SELECT * FROM london_stages WHERE MATCH('(@(authnameclean,perftitleclean,commentcclean,commentpclean) "His Majestys Comedians"/1) | (@(roleclean,performerclean) "His Majestys Comedians")') GROUP BY eventid ORDER BY weight() desc, eventdate asc OPTION field_weights=(perftitleclean=100, commentpclean=75, commentcclean=75, roleclean=100, performerclean=100, authnameclean=100), ranker=sph04

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We found 432 matches on Event Comments, 63 matches on Performance Comments, 20 matches on Performance Title, 0 matches on Author, and 0 matches on Roles/Actors.
Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Oldfield. Post Boy, 5 March: On Thursday Morning the King's Company of Comedians, belonging to the Play-House in Drury-Lane, were sworn at the Lord Chamberlain's Office in Whitehall, pursuant to an Order occasion'd by their Acting in Obedience to his Majesty's Licence, lately granted Exclusive of a Patent formerly obtained by Sir Richard Steele Kt. The Tenor of the Oath was, That as his Majesty's Servants, they should act Subservient to the Lord Chamberlain, Vice-Chamberlain, and Gentleman Usher in Waiting

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Man Of Mode; Or, Sir Fopling Flutter

Event Comment: GGeneral Advertiser, 28 Sept.: We hear that Mr Lacy, Master of his Majesty's company of Comedians at D.L. has applied for leave to raise 200 men in defence of his Majesty's person and government, in which the whole company of players are willing to engage. [See 7 Oct.] On Saturday Night the Audience at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane were agreeably surpris'd by the Gentlemen belonging to that House performing the Anthem of God Save our Noble King. The Universal Applause it met with being encored with repeated Huzzas suffciently denoted in how just an abhorrence they hold the arbitrary schemes of our invidious enemies and detest the despotic attempts of Papal Power. [See also Daily Advertiser, 30 Sept. The newspapers at this time run a three phrase slogan in bold face type vertically in the margins: No Pretender. No Popery. No Slavery, accompanied by two more phrases staring boldly from the bottom margin: No Wooden Shoes! No Arbitrary Power!]

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Alchemist

Song: I: Lowe; IV: Colin and Phebe-Lowe, Mrs Arne; God Save our Noble King by Arne-Mrs Cibber, Beard, Reinhold (Deutsch, Handel, p. 623)

Dance: II: Grand Serious Dance-; V: Grand Comic Dance, as17450926

Event Comment: Newsletter: Lacy, the famous comedian, is at length, by great intercession, released from his durance under the groom porter, where he stood committed by His Majesty's order for having 'on his own head' added several indecent expressions in the part he acted in a late play called The Change of Crowns, written by Mr Edward Howard (HMC, Fleming MSS, 12th Report, Part VII [1890], p. 47)

Performances

Event Comment: The advertisement is headed: By Her Majesty's United Company of Comedians

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Hamlet, Prince Of Denmark

Event Comment: At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. N.B. The Tickets deliver'd to Subscribers will be taken at this Play, or on Monday Night, which is the last time of Acting till after Southwark Fair. Original Weekly Journal, 30 Aug.: The King hath order'd the Comedians gf the Theatre Royal in Drury-Lane to perform at Hampton-Court, during his Majesty's stay there, for which Service they are to be allow'd 100l. extraordinary each Night they Act

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Oroonoko

Dance: As17180802

Entertainment: The diverting Entertainment of the Dancing Dogs, newly arriv'd from France, who had been shewn at Court with much success

Event Comment: Benefit the French Comedians. [#40 paid to Bullock presumably the house charges]. By His Majesty's Command. Tickets given out for Pasquin and Marforio taken at this play. [His Majesty Present.] Original Weekly Journal, 29 Nov.: And we hear, his Majesty gave a 100 Guineas

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Le Maitre Etourdi

Afterpiece Title: Le Tombeau de Maitre Andre

Entertainment: Several new Entertainments which were never perform'd in England before-

