Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Chambers. At the particular Desire of several Ladies of Distinction

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Thurmond. At the particular Desire of several Persons of Quality. [Tickets at Mrs Thurmond's, next door to Bedford Arms Tavern, CG.]

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Chambers. At the Desire of several Persons of Quality and Distinction

Event Comment: Benefit Woodward and Mrs Haughton. Tickets for Dove and Bowcher also taken

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Pritchard. Part of Pit laid into Boxes

Event Comment: Benefit Vallois and Mrs Vallois. At the particular Desire of several Persons of Distinction. Afterpiece: Compos'd by Mons Roger, the late famous Pierrot of Drury-Lane. Taken from Ovid's Metamorphosis. With a new Scene

Event Comment: Benefit Jovan de Vallois and Mrs Woodward. At the Desire of several Persons of Quality and Distinction. [For a discussion of the stage, see Grub St. Journal, 17 April.]

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Haughton and the Widow of Joseph Giffard, Apothecary. At the particular Desire of several Persons of Distinction. Any Gentleman, or Lady, who design to serve the Widow of Mr Joseph Giffard, Apothecary, who is left with Five Children are desired to take their Tickets at Pidgeon's Coffee-House

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Hamilton. At the Desire of several Ladies of Quality

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, 4-6 June 1696, suggests that it was acted not later than May 1696, possibly that it was given in late April. In III is a song, Unguarded lies the wishing maid, set by John Eccles and sung by Leveridge. In IV is a song, The secrets of peace, set by Finger and sung by Mrs Hudson. A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702), p. 20: This is Mrs Manley's; it made a shift to live a half a dozen Days, and then expir'd

Event Comment: The United Company. The date of the first production is not known, but Part II seems to have followed rather closely upon Part I. The Gentleman's Journal, June 1694 (which apparently appeared in mid-June) states: The first Part of Mr Durfey's Don Quixote was so well received, that we have had a second Part of that Comical History acted lately, which doubtless must be thought as entertaining as the first; since in this hot season it could bring such a numerous audience (p. 170). The Songs were advertised in the London Gazette, 5 July 1694, and Part II advertised in the same periodical 19-23 July 1694. The songs as listed in the separately printed Songs are as follows: Genius of England, the music by Henry Purcell, sung by Freeman and Mrs Cibber. I burn, I burn, the music by John Eccles, sung by Mrs Bracegirdle. Since times are so bad, the music by Henry Purcell, sung by Reading and Mrs Ayliff. Damon, let a friend, the music by Pack, sung by Mrs Hudson. Ye nymphs and sylvan gods, the music by John Eccles sung by Mrs Ayliff. If you will love me, composer and singer not named. In addition, Thesaurus Musicus, 1695, published Lads and lasses, blithe and gay, the music by Henry Purcell, sung by Mrs Hudson. Purcell also wrote the music for other songs for which the singer is not known. Preface, edition of 1694: The good success, which both the Parts of Don Quixote have had, either from their Natural Merit, or the Indulgence of my Friends, or both, ought sufficiently to satisfie me, that I have no reason to value tne little Malice of some weak Heads, that make it their business to be simply Criticizing....I think I have given some additional Diversion in the Continuance of the character of Marcella, which is wholly new in this Part, and my own Invention, the design finishing with more pleasure to the Audience by punishing that coy Creature by an extravagant Passion here, that was so inexorable and cruel in the first Part, and ending with a Song so incomparably well sung, and acted by Mrs Bracegirdle, that the most envious do allow, as well as the most ingenious affirm, that 'tis the best of that kind ever done before....I deserve some acknowledgment for drawing that Character of Mary the Buxom, which was intirely my own,...by making the Character humorous, and the extraordinary well acting of Mrs Verbruggen, it is by the best Judges allowed a Masterpiece of humour

Event Comment: The United Company. The date of the premiere is not certain, but the fact that a song in the play, composed by Henry Purcell and sung by Mrs Hudson, is in the Gentleman's Journal, January@February 1693@4 (advertised in the London Gazette, No 2955, 5-8 Marcn 1693@4) suggests that the play had its premiere in February. The play was advertised in the London Gazette, No 2959, 19-22 March 1693@4. The music for additional songs was composed by Henry Purcell: The danger is over, sung by Mrs Hudson, is in Joyful Cuckoldom, ca. 1695; I sighed and owned my love, sung by Mrs Ayliff, is in Thesaurus Musicus, Book III, 1695. See also Purcell's Works, Purcell Society, XX (1916), i-iii. Two songs were composed by John Eccles: Still, I'm grieving, sung by Mrs Bracegirdle; and Give then royal maid your sorrows o're, sung by Mrs Cibber, are in Thesaurus Musicus, 1695. Gentleman's Journal, March 1694 (advertised in London Gazette, No 2964,5-9 April 1694): Mr Southern's new Play call'd The Fatal Marriage; or, The Innocent Adultery, has been so kindly receiv'd, that you are by this time no stranger to its merit. As the world has done it justice, and it is above my praise, I need not expatiate on that subject. [See also 22 March 1693@4.

