Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Benefit for King. Part of pit will be laid into Boxes. The Entertainment By Desire and for the only night this season. Receipts: #254 6s. 6d. Charges: #65 12s. Profit to King: #188 14s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. This performance is on the L. C. list, 5@141, p. 81. See also Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 348. There is no certainty as to whether this is the date of the first performance. Downes (Roscius Anglicanus, p. 35): Then the Conquest of China by the Tartars, by Mr Settle; in this Play Mr Jevon Acting a Chinese Prince and Commander in it, and being in the Battle, Vanquisht by the Tartars; he was by his Part to fall upon the point of his Sword and Kill himself, rather than be a Prisoner by the Tartars: Mr Jevon instead of falling on the point of his Sword, laid it in the Scabbard at length upon the Ground and fell upon't, saying, now I am Dead; which put the Author into such a Fret, it made him speak Treble instead of Double Jevons answer was; did not you bid me fall upon my Sword

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. The date of the premiere is uncertain. This play is on the L. C. list, 5@142, p. 81: King and Queene at Alcibiades and a box for the Mayds of Honor. See also Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 348. The item on the L. C. list is ambiguously dated; it follows an entry for 28 Sept. 1675 and bears only the figure "22." It is possible that the play was given on 22 Sept. 1675, but the order of the L. C. listing, the sequence of known performance on 24, 25, and 28 Sept., and the fact that most of the cast are principals in the company suggest a late September or early October production rather than an early September one

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. Nell Gwyn attended this performance. See VanLennep, Nell Gwyn's Playgoing, p. 408. It is not known when the premiere occurred, but this is the earliest known performance. The Prologue, missing in the 1677 edition, is in the 1693 edition. A song, Make haste, my shepherd, come away, with music by Francis Forcer, is in Choice Ayres and Songs, Second Book, 1679

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. The date of the first production is not known, but the licensing date of 26 Dec. 1676 establishes the premiere as occurring in December 1676 or earlier. One song, Why does the foolish world mistake, with music by William? Turner, is in Choice Ayres and Songs, The Second Book, 1679

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. The date of the first production is not known, but the licensing of the play on 13 Aug. 1677 suggests a production not later than July 1677. Dedication to edition of 1678: But having...suffer'd so much through the defects of setting off, when it came on the Stage, it dares not now reject any Accomdation the Press cane give it. For (with the Theatres good leave to speak Truth,) it cannot receive greater Disadvantage in the Reading, than it met in the Presenting, The chief Parts Acted by Women; and, for their Ease, and somewhat of decorum, as was pretended, whole scenes left out, and scarcely any one Speech unmangled and entire. As for Adornments, in Habit, Musick, and Scene-Work it was Vacation-time, and the Company would not venture the Charge

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. This performance is on the L. C. list, 5@143, p. 162; on a similar list (L. C. 5@145, p. 120) the date is given as 25 May, but the second list may have been compiled from the first one and subject to error. See also Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 349. There is no indication that this is the first production, but the Epilogue refers to the shortly expected "long Vacation," a suggestion that the premiere came in May. The play was not licensed until 29 Aug. 1678

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. The date of the first performance is not known. Luttrell, however, dated the copy he purchased 6 July 1680 (VanLennep, Two Restoration Comedies, pp. 57-58) and attributed it to Mrs Aphra Behn. If copies were available in early July, the play was most probably performed in June 1680. Langbaine (English Dramatick Poets, p. 547) had heard that Mrs Behn was the author, but A Comparison between the Two Stages (p. 11) attributed it to Thomas Betterton. For a discussion of the authorship, see also Ten English Farces, ed. Leo Hughes and A. H. Scouten (Austin, Texas, 1948), pp. 203-4

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but Luttrell purchased his copies of the separately printed Prologue and Epilogue on 15 May 1682 (Huntington Library); hence, the premiere occurred before that date. The Prologue also refers to the feast which the Whigs attempted to hold at Haberdashers' Hall on 21 April 1682 but were restrained, pointing toward late April as a probable date for the first performance. The separately printed Prologue and Epilogue are reprinted in Wiley, Rare Prologues and Epilogues, pp. 77-79. A song, In Phyllis all vile jests are met, with music by Giovanni Draghi, is in Choice Ayres and Songs, The Fourth Book, 1683. Langbaine (English Dramatic Poets, 1691, p. 19): This Play had the luck to be well receiv'd in the Town

Event Comment: The date of the first performance of this play is not known. The play was licensed for publication on 27 Jan. 1689-90 and advertised in the London Gazette, 10 Feb. 1689@90; hence, it was probably given not later than early January, possibly first given in December 1689

Event Comment: The United Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but the fact that the separately printed Prologue and Epilogue bear a licensing date of 17 March 1689@90 suggests a first performance near that date, as on many Previous occasions the separately-printed prologues and epilogues appeared almost simultaneously with the first performance. The Prologue and Epilogue are reprinted in Wiley, Rare Prologues and Epilogues, pp. 287-89. A song, I once had virtue, wealth, and fame, the music by R. King, is in The Banquet of Musick, The Fifth Book, 1691

