Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the first performance is not known, for the play was apparently not printed until 1704. Nevertheless, some details indicate a performance early in the early in the season of 1696-97. In the first place, the presence of Verbruggen in the cast indicates that it must have been acted before 1 Jan. 1696@7, when Verbruggen was permitted to act at Lincoln's Inn Fields. The play also parodies the works of Mrs Manley, whose The Royal Mischief had been staged (probably) in April 1696, and it is likely that the company would emphasize the pertinence of the parody by presenting it soon after the appearance of the original. Although The Female Wits may not have been acted until later in the autumn, it seems likely that it was acted first in the late summer or early autumn. Preface, Edition of 1704: [The] Success of this Play has been such...having been Acted six Days running without intermission....Among the rest, Mr Powel and his Wife excell'd in the Characters they represented, as did Mrs Verbruggen, who play'd the Chief Character....The Lady whose Play is rehears'd, personated one Mrs M-ly [Manley]

Event Comment: Yesterday Mr Rich paid into the Chamberlain's Office at Guildhall, the sum of #602 7s. to the Veteran's scheme, being the three night's receipts arising from the Beggar's Opera, performed at cg: And he thinks it incumbent on him in justice to the several persons interested in the Said theatre, to declare, that when the above scheme was by him proposed, they all most generously subscrib'd their demands for these three nights in order to enlarge the sums to be rais'd for the above purpose.-General Advertiser. [The Gentlemen's Magazine, Dec. 1745, states the idea of this gift was proposed by Mrs Cibber, and that the tallow chandlers also gave the candles.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Never acted there. Neville MS Diary: Both theatres opened again with The English Merchant. Went into the Pit of cg. Shuter did Freeport pretty well, but had not that appearance of blunt honesty which Yates has in that character....I like Miss Pope better in Molly than Mrs Mattocks. Mrs Goodman by Mrs Ward, who is a very different figure now from what she was some years ago. Her daughter did Amelia pretty well, but has a stiffiness and an indifferent voice. End Act III, The Irish Lilt-The celebrated dancer Aldridge, Sga Manesiere. Entertainment Harlequin Dr Faustus. I hope this emulation between the 2 Houses will cause exertion. Receipts: #146 8s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: The United Company. The date of the first performance is not known, and the play is one of a large group commonly assigned to September-December 1690. As the Prologue implies an autumn production, it has been placed at late September, although the premiere may have been October. It was advertised in the London Gazette, 18-22 Dec. 1690, and entered in the Term Catalogues, Feb. 1690@1. The music was composed by Henry Purcell. See Purcell, Works, Purcell Society, XXI (Dramatic Music, III, 1917), xii-xiv. Dedication: So visibly promoting my Interest on those days chiefly (the Third and the Sixth) when I had the tenderest relation to the welfare of my Play [i.e. Southerne had two benefits]. Langbaine (English Dramatick Poets, 1691, Appendix): This Play was acted with extraordinary Applause, the Part of Sir Anthony Love being most Masterly play'd by Mr Montfort: and certainly, who ever reads it, will find it fraught with true Wit and Humour. Gentleman's Journal, January 1691@2: [The Wives' Excuse, newly performed] was written by Mr Southern, who made that call'd Sir Anthony Love, which you and all the Town have lik'd so well

Event Comment: Present Their Majesties, Prince of Wales and Prince Frederick. Gave Yeomen of the Guards #2 2s. Receipts: #234 15s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Bencraft and Mrs Hale. Mainpiece: Not acted these 9 years. [See 4 Dec. 1740.] N.B.: A parcel of tickets having been lost, none sold at the doors of the theatre will be admitted. Tickets to be had and places taken of Page at the Stage Door of the Theatre. [Inserted in the General Advertiser this day is Buskin's Apology]: @Enur'd to ills of various kinds,@By ancestors undone;@The Author has severely paid@For failings not his own.@From Disappointments Buskin writes,@Confesses 'tis for gain@Yet scorns all profits which arise@From giving others pain.@No private character he sneers,@No venom taints his mind;@His sole ambition is to please,@Not satyrise Mankind.@ On Wednesday last the Tragedy of Othello was acted at Covent Garden towards the relief of the unhappy sufferers by the late Fire; and on Saturday the sum of #218 12s. 4d. was paid into the hands of Messrs Ironside and Belchier; the company of comedians and the band of musick having generously given their performances (General Advertiser)

