Event Comment: The King's Company. Evelyn, Diary: Whence to see the Duke of Buckingam's ridiculous farce & Rhapsody called the Recital, bouffoning all Plays yet prophane enough. In a collection of broadsides (Bodleian Wood 417) A Ballad (on Buckingham and his son) has some lines which apparently refer to a performance: @I confess the Dances were very well Writ, @And the Tune and the Time by Haynes as well Hit, @And Littlewood's Motion and Dress had much Wit: @But when his Poet John Bayes did appear, @'Tis known to more than half that were there, @The greatest part was his own Character.

Event Comment: The King's Company. This performance is on the L. C. list, 5@141, p. 116. See also Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 345. This play was reprinted in 1675, as the third edition: With Amendments and large Additions by the Author

Event Comment: The United Company. This performance is on the L. C. list, 5@147, p. 125: The King & Queene & a Box for ye Maydes of honor. See also Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 351. General Patrick Gordon, 6 May 1686: I saw the Scots Batallion exercized in the Hide Park before the King and Queen, and saw the comedy, Rehearsal, acted (Passages from the Diary of General Patrick Gordon of Auckleuchbies [Aberdeen, 1859], p. 133)

Event Comment: The United Company. Lord Ashburnham's Diary: I went to the Play (the Rehearsal) where there was a great deal of company (Ashburnham MS 932; see 14 Dec. 1686). The play was reprinted in 1687. Cibber, Apology (ed. Lowe, I, 167): People were so fond of seeing her [Mrs Mountfort] a Man, that when the Part of Bays in the Rehearsal had for some time lain dormant, she was desired to take it up, which I have seen her act with all the true coxcombly Spirit and Humour that the Sufficiency of the Character required

Event Comment: The United Company. On 23 April 1689 Luttrell purchased a copy of the Prologue. The broadside copy, with Luttrell's date of acquisition, is in the possession of Mr Louis Silver, Wilmette, Illinois, to whose courtesy I am indebted for permission to use this date. When the Prologue, which is reprinted in Wiley, Rare Prologues and Epilogues, pp. 271-72, appeared in The Fourth and Last Volume of the Works of Mr Tho. Brown (1719), the Prologue has the title: Jo. Haines in Penance; Or, his Recantation-Prologue, at his acting of Poet Bays in the Duke of Buckingham's Play call'd The Rehearsal. Spoken in a white Sheet, with a burning Taper in his Hand, upon his Admittance in to the House after his Return from the Church of Rome. In the Preface to his play, The Fatal Mistake (1691-92), Haines stated: In troth I have Acted Mr Bays so often, and so feelingly, that I could not possibly forbear copying after so fair an Original

Event Comment: The United Company. The date of the first performance is not known. The play was entered in the Stationers' Register, 13 Feb. 1689@90, and advertised in the London Gazette, 20-24 Feb. 1689@90; hence, it was probably first given in January 1690, certainly no later than early February 1690. Preface, Edition of 1690: The time was, upon the uniting of the two Theatres, that the reviveing of the old stock of Plays, so ingrost the study of the House, that the Poets lay dorment; and a New Play cou'd hardly get admittance, amongst the more precious pieces of Antiquity, that then waited to walk the Stage; and since the World runs all upon Extremes, as you had such a Scarcity of new ones then; 'tis justice you shou'd have as great a glut of them now; for this reason, this little Prig makes bold to thrust in with the Crowd

Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but the fact that the play was advertised in the Post Boy, 25-27 Aug. 1696, suggests that it was first acted not later than July 1696 and possibly in June 1696. In the edition of 1696 are two dialogues, set by Clarke, the words by Haynes, and sung by Bowen and Mrs Cross. A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702), p. 18: Cornish Comedy: No matter whose, 'twas Damn'd

Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the first performance is not certain, but the Preface refers to the Long Vacation and a thin house, suggesting a late summer production. As the play was advertised in the Post Boy, 16-18 Nov. 1697, a first performance in October 1697 is probably the latest date for this play, and September seems more likely. Among the songs are several for whom the composer and singer are named: Happy we who free from love, and How calm Eliza are these groves, the music set by Morgan and both sung by Mrs Lindsey. She comes my goddess comes, set by Morgan and sung by Mrs Cibber. Sleep shepherd sleep, the music set by Morgan and sung by Mrs Cross. All four are in A Collection of New Songs, 1697. Preface, Edition of 1698: To serve the wants of a thin Playhouse, and Long Vacation...This hasty Brat...had the Honor of keeping the Stage for five Days Reign. Animadversions on Mr Congreve's late Answer to Mr Collier (1698), pp. 34-35: The mighty Man of Wit [Congreve]...at the Representation of this Play...was seen very gravely with his Hat over his Eyes among his chief Actors, and Actresses, together with the two She Things, call'd Poetesses, which Write for his House, as 'tis nobly call'd; thus seated in State among those and some other of his Ingenious critical Friends, they fell all together upon a full cry of Damnation, but when they found the malicious Hiss would not take, this very generous, obliging Mr Congreve was heard to say, We'll find out a New way for this Spark, take my word there is a way of clapping of a Play down

Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but it cannot be later than December 1698, for the play was advertised in the Post Man, 27-29 Dec. 1698. The play may have been produced earlier in the season, but it apparently followed the two operatic works (The Island Princess and Rinaldo and Armida), as the Epilogue alludes to the "late Singers." It also refers to Sigismondo Fideli, as being lately arrived, and he is known to have given a concert on 22 Dec. 1698

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: Rich's Company. Lady Morley attended this performance: Lady Morley and two in the Box at Constant Couple.12s. See Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Drama, p. 378

Event Comment: Benefit Will. Bullock, the young Jubilee Beau, and [Norris], his Man Dicky