Event Comment: [This day Horace Walpole wrote as follows to George Montagu, forshadowing an event to take place on 27 July: "If you will stay with me a fortnight or three weeks, perhaps I may be able to carry you to a play of Mr Bentley's--you stare--but I am in earnest--nay, and de par le roy. In short, here is the history of it. You know the passion he always had for the Italian comedy. About two years ago he writ one, intending to get it offered to Rich--but without his name--he would have died to be supposed an author, and writing [I, 372] for gain. I kept this a most inviolable secret. Judge then of my surprise when about a fortnight or three weeks ago I found my Lord Melcomb reading this very Bentleiad in a circle at my Lady Hervey's. Cumberland had carried it to him, with a recommendatory copy of verses, containing more incense to the King and my Lord Bute, than the Magi brought in their portmanteaus to Jerusalem. The idols were propitious, and to do them justice, there is a great deal of wit in the piece, which is called The Wishes or Harlequin's Mouth Opened. A bank note of #200 was sent from the Treasury to the author, and the play ordered to be performed by the summer company. Foote was summoned to Lord Melcomb's, where Parnassus was composed of the peer himself, who, like Apollo as I am going to tell you, was dozing, the two Chief Justices and Lord Bute. Bubo read the play himself, with handkerchief and orange by his side. But the curious part is a prologue which I never saw. It represents the god of verse fast asleep by the side of Helicon. The race of modern bards try to wake him, but the more they repeat of their works, the louder he snores. At last "Ruin seize thee ruthless King" is heard, and the god starts from his trance. This is a good thought, but will offend the bards so much, that I think Dr Bentley's son will be abused at least as much as his father was. The prologue concludes with young Augustus, and how much he excels the ancient one, by the choice of his friend. Foote refused to act this prologue, and said it was too strong. 'Indeed,' said Augustus's friend, 'I think it is.' They have softened it a little, and I suppose it will be performed. You may depend upon the truth of all this; but what is much more credible, is that the comely young author appears every night in the Mall in a milkwhite coat with a blue cape, disclaims any benefit, and says he has done with the play now it is out of his own hands, and that Mrs Hannah Clio alias Bentley writ the best scenes in it. He is going to write a tragedy, and she, I suppose, is going--to court."--Horace Walpole's Correspondence with George Montagu. Ed. W. S. Lewis and Ralph S. Brown Jr (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1941), I, 372-73. [IX, 372-373.

Event Comment: The United Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but the fact that the separately printed Prologue and Epilogue bear a licensing date of 17 March 1689@90 suggests a first performance near that date, as on many Previous occasions the separately-printed prologues and epilogues appeared almost simultaneously with the first performance. The Prologue and Epilogue are reprinted in Wiley, Rare Prologues and Epilogues, pp. 287-89. A song, I once had virtue, wealth, and fame, the music by R. King, is in The Banquet of Musick, The Fifth Book, 1691

Event Comment: [By Lewis Theobald.] With new Scenes and Habits

Event Comment: By the Great Mogul's Company of Comedians. Mainpiece: Written by the Author of George Barnwell. Afterpiece: A new Dramatick Satire: With freshest Advices Foreign and Domestick. Written by the Author of Pasquin [Henry Fielding]. These Characters will all be seen cheap; 1n the Boxes at 5s.; in the Pit at 3s.; in the Gallery at 2s. Note, None will be admitted after the House is full; for which Reason, the sooner you come, or secure your Places, the better. All Persons are desir'd to cry at the Tragedy, and laugh at the Comedy, being quite contrary to the present general Practice. Mr Hen gives Notice, that if any Joke is both Hiss'd and Clapp'd, such Division will be consider'd an Encore, and the said Joke be put up again. Daily Advertiser, 22 March: Last Night the two new Performances at the Hay-Market...were receiv'd with the greatest Applause ever shown at the Theatre