Event Comment: Rich's Company. Lady Morley attended this performance: Lady Morley and two in the Box at Constant Couple. See Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, p. 378. There is no certainty that this is the first performance, but the fact that the play was advertised in the Post Man, 7-9 Dec. 1699, suggests that the first production may have occurred in mid-November. The Prologue also refers to the abandonment of Dorset Garden to "That strong Dog Sampson" (see 15 and 25 Nov. 1699). A song, Thus Damon knock'd at Celia's door, set by Daniel Purcell, was published separately about this time. Preface, Edition of 1700: All will join with me in Commendation of the Actors, and allow, without detracting from the Merit of others, that the Theatre Royal affords an excellent and compleat Set of Comedians. Mr Wilks's Performance has set him so far above Competition in the Part of Wildair, that none can pretend to envy the Praise due to his Merit. Preface to The Inconstant (1702): I remember, that about two Years ago, I had a Gentleman from France [The Constant Couple] that brought the Play-house some fifty Audiences in five months. A Comparison between the Two Stages (1702), p. 32: Critick: But above all, commend me to the ingenious Author of the Trip to the Jubilee. Ramble: Oh Lord, Sir! you won't quarrel with that Play; never any thing did such wonders. Critick: Oh 'twas admirable! admirable! I wonder the Town did not just then bespeak the Bays for him. Sullen: Nay, for ought you and I know, he may live to enjoy 'em; I assure you all the run of the Town is on his side. The Owl was never more esteem'd at Athens than the Trip to the Jubilee was here. Critick: Indeed I have known a Footman have a great stroak with his Lord at begging a Favour; if all the Footmen in Town that admire him were to club for his Preferment, I don't know what might be done. Ramble: The Footmen? Ay, and the middle Gallery too, I assure you are of his side, and that's a strong Party. Critick: Why, I believe it, 'tis about the pitch of their Understanding; but if ever it diverted one Man of tolerable Sense I'll be hang'd. Sullen: I don't know who are your People of tolerable Sense, Mr Critick, but at the play I have seen the Pit, Box and Stage so crowded--and if that is not a sign

Event Comment: Ladies desired to send servants by three o'clock to keep places. [This note repeated for each performance of this play.] Paid Mr Smart the lace man on account #50. Paid Mrs Cleater (Mrs Cibber's Dresser) 5 days last week, 7s. 6d. Receipts: #178 14s

Event Comment: Afterpiece: By desire. To Mr G-, Sir: You will very much oblige many of your friends by reviving the play of Ulisses wrote by the celebrated Mr Rowe; We apprehdnd there are four characters in which yourself, Mr Barry, Mrs Cibber and Mrs Pritchard would shine inimitably. If you think this hint worthy your notice, we make no doubt it will in every Respect answer your expectations, as well as gratify the town in general. S. W., S. T., &c. (General Advertiser). This day is publish'd, at 1s. Lethe Rehears'd or a critical discussion of the beauties and blemishes of that performance; interspers'd with occasional remarks upon dramatick satires in general, as well as on some that have been best receiv'd in particular. The whole in a free conversation amongst several persons of distinction. Printed for J. Roberts (General Advertiser). [This is a fifty@two@page puff for Lethe, and for the usefulness of the stage for propagating morals. The characters who lead the discussion are: Sir Francis Friendly , a sensible learned Gentleman; Dr Heartfree , a candid, judicious person; who has a great opinion of Mr Garrick; Mr Snip@Snap , a vociferous modern Critic; and Two Women .] Receipts: #120 (Cross); #118 12s. 6d. (Powel)

