Event Comment: [The Duke's Company. For Harris' role, see Pepys, 11 May 1668. For Angel as Stephano, see An Elegy Upon...Mr Edward Angell, reprinted in A Little Ark, pp. 38-39: @Who shall play Stephano now? your Tempest's gone@To raise new Storms i' th' hearts of every one.@ For Underhill as Trincalo, note his nickname of Prince Trincalo. (For Mary Davis as Ariel and Mrs Long as Hypolito, see J. H. Wilson, All the King's Ladies, pp. 140, 166.) Downes (Roscius Anglicanus, p. 33): The Tempest...Acted in Lincolns-Inn-Fields...alter'd by Sir William Davenant and Mr Dryden before 'twas made into an Opera. Pepys, Diary: At noon resolved with Sir W. Pen to go see The Tempest, an old play of Shakespeare's, acted, I hear, the first day; and so my wife, and girl, and W. Hewer by themselves, and Sir W. Pen and I afterwards by ourselves; and forced to sit in the side balcone over against the musique-room at the Duke's house, close by my Lady Dorset and a great many great ones. The house mighty full; the King and Court there: and the most innocent play that ever I saw; and a curious piece of musique in an echo of half sentences, the echo repeating the former half, while the man goes on the latter, which is mighty pretty. The play [has] no great wit, but yet good, above ordinary plays. Thence home with Sir W. Pen, and there all mightily pleased with the play

Event Comment: The King's company. On 31 Aug. or 1 Sept. 1664 Orrery wrote to Sir Henry Bennett: Ther was noe Play of myne Acted, they are now but Studyinge it; I hope within less then a Fortnight twill be on ye Theater And if you are not surfetted, with what of mine you have already seene [Henry V], I will beg ye honour to wait on you when tis Acted (see The Dramatic Works of Roger Boyle, ed. W. S. Clark@II [Cambridge, Mass., 1937], 1, 102). The play is also on the list of Herbert, Dramatic Records, p. 138. Boswell, Restoration Court Stage, p. 281, lists it among the plays given at court, but Sir Heneage Finch's note (see below) seems to indicate an afternoon performance. Sir Heneage Finch to Sir Edward Dering, 15 Sept. 1664: Yesterday was acted, in the Greatest and noblest presence wch ye Court can make, before ye fullest Theatre, & with the highest applause imaginable, my Lo Orerys new play calld ye Generall formerly acted in Ireland by the name of Altamira, but much altered & improved. From thence the whole Court went to Wallingford house, where the Earl of Arran and the Lady Mary Stuart were that night before Supper marryd in the Gallery (Dramatic Works of Roger Boyle, I, 103, from Stowe MS 744 f. 81)

Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the premiere is not known, but the fact that the play was advertised in the Post Man, 29 Feb.-2 March 1695@6, and the London Gazette, No. 3165, 9-12 March 1695@6, suggests that its first appearance was not later than early February. One song, The town rakes, set by Daniel Purcell and sung by Mr Edward, was separately printed ca. 1696. Epistle Dedicatory, Edition of 1696: The unjust Sentence this Play met with before very partial Judges in the Acting....So that I may reasonable impute its miscarriage to some Faction that was made against it, which indeed was very Evident on the First day, and more on the endeavours employ'd, to render the Profits of the Third, as small as could be...Ch. Gildon

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. The date of the premiere is not known, but a licensing date of 18 Feb. 1677@8 suggests a premiere not later than January 1677@8. It is possible, however, that this play followed Sir Patient Fancy (17 Jan. 1677@8), as the licensing date of Timon follows that for Sir Patient Fancy. Part of the music for Timon was composed by Louis Grabu and was published, without the singers' names, in Choice Ayres and Songs, 1679. Downes (Roscius Anglicanus, p. 37): Timon of Athens, alter'd by Mr Shadwell; 'twas very well Acted, and the Musick in't well Perform'd; it wonderfully pleas'd the Court and City; being an Excellent Moral

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by Sir John VanBrugh. For the Entertainment of the Grand Master, and the brethren of the Honourable and Antient Society of Free and Accepted Masons, for the Benefit of a Brother, who has had great misfortunes. None to be admitted Without printed Tickets (Daily Advertiser). The Brethren are desired to meet the Right Honourable the Grand Master, at Mr Filkes, at the Bedford Arms in the Piazza in Covent Garden, at Four o'clock in the afternoon, in order to accompany him to the play. Stage form'd into an amphitheatre. Servants allowed to keep places

