Event Comment: [By John Dennis. Date of premiere unknown. Published 19 May.] Dedication: Falstaffe 's part...was by no means acted to the satisfaction of the Audience, upon which several fell from disliking the Action to disapproving the Play

Event Comment: Benefit Chapman. Mainpiece: Written by the late Sir John Vanbrugh. N.B. The afore-nam'd Gentlemen attempt those Characters for their own Diversion (as other Gentlemen have done before 'em) and Mr Chapman's Profit only

Event Comment: Benefit Chapman. Mainpiece: Written by the late Sir John Vanbrugh. N.B. The afore-nam'd Gentlemen attempt those Characters for their own Diversion (as other Gentlemen have done before 'em) and Mr Chapman's Profit only

Event Comment: The Characters in the Mainpiece New Dress'd. Neville MS Diary: At 6, went into the Pit...House not very full. King John was performed with new Dresses and Decorations. Powell and Smith are good in York and the Bastard, and Mrs Bellamy in Constance....The entertainment was the procession of the Coronation, with the ceremony of the Champion. Every truly free soul, on seeing a representation of such extravagant pageantry, must abhor that form of Government, of the superfluous trappings of which it is but a small specimen. Receipts: #91s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit Powell. Admission as 7 Aug. At 5:00 p.m

Event Comment: At 5 went into the Pit at Covent Garden to see Mrs Yates do Lady Townly. Yates is an excellent Sir Francis, but Powell does not shine in Lord Townly....The Entertainment was the new comedy in two acts called the Oxonian in Town, with a prologue by Woodward in the character of a student....It being suspected that a number of sharpers whose characters and practices are laid open in this piece, would attempt to damn it tonight (the 3rd of its being Performed) under pretence of its casting odium on the Irish, bills were dispersed in the House during the play vindicating it from any such intention. Woodward was allowed to speak the prologue, but as soon as the curtain drew up catcalls began. When the performers retired, Powell spoke several times, but was not heard. I was told that the author (Mr Colman) desires to know whom he has offended. The Pros were a very great majority, and at last after a contest of better than 1!2 an hour, the victory was over and the piece was performed. I think it contains many good sentiments, and excellent instruction to young men and is not unworthy of Mr Colman. If vice must not be exposed to hatred and contempt, the usefulness of our theatres is at an end. Only I think the Covent Garden pleasures are represented in too favourable a light. When all was over Powell came on the stage and thanked the audience for their generous protection (Neville MS Diary). Receipts: #212 12s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: [The King's Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but a letter--see 2 Jan. 1670@1--indicates that the first part had been acted before that date and that Part II was to be shortly staged. The point of the Prologue spoken by Ellen Gwyn seems to have derived from an incident at Dover (see Downes, Roscius Anglicanus, p. 20) in May 1670, when James Nokes attired himself in a ridiculous fashion, including "Broad wast Belts." The speakers of the Epilogue and the Prologue to the Second Part are mentioned in Sir William Haward's MS (Bodl. MS Don. b., pp. 248-49); see The Poems of John Dryden, ed. James Kinsley (Oxford, 1958), IV, 1848-49. In Part I a song Beneath a myrtle shade, with music by John Bannister, is in Choice Songs and Ayres, First Book, 1673. Another, Wherever I am, with music by Alphonso Marsh, is in the same collection, as is also How unhappy a lover am I, the music by Nicholas Staggins. Mrs John Evelyn to Mr Bohun, ca. Jan. 1670@1: Since my last to you I have seen The Siege of Grenada, a play so full of ideas that the most refined romance I ever read is not to compare with it; love is made so pure, and valour so nice, that one would image it designed for an Utopia rather than our stage. I do not quarrel with the poet, but admire one born in the decline of morality should be able to feign such exact virtue; and as poetic fiction has been instructive in former ages, I wish this the same event in ours. As to the strict law of comedy I dare not pretend to judge: some think the division of the story is not so well if it could all have been comprehended in the day's actions (The Diary and Correspondence of John Evelyn, ed. William Bray, IV, 25). According to John Evelyn--see 9 Feb. 1670@1--Robert Streeter did some of the scenes for this play. In the Preface to The Fatal Discovery, ca. February 1697@8, George Powell, in discussing revivals of Dryden's plays, stated: In relation to our reviving his Almanzor...very hard crutching up what Hart and Mohun could not prop

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Beaumont and Fletcher, reviv'd. Afterpiece: Not acted these three years. [See 8 Aug. 1761.] Mr Powell made his first appearance this Night in Philaster. His Reception was very great, he play'd the part amazingly well, & Seems to have Requisites to make a very Capital Performer. N.B. Covent Garden Theater begun to play every Night (Hopkins). Philaster by Mr Powell. Prodigious applause (Cross Diary). This play [Philaster] was wrote by Beaumont and Fletcher, and is now altered by Mr Colman. Mr Powell, a young gentleman clerk to Sir Robert Ladbrook, made his first appearance in the character of Philaster.--A greater reception was never shown to anybody,--he was so very much frightened, he could not speak for some time, and, when he did, the tears ran fast down his cheeks,--but he soon recovered himself, and went through the part with a great deal of nature and feeling,--Continued claps and huzza of bravo! &c. &c. Upon the whole I think him possessed of every requisite necessary to make him an ornament to the stage.--N.B. Mr D. Garrick instructed him in this part--when I see him in another shall be able to judge better of his capabilities.--Miss Pope appeared this Night in the character of Maria in the Citizen,--by endeavoring to be very fine she overdid it,--and it was plain to see she wanted her master. N.B.--Covent Garden began to play of our nights--the first time they ever begin first since Mr Garrick was manager (Hopkins Diary--MacMillan). Receipts: #258 11s. 6d. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: The United Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but it followed The Gordian Knot Unty'd, which is mentioned in the Prologue. Edward III was advertised in the London Gazette, No. 2629, 19-22 Jan. 1690@1, and entered in the Term Catalogues, February 1690@1. The authorship is uncertain. The title page bears no author's name, but the Dedication is signed by Will. Mountfort. In addition, on 10 Oct. 1691 Mountfort received a grant of #10 when Edward III was played before the Queen (L. C. 5@150, p. 306, in Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 357). On tne other hand, the Gentleman's Journal, October 1692, stated that it was written by the author of Henry the Second, which has been attributed to John Bancroft. See Nicoll, Restoration Drama, pp. 388-89, for a summation of the evidence on this problem. Alfred Harbage, Elizabethan-Restoration Palimpsest, Modern Language Review, XXXV (1940), 319, thinks that this is a revision of Robert Davenport's The Politic Queen

