Event Comment: The Duke's Company. Pepys, Diary: After dinner by water to the Royall Theatre [Bridges St]; but that was so full they told us we could have no room. And so to the Duke's House; and there saw Hamlett done, giving us fresh reason never to think enough of Betterton. Who should come upon the stage but Gosnell, my wife's maid? but neither spoke, danced, nor sung; which I was sorry for. But she becomes the stage very well

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. Pepys, Diary: To the Royall Theatre [Bridges St], but they not acting today, then to the Duke's house, and there saw The Slighted Mayde, wherein Gosnell acted Pyramena, a great part, and did it very well, and I believe will do it better and better, and prove a good actor. The play is not very excellent, but is well acted, and in general the actors, in all particulars, are better than at the other house

Event Comment: Pepys, Diary: To the New Theatre [Vere St], which, since the King's players are gone to the Royal one [Bridges St], is this day begun to be employed by the fencers to play prizes at

Event Comment: This play was seen by Olaus Borrichius (Seaton, Literary Relationships, p. 337). As its later performances were given by the King's Company, it was probably acted at Bridges St on this occasion. The play was not printed until 1674, and the date of the premiere is not known

Event Comment: Henry Muddiman, 29 Nov. 1666: The Players have upon great proffers of disposing a large share to charitable uses prevailed to have liberty to act at Both Houses, which they begin this day (CSPD, Charles II, clxxcii, 6, in Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, p. 250). A manuscript prologue for the opening of the theatre in Bridges Street is in J. Payne Collier's MS Restoration Stage History, Part I, p. 106, in the Houghton Library, Harvard. The Diary of John Milward, Esq., ed. Caroline Robbins (Cambridge, 1938), p. 49: This day at my coming to the House [of Commons] it moved that plays might be tolerated and acted in the common theatres, and whether any members of the House of Commons should be admitted to go to acts of the playhouses, but it was not resolved

Event Comment: Pepys, Diary: By and by with Lord Bruncker by coach to his house, there to hear some Italian musique: and here we met Tom Killigrew, Sir Robert Murray, and the Italian Signor Baptista, who hath composed a play in Italian for the Opera, which T. Killigrew do intend to have up; and here he did sing one one of the acts. He himself is the poet as well as the musician.... This done, T. Killigrew and I to talk: and he tells me how the audience at his house [Bridges St.] is not above half so much as it used to be before the late fire. That Knipp is like to make the best actor that ever come upon the stage, she understanding so well: that they are going to give her #30 a-year more. That the stage is now by his pains a thousand times better and more glorious than ever heretofore. Now, wax candles, and many of them; then, not above 3 l6s. of tallow: now, all things civil, no rudeness anywhere; then, as in a bear-garden: then, two to three fiddlers; now, nine or ten of the best: then, nothing but rushes upon the ground, and every thing else mean; and now, all otherwise: then, the Queen seldom and the King never would come; now, not the King only for state, but all civil people do think they may come as well as any....That he hath gathered our Italians from several Courts in Christendome, to come to make a concert for the King, which he do give #200 a-year a-piece to: but badly paid, and do come in room of keeping four ridiculous gundilows, he having got the King to put them away, and lay out money this way; and indeed I do commend him for it, for I think it is a very noble undertaking. He do intend to have some times of the year these operas to be performed at the two present theatres, since he is defeated in what he intended in Moorefields on purpose for it; and he tells me plainly that the City audience was as good as the Court, but now they are most gone

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. Pepys, Diary: [After stopping at Bridges Street] against our wills, went all to see Tu Quoque again, where there is pretty store of company, and going with a prejudice the play appeared better to us. Here we saw Madam Morland, who is grown mighty fat, but is very comely. But one of the best parts of our sport was a mighty Pretty lady that sat behind us, that did laugh so heartily and constantly, that it did me good to hear her

