Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the premiere is not knwon, but the Dedication is dated February 1699@1700, the play was entered in the Term Catalogues in February 1699@1700, and advertised in the Flying Post, 16 March 1699@1700. The latest likely date for the first production is January 1700, but the play may have appeared in late December as a rival to lif's production of I Henry IV early in January 1700. Cibber, Apology, I, 275: But the Master of the Revels, who then licens'd all Plays for the Stage, assisted this Reformation [of the morality of the stage] with a more zealous Severity than ever. He would strike out whole Scenes of a vicious or immoral Character, tho' it were visibly shewn to be reform'd or punish'd; a severe Instance of this kind falling upon my self may be an Excuse for my relating it: When Richard the Third (as I alter'd it from Shakespear) came from his Hands to the Stage, he expung'd the whole first Act without sparing a Line of it. This extraordinary Stroke of a Sic volo occasion'd my applying to him for the small Indulgence of a Speech or two, that the other four Acts might limp on with a little less Absurdity! no! he had no leisure to consider what might be separately inoffensive. [Cibber continues with an explanation of the censor's argument for cutting the act.] Preface to Cibber's Ximena, 1719: Richard the Third, which I alter'd from Shakespear, did not raise me Five Pounds on Third Day

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of the first production is not known, but the Prologue refers to "this Winter," suggesting a date before March 1700. A song, Ah Belinda I am pressed, in this play, appeared in Orpheus Britannica, 1698, the music by Henry Purcell, who had died some years before its appearance in this collection. A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702), pp. 26-27, referring to the rivalry between lif and dl in reviving Shakespeare and Jonson: The Battel continued a long time doubtful, and Victory hovering over both Camps, Batterton Sollicts for some Auxiliaries from the same Author, and then he flanks his Enemy with Measure for Measure

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by Shakespear. [See London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 10 Feb., for a Prologue Occasioned by the Encouragement several Ladies of Quality have lately given to the Revival of Shakespear's Plays at Covent Garden Theatre.

Event Comment: Towards the Raising a Fund for the Erecting a Monument to the Memory of Shakespear. Written by Shakespear. London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 11 April: On which Occasion 'twas expected there would have been a greater Audience than there appear'd to be. But the Lord Burlington was pleased, out of his Regard to the Memory of so great a Man, to give Ten Guineas for himself. [The Prologue, written by Theobald and spoken by Ryan, is in London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 12 April.

Event Comment: By Desire. Mainpiece: Written by Shakespear

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by Shakespear. Never acted there before. Receipts: #90. Daily Advertiser, 23 Jan.: Last Night Shakespear's Play of All's Well was acted for the first time at Drury Lane, to a numerous Audience, with universal applause; but Mrs Woffington being indisposed, it is deferr'd

Event Comment: Benefit Delane. Mainpiece: As written by Shakespear. Tickets deliver'd for Monday the 9th will be taken. Tickets to be had of Delane at his lodgings at the Unicorn in New Exchange Row in the Strand. Places of Hobson at the stage door. There is now in rehearsal at the Theatre Royal [dl] and speedily will be acted, a new Petit Piece in imitation of that species of writing on the French Theatre call'd The Suspicious Husband Criticiz'd; or the Plague of Envy (General Advertiser). [A Folger edition of 1750 entitled Chorus for Shakespear's Tragedy of King John lists songs by Sullivan, Mrs Lampe, Mrs Storer, and Mrs Mozeen; the play had no other performance at a London theatre in the interim between 1747 and 1750.