Event Comment: The United Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but according to the Gentleman's Journal, May 1694, it followed Have at All: the other call'd The married Beau, or the Curious Impertinent, by Mr Crown, already acted many times (p. 134). The manuscript of a song composed by John Eccles and sung by Doggett is in Bodleian, School of Music Collection, c. 95, f 102. One by Henry Purcell, See, where repenting Celia lyes, sung by Mrs Ayliff, is in Thesaurus Musicus, 1695. See also Purcell's Works, Purcell Society, XX (1916), xvii-xviii

Event Comment: Benefit for Yates. House Charges #65 5s. [Profit to Yates #118 16s. 6d.] Not performed for 20 years. Revived with alterations. Paid B. Johnson's Head Bill #2 5s. 6d. Paid #2 2s. for licensing Dido (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #184 6d. (Treasurer's Book). About 5 went into the Pit at Drury Lane to see the False Friend reviv'd with alterations, for the benefit of Yates. It engages the attention, but was very well performed. Don John by Holland; Don Pedro by Powell; Lopez by Mr Yates, the drinking Servant by Baddeley; Leonora by Mrs Barry (whom I never saw before); Isabella by Miss Plym and Jacintha by Mrs Yates. I think an Abigail an odd character for her, but no doubt she was willing to play anything for her husband's benefit. After the dance of the Vintage, Mr Yates spoke by way of Interlude a new piece on his being in France called the "Modern Traveller," containing some strokes on the affectation of French Fashions, &c. We had the Farce of High Life Below Stairs with minuet by Mrs Yates and a French Valet, which I do not remenber to have seen when I saw this Farce (before) (Neville MS Diary)

Event Comment: Paid for Beer for the Men removing Music Books #2 19s. 6d. [In mainpiece the playbill assigns First Constantia to Mrs Powell, but she "having sprain'd her Ancle [sic] Miss Collins play'd 1st Constantia" (Powell)]. Powell: Chances rehearsed at 10 (Barrymore absent; Caulfield, Cooke, Welsh each two scenes; Trueman one scene). Receipts: #139 6s. 6d. (78/10/6; 57/16/6; 2/19/6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by John O'Keeffe. Prologue by John Taylor; Epilogue by Matthew Gregory Lewis (London Chronicle, 21 May). Larpent MS 1212 (which lists the following unassigned parts: Old Man, Clerk, Countryman, Boy, Postilion, Waiter, Man); not published]. Receipts: #197 13s. (140.18; 55.11; 1.4)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Powell. The Last Night of Mrs Siddons's appearing this Season. 2nd piece [1st time; M. INT 1]. Morning Chronicle, 20 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Powell, No. 22, Henrietta-street, Covent-garden. Receipts: #544 4s. (179.17.6; 61.9.6; 13.1.6; tickets: 289.15.6) (charge: #231 4s. 4d.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by John Philip Kemble]: Taken from [The Rover, by] Mrs Behn, with considerable Alterations. With new Dresses and Decorations. Receipts: #165 14s. 6d. (133.8.0; 31.14.0; 0.12.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Billington. Tickets delivered for Monday the 8th of February will be received. Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by John O'Keeffe. Text 1st published in his Dramatic Works, Vol. III (T. Woodfall, 1798). Season of 1790-91 acted as The Fugitive]: With new Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations. The Music selected and composed by Shield, and consists of several Russian Melodies, and compositions of Handel, Sacchini, Pleyel, Rauzzini, Guglielmi, Weichsel, Dalayrac, Callcott, Reeve, Prati and Shield. Receipts: #366 9s. 6d. (255.2.6; 3.5.0; tickets: 108.2.0)

Event Comment: 2nd piece [1st time; CO 2, by John O'Keeffe. Text 1st published in O'Keeffe's Dramatic Works, Vol. II (T. Woodfall, 1798)]: The Overture and new Music composed by Dr Arnold. The Scenery designed and painted by Rooker. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre

Event Comment: The United Company. Luttrell, A Brief Relation, II, 593, 15 Oct. 1692: On Thursday last was acted the tragedy of Oedipus king of Thebes at the theater, where Sandford and Powell acting their parts together, the former by mistake of a sharp dagger for one that runs the blade into the handle, stab'd the other 3 inches deep: said the wound is mortal

Event Comment: Benefit Powell

Event Comment: Benefit Powell. At the Desire of several Ladies of Quality

Event Comment: Benefit Powell. At the Desire of several Ladies of Quality. [See also Spectator, 16 April.

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Powell. At the Desire of several Persons of Quality

Event Comment: Benefit Powell. At the Desire of several Ladies of Quality

Event Comment: Benefit Powell. At the Desire of several Ladies of Quality

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Benefit for Powell. Part of Pit laid into Boxes. Send Servants at 3 O'clock to keep Places. Last night until after the Holidays