Event Comment: Benefit for Smith

Event Comment: Mon: 29 Sept. Mr Rich open'd wth ye Nonjuror. Mr Smith not coming to town, Mr Palmer, from Drury Lane, play'd Frankly wth great Applause (Cross). Jno. Rich paid to Charlotte Lane for the Theatre for Mr Sparks in Dr Wolfe for a superfine full trim'd black cloth coat and breeches, 14s. Sewing silk & twist 4s. 6d. Buckram stays 2s. 6d. Frilly sleeve lining, pockets, & interlining Cuffs 2s. 6d. Hair Cloth, wadding & Poll Davy 5s. Dimety lining, leather pockets, & silk garters 6s. 6d. 4 doz 2 Coat Death's Head Buttons at 14d.-4s. 11d. 12 breast ditto at 7d.-7s. 7d. 5 yds fine black shaloon at 2s. 2d.-10s. 10d. Making a Camblet Surtout Coat, 7s. 6d. Sewing silk, twist, buckram & stays, 4s. Velvet to line the collar, 1s. 17 Coat, 1 breast black basket buttons, 1s. 8d. (MS list Folger Library, Davies, Life of Garrick, Extra Illustrated, II, 322)

Event Comment: Benefit for furnishing the new Wards in the Middlesex Hospital. Paid Charlotte Lane for altering a cloth coat, and green corded silk waistcoat lac'd with silver for Mr Wm. Smith, 5s. 6d.; shalloos back & bod lining to coat & stiffening, 3s. (MS list in Davies, Life of Garrick II, 332). [The Occasional Prologue, written by Mr Boyce was publish'd in the Public Advertiser 19 Dec. 1755]: @And, Britons, Godlike charity is yours...@'Tis yours to silence Misry's plaintive moan@And make the grief of others all your own...@Give balm to Nature's accidental woes,@And sooth th'impovrish'd matron's pregnant throes...@ [The Epilogue, written by C. Smart, and spoken by Shuter in the character of a Man-midwife, was published in the same paper: Shuter enters with a child]: @Whoe'er begot thee has no cause to blush:@Thou'rt a brave chopping boy (child cries) nay, hush, hush, hush.@.......................@Nay if you once begin to puke and cough@Go to the nurse. Within, here, take him off.@Well Heav'n be prais'd, it is a peopling age,@Thanks to the Bar, the Army, and the Stage...

Event Comment: Mainpiece [by Oliver Goldsmith]: Never Perform'd Before. [Quick, mentioned by Genest, does not appear on the playbill. The Edition of 1768 casts Mrs White as Landlady, and Cushing as Butler. It does not include Morris or Morgan, but adds Post@Boy-Quick; Bailiff-R. Smith; Dubardieu-Holtom. (See 1 Feb.) The Theatrical Monitor, No XI (6 Feb.), reviews the mainpiece in a lukewarm, judicial manner.] Receipts: #227 4s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for T. Smith, Furkins, Roffe [sic], Miss Stede, Mrs Hartle. Tickets deliver'd by Morgan, Stephenson, Claridge, Bagg, Wilkinson, Whatley, Pullin, Miss Brown, Mrs Griffiths, and Mrs Walters will be taken. No charges. House received 1!2 value of Tickets and the Receipts. @Tickets Box Pit Gallery Value 1!2 Value @T. Smith 10 48 75 #17 4s. #8 12s. @Furkins 10 20 24 #7 18s. #3 19s. @Rose 27 48 29 #6 17s. #8 8s. 6d. @Miss Stede 6 13 50 #8 9s. #4 4s. 6d. @Morgan 3 10 35 #5 15s. #2 17s. 6d. @Mrs Hartle 40 69 104 #30 15s. #15 7s. 6d. @Stephenson 21 66 129 #28 1s. #14 6d. @Claridge 15 16 19 #8 1s. #4 6d. @Bagg 3 4 9 #2 5s. #1 2s. 6d. @Wilkinson 30 13 5 #9 19s. #4 19s. 6d. @Whatley -- 4 33 #3 18s. #1 19s. @Pullen 2 41 64 #13 1s. #6 10s. 6d. @Miss Brown 11 37 31 #11 8s. #5 14s. @Mrs Griffiths -- 25 21 #5 17s. #2 18s. 6d. @Mrs Walters 2 19 83 #11 13s. #5 16s. 6d. @Money Value #48 5s. 6d. @Box 180 Pit 433 Gallery 711 Total House Value #229 6s. 6d. 1!2 Value #90 10s. 6d.@ [The house made no charges, but received the half value from each beneficiary as listed above (Account Book). About 1,324 Tickets given out. Capacity of the house must have been about 1,700 at this time. See 14 April.

