Event Comment: The Duke's Company. The date of the first production is not known, but the date 31 May 1681 on a copy in the Ohio State University Library, representing Luttrell's purchase of a copy, argues for a performance initially in April or early May 1681. See Wilson, Six Restoration Play-Dates, p. 222

Event Comment: Langhans, New Restoration Theatre Accounts, pp. 125-26, suggests that acting resumed on 29 Sept. and continued to 6 Feb. 1684@5, when Charles II died, although the theatre may not have acted from 2 through 5 Feb. Resuming at the end of April, the company Played regularly to the end of May, then on 43 days between 1 June and 31 Oct. 1685

Event Comment: The United Company. This performance is on the L. C. list, 5@141, p. 369. See also Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 352. In L. C. 5@150, p. 156, is an order to prepare the stage for the play, and, in L. C. 5@150, p. 164, is another order for new equipment. Luttrell, A Brief Relation, II, 125: The 4th, being his majesties birth day...and at night was a consort of musick, and a play afterwards. Matthew Prior wrote A Pindarique Ode which was sung before Their Majesties at court on this day. See The Literary Works of Matthew Prior, ed. H. B. Wright and M. K. Spears (Oxford, 1959), I, 96-98; II, 858. Cibber, Apology, I, 128: The agreeable was so natural to [Mountfort], that even in that dissolute Character of the Rover he seem'd to wash off the Guilt from Vice, and gave it Charms and Merit. For tho' it may be a Reproach to the Poet to draw such Characters not only unpunish'd but rewarded, the Actor may still be allow'd his due Praise in his excellent Performance. And this is a Distinction which, when this Comedy was acted at Whitehall, King William's Queen Mary was pleas'd to make in favour of Monfort, notwithstanding her Disapprobation of the Play

Event Comment: The United Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but the face that the play was entered in the Term Catalogues, May 1691, and noticed in the London Gazette, No 2664, 21-25 May 1691, suggests that it was given in April, probably soon after Passion Week. Gildon, The Lives and Characters, p. 102: A very pretty Comedy, and has been always received with general Applause

Event Comment: The United Company. This performance is on the L. C. list, 5@151, p. 369: ye Q a Box & a Box for ye Maids Honr Orphan, See also Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 352. Cibber, Apology, I, 183: There is in this Character [Chaplain] (of one Scene only) a decent Pleasantry, and Sense enough to shew an Audience whether the Actor has any himself. Here was the first Applause I ever receiv'd, which you may be sure, made my Heart leap with a higher Joy than may be necessary to describe

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but the fact that the play was advertised in the Post Man, 24-26 June 1697, suggests that it was probably first acted not later than May 1697, and there is no specific indication of a premiere earlier than May. In Songs Compleat, 1719, the music for one song is attributed to Croft

Event Comment: London Gazette, No. 3388, 28 April-2 May 1698: On Wednesday next, the 4th of May, will be performed in York-Buildings, the Song which was Sung before her Royal Highness on Her Birth Day last; With other Variety of New Vocal and Instrumental Musick, Composed by Dr Turner, and for his Benefit

Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the premiere is not known, but as the play was advertised in the Post Man, 25-27 May 1699, it may have been acted before Easter (9 April 1699), certainly by the end of April. Dedication, to the Countess of Burlington: I...beg your Ladyship's Protection for a Play which stands rank'd amongst the Unfortunate....[A song, Loving and beloved again, with music by Samuel Ackroyde, is in Mercurius Musicus, 1699.

Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the premiere is not knwon, but the Dedication is dated February 1699@1700, the play was entered in the Term Catalogues in February 1699@1700, and advertised in the Flying Post, 16 March 1699@1700. The latest likely date for the first production is January 1700, but the play may have appeared in late December as a rival to lif's production of I Henry IV early in January 1700. Cibber, Apology, I, 275: But the Master of the Revels, who then licens'd all Plays for the Stage, assisted this Reformation [of the morality of the stage] with a more zealous Severity than ever. He would strike out whole Scenes of a vicious or immoral Character, tho' it were visibly shewn to be reform'd or punish'd; a severe Instance of this kind falling upon my self may be an Excuse for my relating it: When Richard the Third (as I alter'd it from Shakespear) came from his Hands to the Stage, he expung'd the whole first Act without sparing a Line of it. This extraordinary Stroke of a Sic volo occasion'd my applying to him for the small Indulgence of a Speech or two, that the other four Acts might limp on with a little less Absurdity! no! he had no leisure to consider what might be separately inoffensive. [Cibber continues with an explanation of the censor's argument for cutting the act.] Preface to Cibber's Ximena, 1719: Richard the Third, which I alter'd from Shakespear, did not raise me Five Pounds on Third Day

