Event Comment: Benefit for Holman. 1st piece [1st time; C 5, by Benjamin Hoadly, based partly on L'Ecole des Femmes, by Moliere. Larpent MS 1160; not published. Prologue by John Taylor; Epilogue by Edward Jerningham (European Magazine, May 1797, p. 342)]: Mr Holman having been favored by the Family of Doctor Hoadly, Author of the Suspicious Husband, with a Manuscript Comedy in Five Acts, the production of that celebrated Writer, he most respectfully informs the Public that it will be presented under the Title of The Tatlers. True Briton, 1 May: The Play was given to Holman by Dr Hoadly Ashe, Hoadly's nephew. Ibid, 10 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Holman, No. 14, John-street, Adelphi. Account-Book: Paid Insurance and Duty on #10,000 for one year from 16th Inst. at the Royal Exchange Fire Office #136 17s; ditto on #10,000 for one year from Lady Day at the Phoenix Fire Office #112 10s. Receipts: #290 11s. 6d. (143.16.0; 10.11.6; tickets: 136.4.0)

Event Comment: By Authority of the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for Lacy, formerly of the Theatre Royal, Drury-Lane. Tickets to be had of Fosbrook, at the Box Office of the Drury Lane Theatre, and Rice, at the Box Office of the Theatre-Royal, Haymarket, where Places for the Boxes may be taken. [Address by John Taylor (Monthly Mirror, Dec. 1798, p. 370). On this night the following appeared both at dl and at the hay: Hollingsworth, Caulfield, Bannister Jun., Suett, Miss Pope, Mrs Bland.

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Prince Hoare. Prologue by Richard Cumberland; Epilogue by John Taylor (see text)]. Receipts: #220 16s. 6d. (163.9.0; 56.6.6; 1.1.0)

Event Comment: The King's Company. The date of the first production is uncertain, but John Harold Wilson (Six Restoration Play-Dates, pp. 221-22) assigns it to mid-June primarily because of the Prologue intended to be spoken by Haines and the order, dated 18 June 1677, for the arrest of Haines for speaking an obscene Epilogue (error for Prologue?); in addition, the next play at Drury Lane, The Rival Kings, refers to Haines and "last time," establishing the sequence of performance of these two plays. For the arrest of Haines, see Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 328n. Wits Led by the Nose was licensed for printing on 16 Aug. 1677

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. The date of the first performance is not certain, but it was probably this day. A letter dated 26 Jan. 1681@2 speaks of the preceding day's performance as the "poet's day," presumably the third day; it is likely, therefore, that the premiere fell on Monday, 23 Jan. 1681@2. The Prologue and Epilogue, were printed separately in 1682 and reprinted in Wiley, Rare Prologues and Epilogues, pp. 50-51. Luttrell's copy (Huntington Library) bears his acquisition date of 14 Feb. 1681@2. A note on the Library of Congress copy indicated that Smith spoke the Prologue. A song, Great Augustus like the glorious sun, with music by John Blow, is in A New Collection of Poems and Songs, 1683. Another, Now the Tones all must droop, sung by Bowman, is in the same collection, but without indication of the composer, and a third, Twa bonny lads were Sawney and Jockey, without singer or composer, is in the same collection

Event Comment: Mainpiece: With Alterations [by John Philip Kemble. In his version, as published in 1793, Lewis is assigned to Barrymore, Helena to Mrs Siddons, the Countess to Mrs Ward, Diana to Mrs Powell. Genest lists the present cast; it appears to be reliable. He omits Phillimore, who is assigned in the text, and Miss Tidswell]. A new Edition of All's Well that Ends Well to be had in the Theatre. Afterpiece: With a Sea Fightv. Powell: Drummer rehearsed at 10; Critic at 11:30; Cherokee at 1. Receipts: #282 1s. (178.19; 99.16; 3.6)