Event Comment: By His Majesty's Command. By the Italian Company of Comedians newly arriv'd. Pit and Boxes together by tickets only at 4s. Gallery 2s. N.B. Whereas the Number of Subscribers for this Company that are in Town, is very little, some of the first Representations will not be on thair Account. Weekly Journal or British Gazetteer, 1 Oct.: Last Wednesday Night his Majesty and their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, together with great Numbers of the Nobility and Persons of Distinction...saw the Comedy...The Faithful Wife

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Faithful Wife; Or, Arlequin Strip'd, Sentry, Brave, Coward, Terrour Of The Turks, And Judge Of His Own Cause

Dance: Monsieur Poictier, others

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

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Argentina Strega Per Amore; Or, Harlequin Multiplied By Argentina's Witchcraft For Love: With Their Wonderful Flights And Apparations, And The Magick Transformation Of Silvio, Cincio, And Brighella

Dance: In divers Characters-Poitier, others

Event Comment: By His Majesty's Command. The Company of Italian Comedians seeing the Nobility continue to honor their Performances with their Presence, are resolved to stay several Years in London

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Il Matriomonio Disturbato; Or, Pantalon's Marriage Disturbed By The Different Humours Of The Ladies: Nane Gonolier And Brighella Co-rivals In Their Amours With Argentina, And Their Challente, Together With Entertainments Of Masquerades, Serenades, Risings, Songs And Dances After The Ventetian Manner

Dance: Poictiers

Event Comment: DDaily Post, 1 Nov.: Last Saturday, being the Anniversary of his Majesty's Birthday, Mr Giffard...gave a very handsome Entertainment to the Company of Comedians there, when their Majesties Healths, those of the Royal Family and Ministry, were frequently drank; a Bonfire and large Quantities of Liquor given to the Populace on that happy Occasion

Performances

Event Comment: DDaily Post, 28 Sept.: Yesterday Morning [27 Sept.] between Nine and Ten o'Clock, Robert Wilks, Esq., one of the Patentees and Managers of his Majesty's Company of Comedians, died, at his House in Bow-street, Covent-Garden

Performances

Event Comment: Written by Shakespear. Daily Advertiser, 12 Oct.: The same Day [11 Oct., the Anniversary of His Majesty's Coronation] Mr Giffard...gave a handsome Entertainment, with a Concert of Musick, to the Company of Comedians, and a large Bonfire and Liquor to the Populace, when the Healths of their Majesties, his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales; the Duke, and the Princesses, were drank, with the sounding of Kettle Drums and Trumpets, and repeated Acclamations of Joy. Daily Post, 13 Oct.: Mr Fielding the Player (who keeps a Booth...during...Bartholomew Fair) gave to the Populace before his own Door in Hart-street, Bloomsbury, a Butt of the strongest Beer that could be got; also a large Bonfire

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Merry Wives Of Windsor

Dance: DDutch Skipper-D'Valois, Mrs Bullock; Tambourine-Miss Wherrit; Sailor's Dance-Jones

Event Comment: DDaily Advertiser, 30 May: We hear that Mr Cibber, Jun. one of the present Directors of his Majesty's Company of Comedians together with Mr Mills, Sen Mr Johnson, Mr Miller, Mr Harper, Mr Griffin, Mr Mills, jun. Mr Shepard, Mr Hallam, jun. Mrs Horton, Mrs Heron, Mrs Butler, and others of the Company, waited Yesterday on his Grace the Duke of Grafton...to deliver...an humble Petition, and they met with gracious Reception

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Tempest

Event Comment: By the Company of Comedians of his Majesty's Revels. Mainpiece: Written by the late Mr Congreve. All the Characters entirely new drest. With new Scenes and Decorations. [This is the opening of HAY by the dissenting actors under Theophilus Cibber. For a Prologue intended to be spoken on this night, see The Honeysuckle (1734), pp. 113-15.] At Common Prices. 6 P.M

