Event Comment: The
United Company. There is no certainty as to when the first performance occurred, but it can hardly be later than 11 Nov. 1690, when it was entered in the
Stationers' Register; it was then advertised in the
London Gazette, No. 2618, 11-15 Dec. 1690. On the assumption that the performance of
Amphitryon on 21 Oct. 1690 followed its premiere,
Distress'd Innocence has been assigned to late October 1690. The Overture
and seven Act Tunes were composed by
Henry Purcell. See
Purcell's Works,
Purcell Society, XVI (1906), xix. Dedication, Edition of 1691: I must still own my self indebted on all H
ands, not only to the kind Audience, but likewise to the kind Company, who amongst other Favours, were pleased to be at the Charge of dressing my Play to so much Advantage. But above all I must make my publick Acknowledgments to
Mr Betterton for his several extraordinary Hints to the heightening of my best Characters, nor am I a little indebted to
Mr Montfort, for the last Scene of my Play which he was so kind to write for me
Performances
Mainpiece Title: Distressd Innocence Or The Princess Of Persia
Performance Comment: Edition of 1691: Epilogue-Mrs Knight by Mr Montfort; Isdigerdes-Bowman; Hormidas-Montfort; Theodosius-Powell; Audas-Hodgson; Cleontes-Bright; Otrantes-Kynaston; Rugildas-Sandford; Three Persian Magi-Freeman, Baker, Verbruggen; Orundana-Mrs Barry; Cleomira-Mrs Bracegirdle; Doranthe-Mrs Corey.