Event Comment: By Their Royal Highnesses' Command. The Prince and Princess present

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Oldfield. Written by Beaumont and Fletcher. No Persons to be admitted into the Boxes, or behind the Scenes, but by printed tickets at 5s. Two Benches of the Pit to be rail'd in, at the Price of the Boxes. [The King and the Prince and Princess present.

Event Comment: By Command of Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and the Princesses Amelia, Caroline, Mary, and Louisa. Mainpiece: Written by Sir George Etherege

Event Comment: By Command of Their Royal Highness the Duke and the Princesses Amelia, Caroline, Mary, and Louisa

Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the first production is not known, but A Comparison between the Two Stages (1702) (pp. 21-23) implies that this work preceded Rinaldo and Armida (performed at lif probably in November 1698). The Island Princess was not published until 1699 (the Masque being advertised in the Post Boy, 7-9 Feb. 1698@9, and the Opera in the Flying Post, 7-9 March 1698@9). A Comparison between the Two Stages (1702), pp. 21-22: Sullen: The old House have a Bawble offer'd 'em, made out of Fletcher's Island Princess, sometime after alter'd by Mr Tate, and now erected into an Opera by Motteux: The Actors labour at this like so many Galley Slaves at an Oar, they call in the Fiddle, the Voice, the Painter, and the Carpenter to help 'em; and what neither the Poet nor the Player cou'd do, the Mechanick must do for him:...but as I was saying-the Opera now possesses the Stage, and after a hard struggle, at length it prevail'd, and something more than Charges came in every Night: The Quality, who are always Lovers of good Musick, flock hither, and by almost a total revolt from the other House, give this new Life, and set it in some eminency above the New; this was a sad mortification to the old Stagers in Lincolns-Inn-fields. For a poem, The Confederates; or the first Happy Day of the Island Princess, see Poem on Affairs of State, 1703, II, 248-50

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. As the play was not printed until 1689, the date of composition is uncertain. In Act I, however, a reference to the death of the Earl of Rochester (26 July 1680) suggests that the play probably followed that even rather closely. On the other hand, the latest likely date for the first production seems set at late 1682 by the fact that Thomas Farmer's music for the play in BM Add. Mss. 19183-19185 is dated December 1682. The play has been placed in September 1680 as the earliest likely date (the presence of an experienced cast makes somewhat unlikely a production in mid-summer 1680). A song, All other blessings are but toys, with music by Thomas Farmer, is in Choice Ayres and Songs, The Fourth Book, 1683. A song, Lovely Selina, innocent and free, with music by John Blow, is in the same collection; and another, Weep all ye nymphs, with music by John Blow, is in The Theater of Music, The First Book, 1685

Event Comment: Benefit Penkethman, Note, The Subscribers are desir'd not to bring their Tickets this Day, his Friends having promis'd to make this a Jubilee Day to him, and fill the House at the full Price, Mr Penkethman being at a greater Charge than ordinary. For the Entertainment of Madam la Signiora Fount, Signiora, Espagnola, Native d'Barcellone di cale Quallificatta, who will, in a particular Manner, hounour Mr Penkethman...by appearing in her own Country Habit. The Boxes opened to the Pit at 2s. 6d. At five o'clock, by reason of thelength of the Entertainments, and that the Gentry may return to London before 'tis Dark

Event Comment: Rich's Company. Lady Morley attended this performance: Lady Morley and one in the Box att the Island Princess. 10s. See Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, p. 377

Event Comment: Rich's Company. Post Boy, 27-29 April 1699: Her Royal Highness is this day pleased to see the Opera, call'd The Island Princess, Performed at the Theatre Royal by her own Command

Event Comment: Rich's Company. Lady Marow to Arthur Kay, 12 March 1699@1700: I have been at a play. The Island Princess which is mighty fine (HMC, 15th Report, Appendix, Dartmouth MSS., Part I, 1896, p. 145)

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Wilks. By Their Majesties' Command. Not Acted [there] these Twenty Years. [Their Majesties and the Princesses present.]

Event Comment: Egmont, Diary, II, 33: In the evening went to The Island Princess . . . where was shown [in the afterpiece] the tallest man of all that I have seen. He is seven feet ten inches and half in height, a German by birth

Event Comment: A New Opera. [Librettist not known. Music by Handel.] London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 13 May: Last Night was perform'd ... Atalanta ...in which was a new Set of Scenes painted in Honour to this Happy Union, which took up the full length of the Stage: The Fore-part of the Scene represented an Avenue to the Temple of Hymen, adorn'd with Figures of several Heathen Deities. Next was a Triumphal Arch on the Top of which were the Arms of their Royal Highnesses, over which was placed a Princely Coronet. Under the Arch was the Figure of Fame, on a Cloud, sounding the Praises of this Happy Pair. The Names Fredericus and Augusta appear'd above in transparent Characters. Thro' the Arch was seen a Pediment supported by four Columns, on which stood two Cupids embracing, and supporting the Feathers, in a Princely Coronet, the Royal Ensign of the Prince of Wales. At the farther End was a View of Hymen's Temple, and the Wings were adorn'd with the Loves and Graces bearing Hymenael Torches, and putting Fire to Incense in Urns, to be ofter'd up upon this Joyful Union. The Opera concluded with a Grand Chorus, during which several beautiful Illuminations were display'd. . . . There were present their Majesties, the Duke, and the Four Princesses

Event Comment: Benefit Mr Young, Organist of Allhallows Barking. 5s. 7 P.M

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Yates. Miss Young had tickets. Receipts: #150 (Cross); charges #63 (Winston MS 8)

Event Comment: Benefit for Younger and Miss Polly Young. No Building on Stage

Event Comment: Benefit Shepard and Young Rainton. Written by the late Mr Wycherly

Event Comment: Benefit Mr Young, Organist. 7 P.M. 5s

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr Raftor and Miss Young (Cross). [Miss Young is referred to as "The Queen of the Fairies " on the Huntington advance Bill.] Tickets to be had of Miss Young, at Mr Driscol's, Peruke Maker, in Broad Court, Bow Street Covent Garden, and at Stage Door. There will be no building on the Stage. Receipts: #80 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miles, Mrs Baker,Miss Young

Event Comment: Benefit for Bransby and Miss Young. British Chronicle, 16 April 1760: Died the celebrated Charlotte Charke in the Haymarket, daughter of Colley Cibber, Esq, poet laureate-a gentlewoman remarkable for her adventures and misfortunes

Event Comment: Benefit for Champness and Miss Young. No Building on Stage

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Polly Young. Afterpiece: Positively for Last time this season

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Young

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 3 years. Tickets delivered by the young D'Egvilles, Jones, Newbold, Shaw, Dale, Purser Sen., Smith, Aberdein, Mills, Miss Tidswell, Mrs Heard, Miss Dancer, Miss Bradshaw, Mrs Haskey, will be admitted. Receipts: #241 8s. 6d. (23.4.0; 15.3.6; 0.15.0; tickets: 202.6.0)