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 certainty that this performance is the premiere, but as the play was licensed for printing on 9 Jan. 1676@7, this performance may well be the first one. Downes (Roscius Anglicanus, pp.9-10) lists the same cast except for the ommission of Letice. It is not certain which Mrs Knight played Letice. Possibly it was Frances Maria Knight (see Wilson, All the King's Ladies, where she is tentatively listed for that role), but the presence of Mrs Ursula Knight on an undated L. C. list, 3@24, with the date of her swearing into the company given as 12 March 1676@7, it is quite likely that she played this role. (I owe this reference to Ursula Knight to Professor John Harold Wilson.) John Dennis: And when upon the first representations of the Plain Dealer, the Town, as The Authour has often told me, appeard Doubtful what Judgment to Form of it; the foremention'd gentlemen [The Duke of Buckingham, Earl of Rochester, Earl of Dorset, Earl of Mulgrave, Savil, Buckly, Sir John Denham, Waller] by their loud aprobation of it, gave it both a sudden and a lasting reputation (Defense and Defects of Dramatick Poetry, 1725, in The Works of John Dennis, ed. Hooker, II, 277)

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of the first production is not known, but the play was probably not acted later than September 1695, as it was advertised in the London Gazette, No. 3122, 10-14 Oct. 1695. Preface, Edition of 1696: It was the first I ever made Publick by appearing on the Stage, which (with the Advantage it met with, of admirable Acting) is all the Recommendations I have for exposing it...Ariadne. A song, Restless, in thought disturbed, set by John Eccles and sung by Mrs Hodgson, is in A Collection of Songs, 1696

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but the Prologue refers to The World in the Moon, suggesting a premiere during (or shortly after) the run of that opera. Since The Innocent Mistress was advertised in the Post Boy, 29-31 July 1697, this fact points also to a late June premiere. A song, When I languished and wished, set by John Eccles and sung by Mrs Hodgson, is in Wit and Mirth, Second Edition, 1707. Gildon, English Dramatick Poets, p. iii: This is a diverting Play, and met with good Success, tho' acted in the hot Season of the Year. A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702), p. 20: Tho' the Title calls this Innocent, yet it deserves to be Damn'd for its Obscenity

Event Comment: Not Acted these Fifteen Years. At the Desire of several Ladies of Quality. All the Characters being new dress'd. Benefit John Rich. Receipts: money #79 11s. 6d.; tickets #21 7s

Event Comment: Timon published at 1s. 6d. Tomorrow will be publish'd, Beautifully printed, The Theatres: A poetical Dissection by Sir Nicholas Nipclose, printed for John Bell. [See 17 Dec. and 1 Jan. 1772.] King's share of Bristol Theatre purchas'd by Dodd (Winston MS 10). Paid Mr Weston's Bill to Mr Best #4 5s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #136 13s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Quick. 2nd piece: In one Act. A Tragi-Comic, Pastoral, Operatical, Farcical Drama, written by the Author of The Beggar's Opera [John Gay]. True Briton, 3 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Quick, No. 30, Little Queen-street, Lincoln's Inn-Fields. Receipts: #352 0s. 6d. (140.15.6; 5.9.0; tickets: 205.16.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Thomas Morton; with incidental music by John Moorehead. Prologue by William Thomas Fitzgerald; Epilogue by Miles Peter Andrews (see text)]: With New Scenes [by Richards (Universal Magazine, Feb. 1800, p. 157)] and new Dresses. Morning Chronicle, 8 July 1800: This day is published Speed the Plough (2s.). Receipts: #256 7s. (253.4.6; 3.2.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Lewis. 3rd piece [1st time; M. INT 1, by Thomas John Dibdin. Larpent MS 1288; not published]: Founded on a late Glorious Naval Achievement [the recapture by Capt. Edward Hamilton, on 25 Oct. 1799, of the British frigate Hermione, from the Spaniards]. The Music selected and composed by Attwood. Morning Chronicle, 1 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Lewis, No. 52, Great Queen-street, Lincoln's Inn Fields. Receipts: #361 17s. (263.2.0; 33.5.6; tickets: 65.9.6)