Event Comment: Benefit for Smith. Mainpiece: Not acted these 10 years. [See 15 May 1765.] Afterpiece: Not acted these 2 years. [See 6 April 1771.] Part of Pit will be laid into the Boxes. Ladies send servants by 4 o'clock. Charges #67 6s. 6d. Profit to Smith #51 9s. 6d. plus #153 2s. from tickets (Box 427; Pit 205; Gallery 106) (Account Book). Receipts: #118 16s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: New Overture and Pieces of Music Between the Acts. Music by Barthelemon. New Scenes, Habits and Decorations. The Scenes designed by DeLoutherberg, and painted by Messrs French, Royer, and Greenwood. Books of the songs and Chorusses to be had at the Theatre. This piece is got up in a most Superb manner. The Scenery is beyond description fine -& the whole Performance tho' the most complicated upon the stage went off with uncommon Applause. Mrs Abington played finely--Mr Slingsby & Sga Hidou danc'd for the first time & were Amazingly well Rec'ed. The Ballets are very Grand (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly in wording.] Rec'd stopages #17 18s.; Paid salary list #567 16s.; J. French on Acct #5 5s. (Treasurer's Book). Mainpiece: Never performed before, by John Burgoyne. [The review in the Westminster Magazine, Nov. 1774, tells the plot, and concludes: "After some superb exhibitions of transparent scenery, several characteristic airs, and elegant dances, Mr Oldworth...proclaims Maria his only daughter and gives her to Sir Harry. After a dance of Cupids, Hymen, &c....offering them eternal wreaths, the Druid of the Oaks, freed by the present powers of Beauty from that sequestered habitation to which by mystic spells he had long been doomed, appears to ratify their union, and astonishes the spectators by his magic influence, in a glorious vision of that felicity the virtues of the happy pair had so justly insured. An admirable vaudeville, and a grand dance, conclude the dramatic entertainment....Had it not appeared obvious that the whole was intended as a mere vehicle for the splendid spectacle, we do not suppose, in spite of the managers Orders and Puffs, that the author's labors would have been tolerated. The very excellent scenery, however, of the ingenious Mr Loutherbourg preserved this piece from that damnation, which as a dramatic production, it justly merited."] Receipts: #263 14s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: The Runaway published. Paid salary list #416 4s. 4d.; Thomson (smith) #4 14s. 6d.; Buzaglio (smith) #11 7s. 6d.; Jennings (glover) #10 4s. 6d.; Racket (taylor) #37 17s. 6d.; Mist (ironmonger) #18 19s.; Carter (scowerer) #12 16s. (Treasurer's Book). House (Hopkins Diary). Receipts: #248 1s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Tickets delivered by Mrs Pitt, Miss Bassan, Miss Green, Mrs Sharpe, R.? Smith, Ledger, Garland and the Performers in the Orchestra will be admitted

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill assigns Charles to Bannister Jun., but he "being suddenly taken ill, Barrymore was under the necessity of reading the part" (Morning Herald, 2 Oct.).] Error Smith, pit office-keeper, #2 11s. Receipts: #219 15s. (169.7; 49.15; 0.13)

Event Comment: The United Company. As 9 Nov. 1692 is known to be the second day, it is assumed that 8 Nov. 1692 represents the first performance. (See entry for 9 Nov. 1692.) The authorship is uncertain; William Mountfort signed tne Dedication, but its authorship is linked with that of Edward III (November 1690), which may have been by Bancroft. Gentleman's Journal, October 1692 (not issued until November): Henry the Second, King of England, A new Play, by the Author of that call'd Edward the Third, which gave such universal satisfaction, hath been acted several times with applause. It is a Tragedy with a mixture of Comedy....Had you seen it acted, you would own that an Evening is pass'd very agreeably, when at a Representation of that pleasing Piece. [Alfred Harbage, Elizabethan-Restoration Palimpsest, Modern Language Review, XXXV (1940), 312-18, argues that this play is the Elizabethan Henry II once in the possession of Moseley. A song, In vain 'gainst Love I strove, composed by Henry Purcell and sung by Mrs Dyer, not in the printed play, is in Comes Amoris, 1693, and Joyful Cuckoldom 1695. See Purcell's Works, Purcell Society, XX (1916), vii

Event Comment: Benefit for Ryder. 1st piece [1st time; F 1, ascribed to Thomas Ryder. Not in Larpent MS; not published]: Taken from Sir Courtly Nice [by John Crowne]. 3rd piece: Never [previously] acted here. [Miss R. Ryder's 1st appearance on the stage was at cg, 16 Apr. 1790.

Event Comment: [In 2nd piece the playbill assigns Orlando to Kemble, but "On account of indisposition, Barrymore last night performed Orlando for Kemble" (Oracle, 4 Oct.).] 3rd piece: To conclude with the Glorious Defeat of the Spanish Armada, and a Grand Procession. "Equal to any actor I ever saw, as far as his line extends, is Mr Parsons; his conception and expression of Sir Fretful Plagiary, in Mr Sheridan's Critic, are as strong and masterly as were Garrick's in Kitely [in Every Man in his Humour]; and his 'laughing without mirth' therein equally admirable" (Jonson, ed. Waldron, 171). Receipts: #251 4s. 6d. (213.6.6; 37.0.0; 0.18.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Johnstone. 3rd piece [1st time; F 2, by Thomas Knight; incidental music by William Reeve]: Partly taken from The Committee [by Sir Robert Howard]. Morning Herald, 21 June 1797: This Day is published [by G. Cawthorn] The Honest Thieves (1s.). True Briton, 25 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Johnstone, No. 19, Piazza, Covent-Garden. Receipts: #434 7s. 6d. (210.4.0; 11.18.0; tickets: 212.5.6)