Event Comment: The Duke's Company. The date of the first production is not known, but the fact that Medbourne, who is in the cast, was sent to Newgate Prison on 26 Nov. 1678 establishes November as the latest probable date for the first production. The play was not licensed for printing until 19 Jan. 1678@9. A Compleat List of all the English Dramatic Poets (London, 1747): This Play had no Success on the Stage (p. 168)

Event Comment: Newdigate newsletters, 14 Aug. 1683: The Manager of ye Kings Theatre intend wth in short time to pforme an Opera in like manner of yt of ffrance. Mr Betterton wth other Actrs are gone over to fetch Ye designe [Wilson, Theatre Notes from the Newdigate Newsletters, p. 82). See also a letter from Lord Preston to the Earl of Sunderland, Paris, 25 Aug. 1683 N.S. concerning Betterton's visit to Paris (HMC, 7th Report, Appendix, p. 288)

Event Comment: Lord Preston (in Paris) to the Duke of York, 22 Sept. 1683, N.S.: I should not have presumed to give your Highness the trouble of this if something of charity had not induced me to it. I do it at the instance of a poor servant of his Majesty's who some time since was obliged by a misfortune to leave England. It is Mr Grahme [Grabut?], sir, whom perhaps your Highness may remember. Mr Betterton coming hither some weeks since by his Majesty's command, to endeavour to carry over the Opera, and finding that impracticable, did treat with Monsr Grahme to go over with him to endeavour to represent something at least like an Opera in England for his Majesty's diversion. He hath also assured him of a pension from the House, and finds him very willing and ready to go over. He only desireth his Majesty's protection when he is there, and what encouragement his Majesty shall be pleased to give him if he finds that he deserves it (HMC, 7th Report, Part I, p. 290). W. J. Lawrence (Early French Players in England, p. 149) argued that Grahme should be Grabut, who had once been Master of the King's Music (to 1674) and who had settled in Paris. Grabut was certainly back in London in the spring of 1684

Event Comment: Benefit J. and Ch. Rich. A Farce of Three acts. All in the Characters of the Italian Theatre. Admission 5s., 3s., 2s. [The Prince present. Receipts: #157 12s. 6d.

Event Comment: Written by Mr Phil. Massinger, and revis'd with Alterations. To begin exactly at half an Hour after Six. The Company will continue to Act every Wednesday and Friday during the Summer Season. Receipts: #19 18s

Event Comment: Benefit the Author of the Afterpiece: A new Ballad Opera. [By John Breval.] Receipts: money #60 0s. 6d.; tickets #43 8s

Event Comment: Egmont, Diary, n, 154: I went to the French play, where the farce that followed it . . . was very diverting and well acted

Event Comment: Afterpiece: The Practice of a Dramatick Entertainment of Walking, in Serious and Absurd Characters. [By Henry Fielding.]

Event Comment: The Sixth Day...at the Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Daily Advertiser, 2 Oct.: Last Saturday Night the reviv'd Play of Romeo and Juliet...was acted...to a numerous and polite Audience, with Great Applause. There was an extraordinary fine appearance of Ladies in the Boxes; and every one allow'd Miss Jenny Cibber (who has given Proofs of an uncommon Genius) was greatly inprov'd in the character of Juliet. The Quality and Gentry were all safely guarded to the chairs and Coaches by the Lads of St. James's Market. [Hill was the stage name for Johnson.

Event Comment: Play Never acted there. Characters New Dress'd. toller: [tolerable -?-] (Cross). We hear a new Tragedy called Mahomet and Irene will be acted at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane after Christmas (General Advertiser). Receipts: #160 (Cross); #155 6d. (Powel)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted there before. New Decorations incident to the play (General Advertiser). Advanc'd towards purchasing Mr Smollet's copy of Alceste #100 (Account Book). Handel remov'd to Covent Garden, and entered into some engagements with Rich, the particulars of which are not known, save that in discharge of a debt that he had contracted with him in consequence thereof, he some years after set to music an English opera entitled Alceste, written by Dr Smollet, and for which Rich was at great expense in a set of scenes painted by Servandoni; but it was never performed (Hawkins, General History of Music, V, 324). [For additional information on Alceste, see Deutsch, Handel, pp. 679-81. See also cg 14 Feb. 1749.] Receipts: #155 18s. 6d

Event Comment: At the New Wells, London Spa. To begin at two o'clock and at five o'clock. [This house managed by Matthews, Dancer, and Yeates. See Daily Advertiser 13 March.

Event Comment: Mainpiece "Reviv'd" with proper Decorations. 'Tis hoped no Gentlemen will take it ill they cannot be admitted this night upon the stage, or in the Orchestra on account of the Scenery and Music, that are made use of in the play. [These two notes appear throughout the run of the play, and will not be mentioned further.] The Audience excus'd Mr Garrick speaking the Prologue (Cross). Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Event Comment: The Dirge (from the General Advertiser).@ Ah, hapless Maid doom'd to the gaping Jaws@Of a Cold and Comfortless and Dreary Tomb.@Thy Marriage song is chang'd to mournful Dirge@Thy bridal bed to a black Fun'ral Hearse.@Hark, how with awful Pause the solemn Bell@In Death-like Sounds tolls her untimely Knell.@She was her Parents' sole delight@They had but one and only child.@Since Death has torn her from their Arms@With Grief and Sorrow they are wild.@Their Grief and Sorrow ev'ry Bosom shares@Witness our sighs and Groans and falling Tears.

Event Comment: Benefit for Ross. Mr Ross did Romeo & spoke an Elogium upon Shakespear in ye form of ye Monument in the Abby (Cross). Last time of performing the mainpiece this season. Nothing under full prices. After the play an Elogium wrote by Dryden, concluding with Milton's Epitaph to the Memory of Shakespeare, spoken by Ross representing the Shade of Shakespeare as figured on his monument in Westminster Abbey. Receipts: #200 (Cross)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: At the Particular Desire of several Foreign Ministers. Afterpiece: By Desire. Receipts: #150 (Cross)