Event Comment: Christopher Rich's Company. The date of this revival is not certain. Apparently the revival was in preparation before the division of the company, but the publication of the Songs in 1695 confines the production to the period between mid-April and the late autumn. For the opera, see The Works of John Dryden, Vol. VIII: The Plays, edited by John Harrington Smith and Dougald MacMillan (Berkeley and Los Angeles, 1692), pp. 325-30; Moore, Henry Purcell and the Restoration Theatre, Chapter VI;and Purcell's Works, Purcell Society, Vol. XIX. The Songs (1695), the music by Henry Purcell, lists the following pieces and singers: I, Wake, wake, Quivera, sung by Freeman. I, Why shou'd men quarrel, sung by The Boy, with Flutes. Their looks are such that mercy flows, sung by Freeman. II, I come to sing, sung by Freeman. Scorn'd Envy here's nothing, sung by Freeman. Begone, curst Feinds of Hell, sung by Freeman. III, Ah, how happy we are, sung by Freeman and Church. I attempt from Love's sickness to fly, sung by Mrs Cross. IV, They tell us that you mighty powers above, sung by Mrs Cross. In addition, other parts of the opera appeared elsewhere: Act V, a Masque, set by Daniel Purcell, O Bless the Genial Bed with chast delights, in Deliciae Musicae, First Book of the Second Volume, 1696. [The others, since they do not name the performers, are omitted here.

Event Comment: Benefit John Rich. Receipts: #170 16s. Mainpiece: Written by Sir John Vanbrugh

Event Comment: Boswell (Restoration Court Stage, pp. 180-81) believes that a performance occurred on this day, as well as on 16 Feb. 1674@5, Shrove Tuesday, the date often specified in advance statements. For previous notices, see 2 Feb. 1674@5, 15 and 22 Dec. 1674. Edition of 1675:....followed at innumerable Rehearsals, and all the Representations by throngs of Persons of the greatest Quality...at the 20th or 30th, for near so often it had been Rehearsed and Acted....And the Composer of all the Musick both Vocal and Instrumental Mr Staggins. Langbaine. (English Dramatick Poets, p. 92): a Masque at court, frequently presented there by Persons of great Quality, with the Prologue, and the Songs between the Acts: printed in quarto Lond. 1675....This Masque was writ at the Command of her present Majesty: and was rehearsed near Thirty times, all the Representations being follow'd by throngs of Persons of the greatest Quality, and very often grac'd with their Majesties and Royal Highnesses Presence. John Evelyn (The Life of Mrs Godolphin): [Mrs Blagge] had on her that day near twenty thousand pounds value of Jewells, which were more sett off with her native beauty and luster then any they contributed of their own to hers; in a word, she seemed to me a Saint in Glory, abstracting her from the Stage. For I must tell you, that amidst all this pomp and serious impertinence, whilst the rest were acting, and that her part was sometymes to goe off, as the scenes required, into the tireing roome, where severall Ladyes her companions were railing with the Gallants trifleingly enough till they were called to reenter, she, under pretence of conning her next part, was retired into a Corner, reading a booke of devotion, without att all concerning herself or mingling with the young Company; as if she had no farther part to act, who was the principall person of the Comedy...[With] what a surprizeing and admirable aire she trode the Stage, and performed her Part, because she could doe nothing of this sort, or any thing else she undertooke, indifferently....Thus ended the Play, butt soe did not her affliction, for a disaster happened which extreamly concern'd her, and that was the loss of a Diamond of considerable vallue, which had been lent her by the Countess of Suffolke; the Stage was immediately swept, and dilligent search made to find it, butt without success, soe as probably it had been taken from her, as she was oft inviron'd with that infinite crowd which tis impossible to avoid upon such occasion. Butt the lost was soon repair'd, for his Royall Highness understanding the trouble she was in, generousely sent her the wherewithall to make my Lady Suffolke a present of soe good a Jewell. For the rest of that days triumph I have a particular account still by me of the rich Apparell she had on her, amounting, besides the Pearles and Pretious Stones, to above three hundred pounds (ed. Samuel Lord Bishop of Oxford [London, 1847], pp. 97-100). See also 15 Dec. 1674

