Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of the first production is not known, but the Prologue refers to "this Winter," suggesting a date before March 1700. A song, Ah Belinda I am pressed, in this play, appeared in Orpheus Britannica, 1698, the music by Henry Purcell, who had died some years before its appearance in this collection. A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702), pp. 26-27, referring to the rivalry between lif and dl in reviving Shakespeare and Jonson: The Battel continued a long time doubtful, and Victory hovering over both Camps, Batterton Sollicts for some Auxiliaries from the same Author, and then he flanks his Enemy with Measure for Measure

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. This performance is known from a playbill apparently no longer extant: W. R. At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. At the New Theatre in Little Lincoln's-Inn Fields, this present Tuesday, being the 27th of February, will be presented, a Tragedy call'd The Mourning Bride. The Moorish? Entry perform'd by The Little? Boy. Vivant Rex. (W. J. Lawrence, The Elizabethan Playhouse and Other Studies (Stratford, 1913). See also R. W. Lowe, Thomas Betterton (London, 1891), and Fitzgerald, A New History, I, 389

Event Comment: Rich's Company. That this day was the premiere is implied by the Post Boy, 6-9 July 1700: This Day at the Theatre Royal in Drury-Lane, will be presented a New Comedy, never Acted before, called Courtship Alamode. Preface, Edition of 1700: This Play was so long expected e're it came into the World, that I'm oblig'd in Justice to my self, to excuse its appearance at at time when there were scarce Witnesses in Town of its Birth. It was enter'd in the other House [lif], where Mr Betterton did me all the Justice I cou'd indeed reasonably hope for. But that Example he gave, was not it seems to be follow'd by the whole Company, since 'tis known that Mr Bowman (I mention his Name to keep the reflection from other sharers) kept the first Character of my Play six weeks, and then cou'd hardly read six lines on't. How far that Way of management makes of late for the Interest and Honour of that House, is easie to be judg'd. Some who valu'd their reputations more, were indeed rarely or never absent. To these I gave my thanks; but finding that six or seven people cou'd not perform what was design'd for fifteen, I was oblig'd to remove it after so many sham Rehearsals, and in two days it got footing upon the other Stage [dl]. Where twas immediately cast to the best Advantage, and Plaid in less than twenty days. [In the Dedication Penkethman states that he saw the play into print after its being received well by the town.] A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1700), pp. 104-5: Ramble: Courtship Alamode, the Author, one Crawford, a Caledonian. Sullen: I remember it, and its Adventures; it was enter'd into the New-House, at the Recommendation of a certain Scotch Lord, and sojourning there six Months to no purpose, it travell'd afterwards to the Old-House, where it was with much ado Acted. Ramble: And Damn'd-there I was in with you

Event Comment: Benefit Mr Dean and Mr Manshipp. To begin exactly at 8 a Clock, by reason the Performance will be somewhat longer than usual in that Place

Event Comment: Mainpiece: that celebrated and diverting Comedy. Afterpiece: that so much admir'd Farce written by Monsieur Molliere, and translated by the Ingenious Mr Otway. For the Entertainment of several Foreign Ministers of State. With other Entertainments too long to be incerted here. All which will be perform'd without Omission. Note, We shall not dismiss, let the Audience be what it will, and to begin punctually at half an hour after six at the furthest

Event Comment: Philip Perceval to Sir John Perceval, 1 Feb.: The opera of Camilla has been one of the chief diversions of the town this long time, and business is forgot. Next week we expect a new one, and soon after another. One goes by Mr Addison's name; I think they call it Fair Rosamond, the other is Mr Clayton's undertaking. Great things are expected of them both. (Egmont MS, II, 215.

Event Comment: [By Elkanah Settle.] Never Acted before. Preface: I was reduced to the Necessity of bringing it in in the long Vacation, and consequently with a very narrow Expectation of Profit from the Product of so barren a Season. And as the then Emptiness of the Town cou'd give it but a few, though those all friendly Auditors, I sit down contented with the general Reception it has met

Event Comment: Boxes 8s. Pit 5s. Gallery 2s. 6d. Stage Boxes half a Guinea. At 5:30 p.m. Notices as 23 Oct. It having been the Common Practice of several Persons to come into the Opera and stay a whole Act, and sometimes longer, without paying, to the great Prejudice of the Opera, therefore it is humbly desired for the future, that no Person will take it ill that tney are not admitted without Tickets. [The King present.

