Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but the fact that the Dedication of the play is dated 15 Jan. 1696@7 suggests that it was probably first acted not later than December 1696. The play was advertised in the
Post Man, 21-23 Jan. 1696@7. The music was set by
John Eccles. Dedication, Edition of 1697: I make you a Present of a Play, that miscarri'd on the first Nights Performance; tho' afterwards, without any farther Discouragement, it kept it self alive till the third day was over,
and then I must confess the
City Lady expir'd....This I am confident on, that the like Unfortunate Accidents which attended this Comedy, wou'd have been sufficient to have Dam'd a much better Play. The tedious waiting to have the Curtain drawn, after the
Prologue was spoke, occasion'd by
Mr Underhill's violent Bleeding, put the Audience out of Humour,
and made it susceptible of the least Disgust;
and when once the Torrent of its Displeasure break bounds, nothing cou'd put a stop to his Vehemence. After Mr Underhill was no longer able to come upon the Stage, scarce any thing was done but by Halves,
and in much Confusion; in the midst of which, I think my self oblig'd to applaud the Justice I receiv'd from the Incomparable
Mrs Barry. I very well know that the Ode in the third Act seems to be introduc'd something unseasonably. It was made
and set long since, in hopes of having it perform'd before the
King, at his return from
Flanders;
and the Music being so finely compos'd by
Mr John Eccles, I was loath it shou'd be wholly lost to the Town.
A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702), p. 20: Damn'd