Event Comment: The King's Company. This play is on L. C. list, 5@12, p. 17: ye king here. See also Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 344. The play was apparently designed for the opening of the Bridges St playhouse in November 1666 but was not then acted. The edition of 1667 gives a intended cast. Bonhomme-Cartwright; Valerio-$C. Hart; Ergasto-$W. Winterson [$Wintershall]; Don Buisson-Burt; La Fleur-$E. Keninston [$Kynaston]; Sganarelle-J. Lacy; Mascarillio-$M. Moon [$Mohun]; Jodelet-R. Shatterel; Housekeepers-$Alexander, $Wilbraham; Mary and Anne-$The Two Marshalls; Isabella-$Mrs Rutter; Lysette-$Nel Guin; Prologue Intended for the Overture of the Theatre, 1666; Epilogue. [In this list the names Alexander and Wilbraham are not otherwise known and may represent errors in the printed list.

Event Comment: This play was reprinted in 1672, being entered in the Term Catalogues, 20 Nov. 1671. It probably was acted in the late summer of 1671. The title page states that it was acted at the Theatre Royal, Bridges Street

Event Comment: James Bridges, Diary: ye Exeter Music Meeting (Huntington MS St 26)

Event Comment: At the particular Desire of several Ladies of Quality. An exact Computation being made, how many the Pit and Boxes will hold, with ease; they are to be put together, and such a Number of Tickets will be printed, and no more; to be deliver'd this present Tuesday, at Boman's Chocolate-House in Bridges-Street, no Money being to be taken at the Theatre, but for the Gallery. N.B. By desire the Play is not to begin till 9 a Clock, by reason of the Heat of the Weather; Nor the House to be open'd till Eight

Event Comment: Benefit Topham, the English Sampson. [Tickets at Topham's, Corner of Little Bridges Street.]

Event Comment: Benefit Harper. Tickets at Harper's House in Bridges Street

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Walter. Mainpiece: Written by the late Sir John Vanbrugh. [Tickets at Mrs Walter's House, near the Baker's, in Bridges-Street, cg. Tickets for Pelling, Rector, Woodburn taken also.

Event Comment: Benefit Berry. For the Entertainment of the Grand Master and the rest of the Brethren of...Free and Accepted Masons. [Three Rows of the Pit railed into the Boxes for Masons only. Tickets at Berry's in Bridges Street.

Event Comment: Benefit Mlle Chateauneuf. By Command of Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales. [Part of the Stage will be formed into Side-Boxes. Tickets at Mlle Chateauneuf's Lodgings at Farnell's in Bridges Street, corner of Russell Court.

Event Comment: Benefit Harper, who is indisposed. Tickets at Harper's House in Bridges Street

Event Comment: Benefit Berry. Tickets at Berry's, Theatre Coffee House, Bridges Street

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Walter. Tickets at Mrs Walter's House, near the Fishmonger's, in Bridges Street. Afterpiece: As 30 April

Event Comment: Benefit Harper and Raftor. [Tickets at Harper's House in Bridges Street. A letter to the Daily Advertiser, 24 April, concerning this benefit, states that Harper is incapacitated with 'a Paralytick Disorder.'

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Walter. Tickets at Mrs Walter's, next door the Baker's, in Bridges Street

Event Comment: Benefit Pierson, Treasurer. Garrick refused to act. So he got Bridges from Dublin to play for him. (Winston MS. from Dyer MS.). Tickets and places to be had at Pierson's House, the Green Door, the Upper End of Great Queen St., Lincoln's Inn Fields, and of Hobson at the Stage Door

Event Comment: Benefit Shepard. For the Entertainment of the Grand Master and the rest of the Fraternity of the Ancient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons. None to be admitted into the Boxes, or behind the Scenes, but by Box tickets, which are to be had of Shepherd at his house on Mill Bank, and of Hobson at the stage door. Those Brethren who intend to honour the Grand Master to the Play, are desir'd to meet his Lordship, cloth'd, at the Rose Tavern, the Corner of Bridges St. at five o'clock