Event Comment: The King's Company. This performance is on the L. C. list, 5@141, p.359: See also Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 346. There is no indication as to whether this is the premiere. The music for four songs was composed by Matthew Lock. See A New Collection of Songs and Poems...by Thomas D'Urfey, 1683

Event Comment: Benefit for Sowdon. No building on the stage on account of the Coronation. [With] The Death of the Duke of Buckinghamv; the Tryal and Divorce of Queen Catherinev; The Death of Cardinal Wolseyv; the Christening of Princess Elizabethv; and many other historical passages. Tickets to be had of Sowdon, next door to the Black Lyon, in Little Russel-St., Covent Garden; at Will's Coffee House in Cornhill; at Mr Thomas Sowdon's in Blackman St., Southwark, and at the stage door. Mainpiece: Not acted in 6 years [see 1 Jan. 1746]. Receipts: #230 (Cross)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; P 2, by Richard Brinsley Sheridan; music by Thomas Linley Sen.]: With entire new Scenery, Machinery, Dresses, and Decorations. The Scenery designed by DeLoutherbourg, and executed under his Direction. Nothing under Full Price will be taken. Receipts: #257 19s. (249.16; 8.3)

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. Pepys, Diary: After dinner with my wife to the Duke's Theatre, and saw the second part of Rhodes, done with the new Roxalana; which do it rather better in all respects for person, voice, and judgment, than the first Roxalana [Mrs Davenport]. Home with great content with my wife, not so well pleased with the company at the house to-day, which was full of citizens, there hardly being a gentleman or woman in the house; a couple of pretty ladies by us that made sport in it, being jostled and crowded by prentices

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. Pepys, Diary: To the Duke's House, where we saw The Villane again; and the more I see it, the more I am offended at my first undervaluing the play, it being very good and pleasant, and yet a true and allowable tragedy. The house was full of citizens, and so the less pleasant, but that I was willing to make an end of my gaddings, and to set to my business for all the year again to-morrow. Here we saw the old Roxalana [Mrs Davenport] in the chief box, in a velvet gown, as the fashion is, and very handsome, at which I was glad

Event Comment: Pepys, Diary: I took them [Mrs Pepys and Deb.] to the Nursery, where none of us ever were before; where the house is better and the musique better than we looked for, and the acting not much worse, because I expected as bad as could be: and I was not much mistaken, for it was so. However, I was pleased well to see it once, it being worth a man's seeing to discover the different ability and understanding of people, and the different growth of people's abilities by practise. Their play was a bad one, called Jeronimo is Mad Again, a tragedy. Here was some good company by us, who did make mighty sport at the folly of their acting, which I could not neither refrain from sometimes, though I was sorry for it.... I was pretthly served this day at the playhouse-door, where, giving six shillings into the fellow's hand for us three, the fellow by legerdemain did convey one away, and with so much grace faced me down that I did give him but five, that, though I knew the contrary, yet I was overpowered by his so grave and serious demanding the other shilling, that I could not deny him, but was forced by myself to give it him

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. Pepys, Diary: To the Duke of York's house, and there saw The Impertinents again, and with less pleasure than before, it being but a very contemptible play, though there are many little witty expressions in it; and the pit did generally say that of it. Thence, going out, Mrs Pierce called me from the gallery

Event Comment: The United Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but Luttrell's copy (Huntington Library) of the play bears the date of acquisition 3 June [1690, apparently], and the play was advertised in the London Gazette, No 2566, 12-16 June 1690. See Fredson Bowers, A Bibliographical History of the Fletcher-Betterton Play, The Prophetess, 1690, The Library, 5th Series, XVI (1961), 169-75. It seems likely that the opera was first given early in June 1690. An edition of The Vocal and Instrumental Musick of The Prophetess appeared in 1691. See Works of Henry Purcell, Purcell Society, IX. Downes (Roscius Anglicanus, p. 42): The Prophetess, or Dioclesian an Opera, Wrote by Mr Betterton; being set out with Coastly Scenes, Machines and Cloaths: The Vocal and Instrumental Musick, done by Mr Purcel; and Dances by Mr Priest; it gratify'd the Expectation of Court and City; and got the Author great Reputation. [See also R. E. Moore, Henry Purcell and the Restoration Theater (Cambridge, Mass., 1961), Chapter V; and E. W. White, Early Theatrical Performances of Purcell's Operas, Theatre Notebook, XIII (1958-59), 44.] The Muses' Mercury (January 1707, pp. 4-5): This prologue was forbidden to be spoken the second Night of the Representation of the Prophetess. Mrs Shadwell was the occasion of its being taken notice of by the Ministry in the last Reign: He happen'd to be at the House on the first Night, and taking the beginning of the Prologue to have a double meaning, and that Meaning to reflect on the Revolution, he told a Gentleman, He would immediately Put a stop to it. When that Gentleman ask'd, Why he wou'd do the Author such a Disservice? He said, Because while Mr Dryden was Poet Laureat, he wou'd never let any Play of his be Acted. Mr Shadwell informed the Secretary of State of it, and representing it in its worst Colours, the Prologue was never Spoken afterwards, and is not printed in Mr Dryden's Works, or his Miscellanies. Cibber, Apology (ed. Lowe, II, 13-14): A Prologue (by Dryden) to the Prophetess was forbid by the Lord Dorset after the first War in Ireland. It must be confess'd that this Prologue had some familiar, metaphorical Sneers at the Revolution itself; and as the Poetry of it was good, the Offence of it was less pardonable

Event Comment: The United Company. This play was probably revived in May or June 1693. Two songs for it-one sung by Mrs Ayliff, the composer not named; another, the music by Ackroyde, but no singer named-are in Gentleman's Journal, June 1693 (advertised in London Gazette, 13 July 1693). These songs presumably were a part of a revived version not long preceding their publication

Event Comment: Rich's Company. Post Boy, No. 818, 4-6 July 1700: For the Benefit of Mrs Oldfield. This day at the Theatre Royal in Drury-Lane, will be presented, a Comedy call'd, The Pilgrim. Revis'd with Large Alterations, and a Secular Masque. With the Dialogue between the 2 mad Lovers. Being Acted this time at the desire of several Persons of Quality. And Entertainments of Singing and Dancing between the Acts and in particular, a new Entry Compos'd by the late Mr Eaglesfield, and perform'd by Mr Weaver, Mr Cottin, and Miss Campion. A Scotch Song with the Dancing of the Bonny Highlander; never done but once before on the English Stage

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Campion

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Moore. Mainpiece: That celebrated Comedy...written by the Ingenious Mr Shadwell, late Poet Laureat. Music: At the Desire of several Persons of Quality

Event Comment: A masque of music composed by Henry Purcell. Benefit Mrs Lucas. Mainpiece: Revis'd with large Alterations

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Rogers

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Mayers. At the Desire of several Persons of Quality

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Moore

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

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

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Porter, who is on her Recovery from a severe Feaver. At the Desire of several Ladies of Quality

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Hunt. Receipts: #65 7s. 6d

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Cross. At the particular Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Receipts: money #53 1s. 6d. and tickets #75 7s. The Epilogue was separately printed in 1716