Event Comment: The United Company. Tne date of the first performance is not known, but the Gentleman's Journal, March 1692 (licensed 9 March 1691@2), refers to its having already been produced. See also a letter concerning it dated 19 Jan. 1691@2. Probably the play was given in early February 1692. A song, How long must women wish in vain, the music by Robert King, is in Comes Amoris, The Fourth Book, 1693. Gentleman's Journal, March 1692: We have had lately a new Play, called, The Innocent Impostors. It hath been acted four times. Mr Shadwell Poet-Laureat, usher'd it into the Stage. It is said that the Author of it is not one of the Laity; therefore since he desires not to be known, I shall not presume to let you know his Name, tho the Play being Historical, and altogether of the Tragick kind, and withal treated with all the decency imaginable, can never be inglorious to its ingenious Author

Event Comment: The United Company. The date of the first performance is not certain, but the play was acted soon after Shadwell's death in November 1692. Gentleman's Journal, November 1692: We have lately lost Thomas Shadwell Esquire....The Comedy which, as I told you, he design'd for the Stage, was acted since his decease: 'Tis call'd the Volunteers; and though that Orphan wanted its Parent to support it, yet it came off with reasonable success. [When this play was revived at Drury Lane 27 July 1711, the bill bore the heading: Not acted these Twenty Years.

Event Comment: The United Company. The date of the first performance is not precisely known, but the Gentleman's Journal, April 1693 (issued in May) states that it followed D'Urfey's comedy: And since that [The Richmond Heiress] another by Mr George Powell, call'd, a very good Wife, which hath already been acted five times (p. 130). It is likely that Powell's comedy first appeared late in April or very early in May. Dedication, Edition of 1693: The unexpected Success of this Play. A Comparison between the Two Stages (p. 16): Ramble: The next? Sullen: A very good Wife. Ramble: That's almost a Solaecism: whose is't? Sullen: Oh an excellent Author's! one George Powell's, the Player. Ramble. What was it's Fate? Sullen: Damn'd, damn'd, as it deserv'd

Event Comment: The United Company. The date of the premiere is not certain, but the fact that a song in the play, composed by Henry Purcell and sung by Mrs Hudson, is in the Gentleman's Journal, January@February 1693@4 (advertised in the London Gazette, No 2955, 5-8 Marcn 1693@4) suggests that the play had its premiere in February. The play was advertised in the London Gazette, No 2959, 19-22 March 1693@4. The music for additional songs was composed by Henry Purcell: The danger is over, sung by Mrs Hudson, is in Joyful Cuckoldom, ca. 1695; I sighed and owned my love, sung by Mrs Ayliff, is in Thesaurus Musicus, Book III, 1695. See also Purcell's Works, Purcell Society, XX (1916), i-iii. Two songs were composed by John Eccles: Still, I'm grieving, sung by Mrs Bracegirdle; and Give then royal maid your sorrows o're, sung by Mrs Cibber, are in Thesaurus Musicus, 1695. Gentleman's Journal, March 1694 (advertised in London Gazette, No 2964,5-9 April 1694): Mr Southern's new Play call'd The Fatal Marriage; or, The Innocent Adultery, has been so kindly receiv'd, that you are by this time no stranger to its merit. As the world has done it justice, and it is above my praise, I need not expatiate on that subject. [See also 22 March 1693@4.

Event Comment: Characters in Mainpiece New Dress'd in the Habits of the Times. [Theatrical Intelligence for 4 Nov. (Theatrical Miscellaneous Cuttings, G 60.23, Boston Public Library) notes: Last night the reformation in dress took place at the theatre in the revival of the second part of King Henry IV. The beauty as well as the propriety of the dresses give great satisfaction. The Old English Habits are indeed admirably suited to the style and manners of the plays of that time, in which a peculiarity prevails very remote from modern dialogue and the present fashion. The effect of this observation of the Costume, as the French call it, is very visible in the representation of Every Man in His Humour, and will, we hope, for the future be strictly observed in dressing every character of the plays of that age." The author then comments on Love's succes as Falstaff, and Garrick's effectiveness as the sick king especially in delivering the long speeches.

Event Comment: A New Comedy Written by Mrs Sheridan. This play was well Acted, but the subject seem'd to displease. The three first Acts pass'd off tolerably; in 4 Act they begun to hiss, & continued it to the End of the play. When Mr Havard went forward & Address'd the Audience &c. as follows Ladies & Gentn as Some passages in the play had given offence, they should be omitted the Next Night. Much hissing, & many Cry'd out No more! no more &c. (Hopkins). Much Hiss'd (Cross Diary). A new Comedy (The Dupe) wrote by Mrs Sheridan.--This play was very well acted,--but the subject much displeased.--in 4th act much hissing, and so on to the end. When Mr Havard told the audience as some passages in the play had given offence, they should be omitted the next night, much hissing and many cried out, "No more, No more." (Hopkins Diary-MacMillan). Receipts: #167 18s. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Dress'd in the Habits of the Times. Mr Powell King Henry for 1st time (Hopkins). Mr Powell played King Henry with great feeling, and was very well received in it (Hopkins Diary-MacMillan). Receipts: #142 3s. (MacMillan)