Event Comment: [Cast taken from 1st edn. The bill merely lists actors and notes "With proper Music, Scenes, and Decorations. Never acted before." It mentions no Prologue or Epilogue.] This Masque was wrote about eleven years ago, by Mr Malet & Mr Thomson, & play'd in the Garden at Clifden before the P. of Wales &c.--Mr Malet has now alter'd it, & it was play'd with great Applause, only some of the Dances, being too long were dislik'd, & some of the Songs had ye same reception (Cross). Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Shuter. Charges #64 5s. Balance to Shuter #106 9s. 6d. plus #95 17s. from Tickets. (Boz 309; Pit 124) (Account Book). [The Epilogue is Larpent MS 294, criticising the "rules" and praising "Laughter" as the all-in-all of Comedy]:@What matters it you or me to know@How Blockheads wrote two thousand years ago?@ Receipts: #170 14s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Paid Gallini in part of his Bond #50 (Account Books, Egerton 2268). Mrs Cibber, being Indisposed with a violent Fever, which renders her incapable of performing in the Distrest Mother this day for her Benefit, she is therefore oblig'd to defer it till further Notice. On Tuesday next will be publish'd (Address'd to Mr Garrick) The Pretty Gentleman, or Softness of Manners vindicated from the False Ridicule exhibited unter the character of William Fribble, Esq:...Printed for M. Cooper in Paternoster Row. We hear the Comedy of the Suspicious Husband will be performed in a few days, and the continuance of Mr Garrick's Indisposition, rendering his appearance on the Stage entirely uncertain; the part of Ranger will be attempted by Mr Chapman.--General Advertiser

Event Comment: Original Weekly Journal, 21 Nov., announces forthcoming plays: Southern's Spartan Dame in a few days, then Steele's The Gentleman, shortly afterwards

Event Comment: TThe Siege of Damascus is reviving at Covent Garden (in which Mrs Cibber is to perform the part of Eudocia , and Mr Barry that of Phocyas , it being the first time of his appearing in that character). As is also the Masque of Pyramus and Thisbe as set to Music by the late Mr Lamp; they will be performed some day this week

Event Comment: HHandel to Jennens: I have taken the Opera House in the Hay-marketh, engaged, as Singers, Signora Francesina, Miss Robinson, Beard, Reinhold, Mr Gates with his Boyes's and several of the best Chorus Singers from the Choirs, and I have some hopes that Mrs Cibber will sing for me. She sent word from Bath (where she is now) that she would perform for me next winter with great pleasure if it did not interfere with her playing, but I think I can obtain Mr Riches's permission (with whom she is engaged to play in Covent Garden House) since so obligingly he gave leave to Mr Beard and Mr Reinhold.--Deutsch Handel, pp. 591-92

Event Comment: Whereas it was first intended to lay the pit and boxes together, for the better accommodation of the ladies, who are desirous of having their places kept, the boxes will be enclosed as usual. -General Advertiser. The songs added to the farcical opera call'd the What D'Ye Call It to be performed tomorrow night at cg, were wrote some years ago by a Gentleman since deceased, whose pieces of the Lyric kind have been often admir'd by people of Taste; there is a pleasing variety in them, and they are thought to be well adapted to the several characters in which they are introduced. The Music, which is entirely new, and compos'd by Mr Lampe, is allow'd by all who have heard it, to be an agreeable mixture of humour, spirit, and harmony. -Daily Advertiser. General Advertiser, 4 April: Yesterday was a rehearsal of The What D'Ye Call It

Event Comment: Benefit for Austin and Moody. Garrick had obtained a surreptitious copy of Macklin's farce, but Macklin might possibly allow it to be performed for a benefit (Genest, IV, 612). Sir Archy Mac-Sarcasm by Mr Austin after the manner of the Original-went off well-The Author threatens to sue Mr Garrick. Mr Macklin play'd it at cg with the Refusal a few nights ago to less than charges (Hopkins MS Notes)

Event Comment: Benefit for Bensley. The Tragedy Altered by Dr Hawkesworth. Part of Pit will be Laid into the Boxes. [Winston MS 10, from O. Smith from the Town & Country Magazine, suggests Oroonoko--Fleetwood, son of the late manager, and brother to the gentleman who appeared about Nine years ago at dl.] Charges #66 19s. Balance to Bensley #51 15s. 6d. plus #113 15s. from tickets (Box 416; Pit 59; Gallery 9). Paid Younger for writing parts #6 3s. 4d. Receipts: #118 4s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: This day is publish'd Judas Macchabaeus: a Sacred Drama as it is performed at Covent Garden. Set by Mr Handel. Printed for J. Watts. This day Publish'd The Oracle, a Comedy of one act as it is perform'd at Covent Garden, at 1s. By Mrs Cibber printed for R. Dosdley in Pall Mall, &c