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Love For Love

Afterpiece Title: The Devil to Pay

Dance: By Miss Robinson, Janny, Fisher Tench, Miss Mann

Event Comment: By Authority. By the French Company of Comedians. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Victor, History of the Theatres, I, 54-60: People went early to the Theatre, as a crouded House was certain. I was there, in the Centre of the Pit; where I soon perceived that we were visited by two Westminster Justices, Deveil and Manning. The Leaders, that had the Conduct of the Opposition, were known to be there; one of whom called aloud for the Song in Praise of English Roast Beef, which was accordingly sung in the Gallery by a Person prepared for that Purpose; and the whole House besides joining in the Chorus, saluted the Close with three Huzzas! This, Justice Deveil was pleased to say, was a Riot; upon which Disputes commenced directly, which were carried on with some Degree of Decency on both Sides. The Justice at first informed us, 'That he was come there as a Magistrate to maintain the King's Authority; that Colonel Pulteney, with a full Company of the Guards, were without, to support him in the Execution of his Office; that it was the King's Command the Play should be acted; and that the obstructing it was opposing the King's Authority; and if that was done, he must read the Proclamation; after which all Offenders would be secured directly by the Guards in waiting.' To all these most arbitrary Threatnings, this Abuse of his Majesty's Name, the Reply was to the following Effect:-'That the Audience had a legal Right to shew their Dislike to any Play or Actor; that the common Laws of the Land were nothing but common Custom, and the antient Usuage of the People; that the Judicature of the Pit had been acknowledged and acquiesced to, Time immemorial; and as the present Set of Actors were to take their Fate from the Public, they were free to receive them as they Pleased.' By this Time the Hour of Six drew near; and the French and Spanish Embassadors, with their Ladies; the late Lord and Lady Gage, and Sir T@R@, a Commissioner of the Excise, all appeared in the Stage Boxes together! At that Instant the Curtain drew up, and discovered the Actors standing between two Files of Grenadiers, with their Bayonets fixed, and resting on their Firelocks. There was a Sight! enough to animate the coldest Briton. At this the whole Pit rose, and unanimously turned to the Justices, who sat in the Middle of it, to demand the Reason of such arbitary Proceedings? The Justices either knew nothing of the Soldiers being placed there, or thought it safest to declare so. At that Declaratinn, they demanded of Justice Deveil (who had owned himself the commanding Officer in the Affair) to order them off the Stage. He did so immediately, and they disappeared. Then began the Serenade; not only Catcalls, but all the various portable Instruments, that could make a disagreeable Noise, were brought up on this Occasion, which were continually tuning in all Parts of the House; and as an Attempt to speaking was ridiculous, the Actors retired, and they opened with a grand Dance of twelve Men and twelve Woman; but even that was prepared for; and they were directly saluted with a Bushel or two of Peas, which made their Capering very unsafe. After this they attempted to open the Comedy; but had the Actor the voice of Thunder, it would have been lost in the confused Sounds from a thousand Various Instruments. Here, at the waving Deviel's Hand, all was silent, and (standing up on his Seat) he made a Proposal to the House to this Effect:-'That if they persisted in the Opposition, he must read the Proclamation; that if they would permit the Play to go on, and to be acted through that Night, he would promise, (on his Honour) to lay their Dislikes, and Resentment to the Actors, before the King, and he doubted not but a speedy End would be put to their acting.' The Answer to this Proposal was very short, and very expressive. 'No Treaties, No Treaties!' At this the Justice called for Candles to read the Proclamation, and ordered the Guards to be in Readiness; but a Gentleman seizing Mr Deveil's Hand, stretched out for the Candle, begged of him to consider what he was going to do, for his own Sake, for ours, for the King's! that he saw the unanimous Resolution of the House; and that the Appearance of Soldiers in the Pit would throw us all into a Tumult, which must end with the Lives of many. This earnest Remostrance made the Justice turn pale and passive. At this Pause the Actors made a second Attempt to go on, and the Uproar revived; which continuing some Time, the Embassadors and their Ladies left their Box, which occasioned a universal. Huzza from the whole House! and after calling out some Time for the Falling of the Curtain, down it fell. [For other accounts of this evening, see Daily Advertiser, 9 and 10 Oct.; London Evening Post, 12 Oct.; Gentleman's Magazine, VIII (1938), 545; Historical Register, XXIII, 278-87.

