Event Comment: According to
the Flying Post, 18-20 Oct. 1698: On Tuesday October 18, 1698,
the Penny Lottery began at
the Theatre
Royal in
Dorset Garden with
the first draw. [On 28 Sept. 1698
James Brydges,
Diary reported that he had gone into
dg to see
the "engine" for
the lottery.]
The Post Boy, 18-20 Oct. 1698:
There is now Acting at
the Theatre
Royal in Dorset Garden a Tragy-Comedy called
The Wheel of Fortune, or The Fools Expectation. And 'tis thought
the Author will have a good Sixth Day. According to
the Post Boy, 20-22 Oct. 1698: On Monday next will be publish'd, a Comical and Satirical
Prologue and
Epilogue, intended to be spoken at
the Acting of
the new Invented Farce, call'd,
the Wheel of Fortune, or
the Fools Expectation. [
The Prologue and Epilogue are reprinted in
Wiley,
Rare Prologues and Epilogues, pp. 305-10.] It seems probable that
the lottery was dignified, for satiric purposes, by being given
the title of a play, with a satirical Prologue and Epilogue.
Post Man, 20-22 Oct. 1698:
The Entertainment performed at
the Theatre
Royal in Dorset Garden, at drawing
the Lottery, called
the Wheel of Fortune; being
the Speeches addrest to
the Spectators, as Prologues and Epilogues. During a Symphony of Musick
the Curtain rises slowly, and discovers two wheels upon
the Stage;
then two Figures, representing
Fortunev and
Astraea the Goddess of Justicev, descend over each Wheel, in two rich Chariots gilt with Gold