Event Comment: Not Acted these Fourteen Years. Written by the late Mr Farquhar. N.B. In Consideration of the Diversion the French Children have given the Town, Mr Rich has engag'd their Stay in England for some time longer, and on Thursday next they will perform again. Receipts: #25 1s

Event Comment: By His Royal Highness's Command. According to the Original Weekly Journal 26 April the Prince was present, but Edward Harley Jr writing to Abigail Harley on 6 May stated: The P..., not long ago, bespoke at the Old Playhouse, a play called the Indian Emperor. The K...hearing of it, sent to the players to tell them that if the P...came, and they acted that play, he would turn them out of his service, which message they sent to the P..., who had the good sense not to come, so the Indian Emperor was acted.-Portland MS, V, 560

Event Comment: Not Acted these Thirty Years. Written originally in French by Moliere. Original Weekly Journal, 28 June: On Friday 7-Night one Mr Kelley, an Irish Gentleman, was kill'd by Mr Ryan, one of the Actors of Lincolns-Inn-Fields Theatre; the Accident happen'd thus: Mr Ryan being at the Sun-Eating House in Long Acre at Supper; Mr Kelley, who before had terrified several Companions by drawing his Sword upon Persons whom he did not know, came up into the Room drunk, and abused Mr Ryan, who returned him very civil Usage, and desired his Absence: This did not satisfie Mr Kelley, who drew his Sword, made three Passes at Mr Ryan, before he could get his own Sword, which lay by in the Window; at last finding his own Life in Danger, He drew and ran Mr Kelley in the left Side, who fell down and immediately died

Event Comment: Original Weekly Journal, 12-14 July: Mr Ryan the Player, who lately kill'd Mr Kelley at the Sun Ale-house in Long-Acre has drawn his own Recognizance, there being no appearance of a Prosecution against him

Event Comment: The Long Room in the Haymarket is next to the King's Theater and was formerly Boman's Chocolate Room

Event Comment: By His Royal Highness's Command. Written by Shakespear. Receipts: #92. Weekly Journal or Saturday's Post, 29 Oct.: Where was acted...The Merry Wives of Windsor, with universal Applause; that Company having improved themselves so much, during the long Vacation, they now equal, if not exceed their Brethren of Drury-Lane in their Theatrical Performances

Event Comment: For a long critique of the play, see St. James Journal, 15 Nov

Event Comment: For a long critique, see St. James's Journal, 22 Nov. (in a letter dated 18 Nov.)

Event Comment: Admission as 7 Nov. 1722. London Journal, 2 March: The new Opera Tickets are very high, and like to continue so as long as Mrs Cotzoni is so much admired. They are traded in at the other End of the Town, as much as Lottery Tickets are in Exchange-Alley

Event Comment: The Days being long, the Doors will not be open'd till Five, and the Play will begin exactly at half an Hour after Six a Clock, Particular Care being taken to keep the House cool

Event Comment: Benefit a Gentleman in Misfortunes. Written by Aaron Hill, Esq. All the Characters being entirely new Dress'd. N.B. The putting off the Play so long was occasion'd by the Indisposition of one of the principal Performers, and the Tickets deliver'd out for 4th, the 11th, and the 17th Instant will be taken this Day

Event Comment: Mainpiece: [By Francis Hawling. The Preface gives a long account of the unhappy preliminaries to the performance and the extremely poor acting by the company.] Afterpiece. The Words by Mr Motteux, and Set to Musick by Mr Eccles

Event Comment: [By Sandford.] All the Characters being entirely new dress'd. [The Preface gives a long account of the difficulties attendant on the production, particularly the inexperience of the amateur performers.

Event Comment: At the Long Room at Hampstead Wells. At 6 p.m

Event Comment: Benefit John Rich. Receipts: #167 10s. 6d. For a long essay on the stage, see Weekly Journal or Saturday's Post, 23 Jan

Event Comment: UUniversal Mercury, February 1726: Elisa...an Opera of a foreign Growth, and of which they promis'd us Wonders before it was brought over. But when it arriv'd, we soon found to our Cost, that its being far fetch'd and dear bought was the only thing that could recommend it: But even that would not do long, and Audiences grew so thin, that the Royal Academy, for fear of making another Call, was oblig'd to drop it

Event Comment: For a long letter on operatic affairs, see Deutsch, Handel, pp. 207-8