Event Comment: Benefit John Rich. Afterpiece: As 18 Feb. Receipts: money #58 18s.; tickets #15 6s

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by Sir John Vanbrugh. Receipts: #92 11s

Event Comment: Benefit John Rich. Receipts: #140 11s. 6d

Event Comment: Benefit John Rich. At the particular Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Receipts: #167 3s

Event Comment: Mainpiece. Written by the late Sir John Vanbrugh

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by Sir John Vanbrugh. Receipts: #73 3s. Probable attendance: boxes, 46 paid and 34 orders; balcony, 1 paid; pit 220 paid and 26 orders; slips, 17 paid and 3 orders; first gallery, 203 paid and 9 orders; second gallery, 97 paid and 2 orders

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by the late Sir John Vanbrugh. Receipts: #38 15s. 6d. Probable attendance: boxes, 32 paid and 9 orders; pit, 83 paid and 18 orders; slips, 7 paid and 11 orders; first gallery, 112 paid and 9 orders; second gallery, 120 paid and 4 orders

Event Comment: Receipts: #147 5s. 6d. Mainpiece: Written by the late Sir John Vanbrugh. Probable attendance: boxes, 194 paid and 20 orders; stage, 1 paid; balcony, 4 paid; pit, 275 paid and 11 orders; slips, 38 paid and 5 orders; first gallery, 406 paid and 9 orders; second gallery, 165 paid

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by the late Sir John Vanbrugh. Receipts: #73 3s. Probable attendance: boxes, 62 paid and 5 orders; stage, 2 paid; pit, 174 paid and 45 orders; slips, 6 paid and 5 orders; first gallery, 216 paid and 33 orders; second gallery, 140 paid and 13 orders

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by the late Sir John Vanbrugh. Receipts: #47 5s. 6d. Probable attendance: boxes, 43 paid and 9 orders; pit, 103 paid and 14 orders; slips, 4 paid and 5 orders; first gallery, 119 paid and 7 orders; second gallery, 137 paid

Event Comment: Benefit John Rich. Receipts: #74 7s. 6d

Event Comment: Benefit John Rich. Receipts: #58 10s. 6d

Event Comment: By Command of His Royal Highness. Benefit John Rich. Receipts: #158 10s. 6d

Event Comment: Benefit John Rich. Receipts: #96 2s. 6d

Event Comment: By Command of His Royal Highness. Benefit J. Rich. Mainpiece: Written by the late Sir John Vanbrugh. Receipts: #177 7s. [The Prince present.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by the late Sir John Vanbrugh, Receipts: #93 2s. 6d

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by the late Sir John Vanbrugh. Receipts: #78 13s

Event Comment: Benefit Allen, the Numberer [Rich's Register adds: the late Mr Wilks' Nephew.] Mainpiece: Written by the late Sir John Vanbrugh. Afterpiece: Intermix'd with Songs; taken from Moliere

Event Comment: Benefit a Gentlewoman under Misfortunes. [Rich's Register states that it was a benefit for a Gentleman.]

Event Comment: As 10 Oct. To act Monday through Saturday: King John, Richard II, Henry IV, Parts I and II, Henry V, and Richard III

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by the late Sir John Vanbrugh, and Colley Cibber Esq; Poet-Laureat

Event Comment: Profits subscribed to the Veteran Scheme at Guildhall. Mrs Cibber to Garrick, 11 Dec.: Though Mr Rich had no performance at his house...Drury Lane Playhouse was not above half full till the latter account. Then it was a good house but not near so great as we had all last winter to the Orphan. He had built up the stage, but as nobody came there he shut in a flat scene to hide it, and the next day he played the Tender Husband to fifteen pounds.-Boaden, Private Correspondence of Garrick, I, 46