildon, English Dramatick Poets, p. iii: This is a diverting Play, and met with good Success, tho' acted in the hot Season of the Year. A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702), p. 20: Tho' the Title calls this Innocent, yet it deserves to be Damn'd for its Obscenity

Event Comment: Rich's Company. Lady Morley attended this performance. Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, p. 377: Lady Morley and three in the Box att Indian Queen #1

Event Comment: Rich's Company. Lady Morley attended this performance. Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, p. 377: Lady Morley and three in the Box att Oroonoko 16s

Event Comment: Rich's Company. Lady Morley attended this performance. Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, p. 377: Lady Morley and two in the Box att Marryage Alamode 12s

Event Comment: Rich's Company. There is no certainty as to just when this revival occurred, but the revival probably occurred not later than July 1697, as this edition was advertised in the Post Man, 28-31 Aug. 1697; and Luttrell's copy (Huntington Library) bears as his acquisition date, 10 Sept. 1697

Event Comment: Rich's Company. Post Boy, 29 June-1 July 1697: The New Opera will be Acted this day for the benefit of the Undertaker....The new Opera...is acting with great applause. It is licensed by the Lord Chamberlain's Secretary, and the Master of the Revels; and may be had, with all the songs, at A. Roper's, at the Black-boy in Fleet-street, price 1s

Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the first performance is not certain, but the Preface refers to the Long Vacation and a thin house, suggesting a late summer production. As the play was advertised in the Post Boy, 16-18 Nov. 1697, a first performance in October 1697 is probably the latest date for this play, and September seems more likely. Among the songs are several for whom the composer and singer are named: Happy we who free from love, and How calm Eliza are these groves, the music set by Morgan and both sung by Mrs Lindsey. She comes my goddess comes, set by Morgan and sung by Mrs Cibber. Sleep shepherd sleep, the music set by Morgan and sung by Mrs Cross. All four are in A Collection of New Songs, 1697. Preface, Edition of 1698: To serve the wants of a thin Playhouse, and Long Vacation...This hasty Brat...had the Honor of keeping the Stage for five Days Reign. Animadversions on Mr Congreve's late Answer to Mr Collier (1698), pp. 34-35: The mighty Man of Wit [Congreve]...at the Representation of this Play...was seen very gravely with his Hat over his Eyes among his chief Actors, and Actresses, together with the two She Things, call'd Poetesses, which Write for his House, as 'tis nobly call'd; thus seated in State among those and some other of his Ingenious critical Friends, they fell all together upon a full cry of Damnation, but when they found the malicious Hiss would not take, this very generous, obliging Mr Congreve was heard to say, We'll find out a New way for this Spark, take my word there is a way of clapping of a Play down

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of the first performance is not known. As the play was advertised in the Post Boy, 20-23 Nov. 1697, it was probably first acted not later than October 1697; and, in view of its apparently unsuccessful appearance, may have been a late summer or early fall production. When this play was entered in the Term Catalogues, it had the title, Love's Reward; or, The Unnatural Mother

Event Comment: According to Sir Edward Smith's bill--see Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, p. 308--Rich's Company acted 161 days from 6 Oct. 1697 to 19 May 1698, 41 days from that date to 10 July 1698, and the young actors played 24 days from 10 July 1698 to 10 Oct. 1698

Event Comment: Rich's Company. James Brydges, Diary: I went & lookt in at ye Playhouse [dl?], Greenwich park being acted. I staid not an act, but went hence to Tom's Coffeehouse (Huntington MS St 26)

Event Comment: Rich's Company. This performance is known by a playbill in the Folger Shakespeare Library: At the New Theatre, in Little Lincolns-Inn Fields, this present Wensday the 27th of October, will be presented, A Comedy call'd, The Committee, or The Faithful Irishman. No Persons to Stand on the Stage. Nor any Money to be after Return'd [sic] the Curtain is Drawn up. By his Majesties Servants. Vivat Rex. [The playbill is reproduced, opposite page 230, in William VanLennep, Some Early English Playbills, Harvard Library Bulletin, VIII (1954).

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. This performance is known from a playbill in the Folger Shakespeare Library: Not Acted these 16 Years. At the New Theatre, in Little Lincolns-Inn Fields, Tomorrow being Thursday the 28th of October, will be Reviv'd, A Play call'd Troilus and Cressida; or, Truth Found too late. No Person to stand on the Stage. Nor any Money to be after Return'd [sic] the Curtain is Drawn up. By His Majesties Servants. Vivat Rex

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but the Dedication to the Edition of 1698 is dated 16 Dec. 1697, suggesting a premiere in November 1697