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Lembaras Des Richesses

Afterpiece Title: Arlequin Poli Par L'Amour

Dance: Paquorel, Mlle Chateauneuf, LeFevre, Madem LeFevre

Event Comment: We are informed his Majesty's Company of Comedians will perform a few pieces this summer, at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, for the Entertainment of his Serene Highness the Prince of Hesse; the Director of that theatre having order'd several of the principal performers to remain in town to be ready for that purpose

Performances

Event Comment: This month, as recorded in the Gentleman's Magazine Register of Books, was published A General History of the Stage, from its origin in Greece down to the present time. With the Memoirs of most of the principal performers that have appeared on the English and Irish Stage. With notes antient and modern, foreign, domestic, serious, comic, moral, merry, historical, and geographical. Containing many theatrical anecdotes; also several pieces of poetry never before published. Collected and digested by W. R. Chetwood, twenty years prompter to His Majesty's Company of Comedians at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane. Printed for W. Owen

Performances

Mainpiece Title: None

Event Comment: By His Majesty's Company of Comedians. [Repeated in subsequent bills.

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Commissary

Afterpiece Title: The Old Maid

Dance: Arnauld, Miss Street

Event Comment: Lord Preston (in Paris) to the Duke of York, 22 Sept. 1683, N.S.: I should not have presumed to give your Highness the trouble of this if something of charity had not induced me to it. I do it at the instance of a poor servant of his Majesty's who some time since was obliged by a misfortune to leave England. It is Mr Grahme [Grabut?], sir, whom perhaps your Highness may remember. Mr Betterton coming hither some weeks since by his Majesty's command, to endeavour to carry over the Opera, and finding that impracticable, did treat with Monsr Grahme to go over with him to endeavour to represent something at least like an Opera in England for his Majesty's diversion. He hath also assured him of a pension from the House, and finds him very willing and ready to go over. He only desireth his Majesty's protection when he is there, and what encouragement his Majesty shall be pleased to give him if he finds that he deserves it (HMC, 7th Report, Part I, p. 290). W. J. Lawrence (Early French Players in England, p. 149) argued that Grahme should be Grabut, who had once been Master of the King's Music (to 1674) and who had settled in Paris. Grabut was certainly back in London in the spring of 1684

Performances

Event Comment: Benefit Bridges, Blakes and Cross, prompter. Afterpiece: By Desire. Mr Garrick's Indisposition continuing, we have, at the particular desire of several ladies, chang'd our play. Tickets deliver'd out for the Stratagem will be taken. [On this Day appeared the Daily Advertiser a full column presentment by the Court of Westminster to the Justices of the Peace against unlicensed players]: This court being inform'd that common Players of Interludes have for several years...assembled...in Mayfair to erect Booths and exhibit Drolls and Shews...whereby numbers of His Majesty's subjects have been encouraged to assemble and commit riots and other Misdemeanours in Breach of His Majesty's Peace, and to the disturbance of the Neighborhood, and that some of the players are and now contracting for ground in order to erect Sheds, Booths and other places...for shewing and acting plays...&c, &c, &c...for the more effectual suppressing of the evils aforesaid, it is hereby recommended unto his Majesty's Justices of the Peace to meet together at such time as they shall appoint in order to proceed according to the law against all such offenders as shall be brought before them by the peace officers, who are required to be aiding the Justice of the Peace. [The gist of the Presentment lies in the statement]: that they [the Justices] shall apprehend all and every other person and Persons who in any other place or places within the said City and Liberty shall act or represent for gain, any Tragedy, Comedy, Opera, Play, Interlude, Farce, or any other Entertainment for the stage