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 20 years [not acted since 2 Nov. 1761]. With new Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations. In Act I a Grand Banquetv. In Act II the Trial of Queen Katharinev. In V a Procession to the Christening of Princess Elizabethv. [These were included in all subsequent performances.] Mrs Siddons's Queen Katharine was "too laboured -particularly the Trial Scene, where the words came so slow and measured that they seemed to be distilled" (Public Advertiser, 29 Nov.). Receipts: #260 11s. (248.12; 11.6; 0.13)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 4, by Thomas Holcroft. Larpent MS 1144; not published. Authors of Prologue and Epilogue unknown]. Receipts: #429 5s. (378.1; 44.15; 6.9)

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. This play should not be confused with Heraclius Emperour of the East by Lodowick Carlell. Pepys, Diary: My wife and I out to the Duke's playhouse, and there saw Heraclius, an excellent play, to my extraordinary content; and the more from the house being very full, anand great company; among others, Mrs Steward, very fine, with her locks done up with puffs, as my wife calls them: and several other great ladies had their hair so, though I do not like it; but my wife do mightily--but it is only because she sees it is the fashion. Here I saw my Lord Rochester and his lady, Mrs Mallet, who hath after all this ado married him; and, as I hear some say in the pit, it is a great act of charity; for he hath no estate. But it was pleasant to see how everybody rose up then my Lord John Butler, the Duke of Ormond's son, come into the pit towards the end of the play, who was a servant to Mrs Mallet, and now smiled upon her, and she on him. I had sitting next to me a woman, the likest my Lady Castlemayne that ever I saw anybody like another; but she is a whore, I believe, for she is acquainted with every fine fellow, and called them by their name, Jacke, and Tom, and before the end of the play frisked to another place. Mightily pleased with the play

Event Comment: The United Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but it had been acted by the time the January 1692@3 issue of the Gentleman's Journal appeared in March (on page 1 of that issue, the editor states that We are now in March): Mr Southerne's New Comedy, call'd, The Maid's last Prayer, or Any rather than fail, was acted the 3d time this evening, and is to be acted again to morrow. It discovers much knowledge of the Town in its Author; and its Wit and purity of Diction are particularly commended (p. 28). The first song in the play, Tho you make no return to my passion, composed by Henry Purcell, was sung, according to the printed play, by Mrs Hodgson; by Mrs Dyer, according to Thesaurus Musicus, First Book, 1693. The second song, composed by Samuel? Akeroyd, was sung by Mrs Ayliff (Thesaurus Musicus, The First Book, 1693). Another song, No, no, no, no, resistance is but vain, written by Anthony Henley, composed by Henry Purcell, and sung by Mrs Ayliff and Mrs Hodgson, Act IV, is in Purcell's Works, Purcell Society, XX (1916), xiv-xv. A song, Tell me no more I am deceiv'd, written by William Congreve, set by Henry Purcell, and sung by Mrs Ayliff, is in Works, XX (1916), xv-xvi. According to the London Gazette, No. 2852, 9-13 March 1692@3, the play was published "this day" (13 March 1692@3)

Event Comment: [By Sir John Vanbrugh and Colley Cibber.] All the Characters new drest. Mist's 13 Jan.: On Wednesday last a most horrid, barbarous, and cruel Murder was committed...upon a posthumous Child of the late Sir John Vanbroog, by one who, for some Time past, has gone by the Name of Keyber. It was a fine Child born, and would certainly have lived long, had it not fallen into such cruel Hands. Davies (Dramatic Miscellanies, III, 260-61): In all the tumults and isturbances of the theatre on the first night of a new play, which was formerly a time of more dangerous service, to the actors, than it has been of late, Mrs Oldfield was entirely mistress of herself; she thought it her duty, amidst the most violent opposition and uproar, to exert the utmost of her abilities to serve the author. In the comedy of uproar, to exert the utmost of her abilities to serve the author. In the comedy of the Provoked Husband, Cibber's enemies tried all their power to get the play condemned. The reconciliation scene wrought so effectually upon the sensible and generous part of the audience, that the conclusion was greatly and generously approved. Amidst a thousand applauses, Mrs Oldfield came forward to speak the epilogue; but when she had pronounced the first line,-Methinks I hear some powder'd critic say-a man, of no distinguished appearance, from the seat next to tne orchestra, saluted her with a hiss. She fixed her eye upon him immediately, made a very short pause, and spoke the words poor creature! loud enough to be heard by the audience, with such a look of mingled scorn, pit, and contempt, that the most uncommon applause justified her conduct in this particular, and the poor reptile sunk down with fear and trembling. See also Cibber, Apology, I, 310-11; Victor, History of the Theatres, II, 105