Event Comment: The United Company. The date of the first performance is not precisely known, but it seems likely to have been in mid-January. See the discussion under 10 Jan. 1693@4 and Evelyn's remarks on 11 Jan. 1693@4. Part of the music for the play was composed by John Eccles: Young I am and yet unskill'd, sung by a girl, in Gentleman's Journal, January@February 1693@4, and Thesaurus Musicus, 1694: What state of life can be so blest, -Mrs Hudson, in Thesaurus Musicus, 1694. One song was set by Henry Purcell, How happy's the husband, the words by Congreve and sung by Mrs Ayliff, in Thesaurus Musicus, 1694: see also Purcell's Works, Purcell Society, XX (1916), xiii-xiv

Event Comment: The United Company. The date of this production is determined by a letter (see below). For a discussion of the origin and development of this play, see Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, pp. 274-76. A song, Why shou'd the world mistake, the music composed by John Eccles and sung by Mrs Hudson, is in Thesaurus Musicus, 1695. An unidentified letter, 22 March 1693@4: We had another new play yesterday, called The Ambitious Slave, or a Generous Revenge. Elkanah Settle is the author of it, and the success is answerable to his reputation. I never saw a piece so wretched, nor worse contrived. He pretends 'tis a Persian story, but not one body in the whole audience could make any thing of it; 'tis a mere babel, and will sink for ever. The poor poet, seeing the house would not act it for him, and give him the benefit of the third day, made a present of it to the women in tie house, who act it, but without profit or incouragement (Edmond Malone, An Historical Account of the Stage in Plays and Poems of William Shakespeare [London, 1821], III, 163-64). Gentleman's Journal, March 1694: 'Tis not altogether strange for a Play to be less kindly receiv'd, immediately after one that has deservedly ingross'd all the Applause which the Town can well bestow in some time on new Dramatic Entertainments. Perhaps Mr Settle may partly impute to this, the want of success of a new Tragedy of his which was lately acted, 'tis called, The Ambitious Slave; or, The Generous Revenge. [This play followed Southerne's The Fatal Marriage.

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of the first performance is not certain, but the fact that the play was advertised in the London Gazette, 6-11 May 1696, suggests that it was first acted not later than April 1696. A song, Come, Hodge, come, Robin, set by John Eccles and sung by Wiltshire and Mrs Hudson, was printed in Deliciae Musicae, The Second Book of the Second Volume, 1696. Dedication, Edition of 1696: Which I wrote three Years ago....nor the Displeasure of the Judicious, who I hope will not condemn this Play from the appearance it had upon the Stage, where it suffer'd in the Acting....Tho. Dogget. A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702), pp. 16-17: Ramble: Oh that's Dogget's: The Players have all got the itching Leprosie of Scribling as Ben. Johnson calls it; twill in time descend to the Scene-keepers and Candle-snuffers: Come, what came on't? Sullen: Not then directly Damn'd, because he had a part in't himself, but it's now dead and buried

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of the premiere is not known, but the fact that the play was advertised in the Post Man, 7-9 July 1696, suggests that it was first presented not later than June 1696. The cast also has a large number of relatively new players, suggesting a performance in the early summer, when the young actors had more opportunities to act. Several Songs, with the names of the singers, were published separately: Hark you, madam, can't I move you, set by John Eccles, and sung by Bowman and Mrs Bracegirdle; Shou'd I not lead a happy life, set by John Eccles and sung by Reading and M. Lee; From Aberdeen to Edinburgh, set by Ackeroyd and sung by Mrs Hudson; all in Deliciae Musicae, The Second Book of the Second Volume, 1696. Preface, Edition of 1696: I am almost asham'd to mention the extraordinary Success of a Play which I myself must condemn....Let me leave this ungrateful Subject to acknowledge my obligations to Mr John Eccles, who not only set my three Dialogues to most charming Notes, but honour'd the Words to Admiration. Downes, Roscius Anglicanus, p. 44: Love's a Jest, a Comedy, done by Mr Mateox; succeeded well, being well Acted, and got the Company Reputation and Money

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs White, Mrs Carter, Mrs Hanson, Mrs Pack. Tickets for Sir Walter Raleigh taken

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Chambers. Written by the late Sir John Vanbrugh. Receipts: money #29 9s.; tickets #81 1s

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Baker

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Mills and Mrs Cox. Written by Shakespear. This being positively the last time of the Company's Acting this Season

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Barbier. This is the last Benefit Mrs Barbier will have in England. Mainpiece: Written by the late Sir John Vanbrugh. Receipts: money #53 9s. 6d.; tickets #74 17s. 6d

Event Comment: [Mrs Siddons's 1st appearance as Horatia was at York, 10 May 1777. Afterpiece in place of The Wedding Day, advertised on playbill of 14 Nov.] Receipts: #350 11s. (270.10.6; 72.3.0; 7.17.6)

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Moore. [In Daily Courant, 25 Oct., The Funeral had been advertised for this day.

Event Comment: Benefit Shepherd and Mrs Horton

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Hamilton. At the particular Desire of several Ladies of Quality