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Lee. At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. [In Daily Courant, 29 May, the admission had been advertised as boxes 6s., pit 4s., gallery 2s. 6d., but on 31 May Daily Courant stated that "all seal'd Tickets that have been dispos'd of by Mrs Lee" at these rates "shall be accounted for" at 5s., 3s., 2s.

Event Comment: At Pinkethman's booth and also at Finley's booth. [In Daily Courant, 28 April and 1, 2, and 3 May, an announcement stated that the two men would continue separate entertainments in separate booths during May Fair.

Event Comment: On Friday last, a Proclamation was publish'd, strictly enjoyning the Proprietors and Owners of May-Fair, that they do not permit or suffer any Booth to be erected, or Stalls to be made Use of, during such Time as the said Fair shall be holden, for any Plays, Shews, Gaming, Musick-Meetings. (Post Boy, 30 April-3 May.

Event Comment: See Tatler, 26 May. [In Daily Courant, 24 May, William Bowen announced that The Stratagem, advertised for this day as his benefit, is deferred and that tickets for it will be accepted on 1 June at Sganarell; or, The Cuckold in Conceit.

Event Comment: Benefit Cave Underhill the old Comedian. At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. [In Tatler, 26 May, Underhill had announced his benefit, stating that he had losses to the value of nearly #2,500. See also Tatler, 31 May.

Event Comment: Benefit Cross. [In Daily Courant, 24 May, and later Penkethman announced his new theater in Greenwich, to which several Persons of Quality have subscribed. He intends to open on 12 June with a new Prologue by himself and a new Epilogue-by him and Bullock. He solicits additional subscription for a proposed program of 24 plays. See also Tatler, 25-27 May.

Event Comment: By Command. Admission as 23 Oct. 1714. At 6 p.m. Daily Courant 11 May: Whatever Persons paid for Box-Tickets for the Opera of Hydaspes, which was perform'd on Saturday the 7th Instant, by reason of several Persons of Quality (who could not be denyed) coming in without Tickets; those who had taken them, and could not find Room, may send their Tickets to the Theatre-Office...and their Money will be repaid

Event Comment: By Subscription, as 25 May. According to Colman's Opera Register, 28 May, Mrs Robinson was ill and did not perform again during this season

Event Comment: Benefit Lawrence and Wilson, Boxkeepers. Receipts: money #5 7s.; tickets #143 9s. [The identity of these receipts and those for 23 May suggests that the treasurers' records may be in error for one of these nights.

Event Comment: Receipts: #140 13s. Probable attendance: boxes and pit, 308 paid and 73 orders; stage, 1 paid; slips, 27 paid and 7 orders; first gallery, 304 paid and 1 orders; second gallery, 172 paid. Daily Journal, 25 May: We hear that this Evening the famous Captain Lemuel Gulliver is to be at...Lincoln's Inn Fields, very handsomely attended and dress'd in a rich Habit, the like of which was never seen in England before. The two Stage Boxes are kept for him and his Company....The Master of the House has promised the Captain that neither during the Play or Entertainment, any Person shall be admitted behind the Scenes, that the Captain may bot be too much press'd with the Crowd

Event Comment: As we perform only on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, any Gentleman, &c. may here may here have a Room[y] Building, Clothes, and Scenes for a private Play for four Guineas, on other nights

Event Comment: Benefit R. Williams. Mainpiece: Not Acted these Twenty Years. On this day the Lord Mayor and the Court of Aldermen of the City presented a petition to the King seeking the suppression of the theatre in Goodman's Fields. Thomas Odell, Master of the Theatre, also appeared before His Majesty and sought royal leave to continue acting.--See Grub St. Journal, 7 May, for a summary of the events, but see also Weekly Journal or British Gazetteer and London Journal, 2 May