Event Comment: Benefit a Family in Distress. For the Entertainment of Che-sazan Outsim, Hindy-Gylesangbier, Charadab-sina, Gulgulachem-Chemaunim, and Tichucbactey Ormophan, Sacheoutzim-Sinadab Caocormin, the Chineze Mandarines, lately arrived in England, on a Tour through Europe, being the only People of that Nation, who have been in England since the Reign of King James I. Mainpiece: Written by Colley Cibber, Esq; Poet-Laureat

Event Comment: Benefit Macklin. Afterpiece: With Courtiers, Maids of Honour, Daggers, Poisons, Ghosts, Pages, Guards, Rebels, Trumpets, Kettle-drums, Thunder, Lightening, &c., and other Decorations proper to tragedy. Stage to be form'd into an amphitheatre. Tickets of Bradshaw, and at Macklin's, No. 12, in Wild Court, Lincoln's Inn Fields. Receipts: #123

Event Comment: Afterpiece: By Desire. Paid Widow Edwards in Full of her husband's arrears #3 1s (Account Books, Egerton 2268). Receipts: #81 16s. 6d

Event Comment: At Lee and Yeates Sen and Jun great Theatrical Booth...will be reviv'd that celebrated Droll, call'd The Unnatural Parents; or, The Fair Maid of the West. Shewing the Manner of her being forced to wander from Home, by the Cruelty of her Parents and beg her Bread; and directs her to a Nobleman's House: How she was there taken in as a Servant; and, at length, for her Beauty and modest Behaviour, married to a Gentleman of great Fortune; with her Return to her Parents, and their happy Reconciliation. Also the Comical Humours and Adventures of Trusty her Father's Man, and the three Witches. The Scenes and Cloaths are entirely new; and the Droll the same that was perform'd by Mrs Lee 15 Years ago with great Applause. Boxes: 2s. 6d. Pit 1s. 6d. First Gallery 1s. Upper Gallery 6d. To begin each Day at Twelve o'Clock. [Notice repeated 25, 26, 27 Aug.

Event Comment: At Lee, Yeates Sen & Jun and Warner's Great Tiled Booth, Bowling Green, Southwark. [Prices and description as 24 Aug. bf.

Event Comment: At Lee and Yeates's Booth on Blackheath during the Fair

Event Comment: MMr Foote play'd Buck & Miss Macklin Lucinda, --went off tol: ye Girl was lik'd-she sung in ye Character Aly Croky--fine, --& danc'd a Minuet--well (Cross). [Foote was engaged as an actor for a certain number of nights and made his 1st appearance on this evening-he spoke a Prologue written by Garrick which was encored every night Genest, IV, 380). The Prologue was printed in the Public Advertiser on 29 Oct. suggesting the many sources of laughter on stage as they appealed to various parts of the House, pointing fun at Foote, and closing with his mock, humble statement: @"Many my passions are, tho' one my view@They all concenter--in the pleasing you.'@ It also contained information about a specialty performer on the Cello, Monsieur Cervetti, and his reception by the upper galleries: @"...In like extremes your laughing humour shows@Have ye not roar'd from Pit to upper Rows@And all the jest was, What? a Fiddler's nose..."@ The person here meant is M Cervetti, who has been a standing joke with the upper gallery for a long time past, on account of the length of his nose: but as I am inform'd, that no feature of his Mind is out of proportion, unless it be that his good qualities are extraordinary, I take this opportunity to mention that it is cruel to render him uneasy in the Business, in which he is eminent, and by which he must gain his livlihood." See identical comment in Gray's Inn Journal, 27 Oct. A puff for Miss Macklin appeared in Gray's Inn Journal, 20 Oct.] Receipts: #190 [Cross)