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. On Thursday 10 Dec. 1663, Pepys reported that this play was to be acted the following week, but the date of the first performance is uncertain. But--except for the holidays--it was probably acted on consecutive days until 1 Jan. 1663@4, when Pepys saw it. The play is also in Herbert, Dramatic Records, p. 138, as a "Revived Play." Pepys, Diary: I perceive the King and Duke and the Court was going to the Duke's playhouse to see Henry VIII. acted, which is said to be an admirable play. But, Lord! to see now near I was to have broken my oathe, or run the hazard of 20s. losse, so much my nature was hot to have gone thither; but I did not go. Downes (p.24): King Henry the 8th, This Play, by Order of Sir William Davenant, was all new Cloath'd in proper Habits: The King's was new, all the Lords, the Cardinals, the Bishops, the Doctors, Proctors, Lawyers, Tip-staves, new Scenes: The part of the King was so right and justly done by Mr Betterton, he being Instructed in it by Sir William, who had it from Old Mr Lowen, that had his Instructions from Mr Shakespear himself, that I dare and will aver, none can, or will come near him in this Age, in the performance of that part: Mr Harris's performance of Cardinal Wolsey, was little Inferior to that, he doing it with such just State, Port, and Mein, that I dare affirm, none hitherto has Equall'd him:...Every part by the great Care of Sir William, being exactly perform'd; it being all new Scenes; it continu'd Acting 15 Days together with general Applause

Event Comment: Benefit William Wilks, Office Keeper. As it was alter'd from Shakespear by Sir William D'Avenant and Mr Dryden

Event Comment: Mainpiece: by Shakespear. Receipts: #90 7s. (Account Book); #90 (Rylands MS.). [For a discussion of this performacne, see a letter by William Shenstone, 21 Jan., in Letters of William Shenstone, p. 16.

Event Comment: By particular Desire. Written by Shakespear. [In a letter dated 6 Feb., Shenstone discusses recent plays he has seen. See Letters of William Shenstone, pp. 17-18.

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. If the run of The Wits occurred as it is outlined above, this would presumably be the first day of Hamlet. Pepys, Diary: To the Opera, and there saw Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, done with scenes very well, but above all, Betterton did the prince's part beyond imagination. Downes (p. 21): The Tragedy of Hamlet: Hamlet being Perform'd by Mr Betterton, Sir William (having seen Mr Taylor of the Black-Fryars Company Act it, who being Instructed by the Author Mr Shakespear) taught Mr Betterton in every Particle of it; which by his exact Performance of it, gain'd him Esteem and Reputation, Superlative to all other Plays...No succeeding Tragedy for several Years got more Reputation, or Money to the Company than this

Event Comment: Benefit Shepherd, Williams, and Oates. Written by Shakespear

Event Comment: As it was alter'd (from Shakespear) by the late Sir William Davenant and Mr Dryden

Event Comment: Benefit Corey and Williams. Written by Shakespear

Event Comment: As it was alter'd from Shakespear by Sir William D'avenant and Mr Dryden. With all Decorations and Dances proper to the Play. Being the last Time of Acting this Summer

Event Comment: As it was altered from Shakespear by Sir William D'Avenant and Mr Dryden. With all the Songs, Dances, and other Decorations proper to the Play

Event Comment: As it was alter'd from Shakespear by Sir William D'Avenant and Mr Dryden. With all the Songs, Dances, and other Decorations proper to the Play. At Common Prices

Event Comment: As it was alter'd from Shakespear, by Sir William D'Avenant and Mr Dryden. With all the Songs, Dances, and other Decorations proper to the Play

Event Comment: Mainpiece: As it was alter'd from Shakespear by Sir William D'Avenant and Mr Dryden. With all the Songs, Dances, and other Decorations proper to the Play. At Common Prices

Event Comment: At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. Written by Shakespear

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Thurmond. Written by Shakespear

Event Comment: Benefit Cory and William Mills. At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. Written by Shakespear

Event Comment: As it was alter'd from Shakespear by Sir William D'Avenant and Mr Dryden. With all the Songs, Dances, and other Decorations proper to the Play

Event Comment: At the particular Desire of several Persons of Quality. Written by Shakespear. Mist's 11 Dec.: Mr Shaw, a famous Dancer in Drury-Lane Play-House, and Son-in-Law to Mr Wilks, died last Wednesday