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Conscious Lovers

Afterpiece Title: Tragedy of Tragedies

Dance: I: Sga Bettini; III: Muilment

Song: II: Lowe; V: Nanny O (By Desire)-Lowe

Event Comment: At the Old Theatre. Advertisement for the Publick Good: Whereas a pack of Strolling Players, who by the Laws now in force are liable to be punished by His Majesty's Justices/of/the/Peace as vagrants and vagabonds, lately infested the villages of Clapham, Stackwell and Borough of Southwark and other places in the County of Surrey and have made several riots and have contracted several debts with His Majesty's liege subjects and have given out printed handbills and Tickets for several of their benefits, particularly that the play called the Recruiting Officer and the Entertainment called Flora, or Hob in the Well would be performed on Monday Night Last at Yeates Old Theatre in the Bowling Green in Southwark and Several Gentlemen and Ladies were prevailed on and paid for majy tickets and went in coaches expecting to see and hear the proposed entertainments but the said strollers neither performed nor returned the money advanced for such tickets though demanded, this Advertisement is therefore hembly recommended to the serious consideration of the justices of the peace for the said county of Surrey and also to give a friendly caution to unwary people not to be imposed upon by such persons in the future.--Daily Advertiser, 8 Nov. [See 27 Nov. at hay] On Tuesday last the Court Leets for the Town and Borough of Southwark...Likewise directed the Constables to use their utmost Endeavours toward suppressing the Acting of Plays...and avoiding all unlawful Games and Plays....By the Statue, no Plays to be acted but in Westminster, or Place of his Majesty's Residence, on forfeit of #50.--London Courant, 6 Nov

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Recruiting Officer

Afterpiece Title: Flora

Event Comment: L. C. 5@142, p. 38 (see also Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 355): Order to Mr Staggins, Master of his Majesty's Musick, and in his absence to Mr Lock, who officiates for him:--That all His Majesty's musitians doe attend to practise in the theatre at Whitehall at such tymes as Madam Le Roch and Mr Paisible shall appoint for ye practiceing of such musick as is to be in ye French comedy to be acted before His Matie [the 29 May]

Performances

Performances

Mainpiece Title: A Bold Stroke For A Wife

Performance Comment: Fainwell-Huddy; Sir Philip-Bullock; Obadiah-Morgan; Periwinkle-Norris; Tradelove-Pearce; Freeman-Havard; Sackbut-Williams; Simon Pure-W. Giffard; Ann-Mrs Hamilton; Mrs Prim-Mrs Morgan; Betty-Mrs Christian; And a new Prologue-Giffard, on the Happy Occasion of the Anniversary of His Majesty's Birth Day.

Dance: I: Saraband-Sandham, Miss Wherrit; II: Sailor's Dance-Jones; IV: Scots Dance-Mrs Bullock; V: French Peasant-D'Valois, Mlle D'Valois

Event Comment: By His Majesty's Command. [The Royal Family present.] Daily Post, 23 Nov.: We hear the King and all the Royal Family remove from Richmond...and are to be at ...Drury Lane [Friday] Evening; a List of Plays, &c. having been sent to Richmond by his Majesty's Command

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Double Gallant; Or, The Sick Lady's Cure

Afterpiece Title: The Country Revels

Event Comment: By His Majesty's Command. Mainpiece: Written by Shakespear. [The King, Duke, Princess Amelia, Caroline, Mary, and Louisa present.] London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 12 Jan.: Being the first time of his Majesty's being at any Publick Diversion since the Death of the late Queen

Performances

Mainpiece Title: King Henry The Fifth

Afterpiece Title: The Royal Chace