Event Comment: Rich's Company.
The date of
the premiere is not known, but
Dryden, writing on 14 Dec. 1699, indicates that this play had had its first performance by that date.
The Dedication is dated 10 Jan. 1699@1700, and
the play was advertised in
the Post Boy, 20-23 Jan. 1699@1700. Preface, Edition of 1700: Ano
ther difficulty this Play labour'd under, was its being acted at a time when
the whole Town was so much, and so justly diverted by
the Trip to the Jubilee. When
the play was revised and reprinted in 1714,
the new edition--
The Victim; or Achilles and Iphigenia in Aulis--indicates that
The Invocation to Diana in
the last act was set by
Gottfreid Finger,
the first verse being sung by
Freeman,
the second verse by
Mrs Erwin, and
the third verse by
W. Pate. Advertisement, Edition of 1714:
The following Tragedy...having been translated into English [from
Racine], with considerable Additions, by
Mr Boyer, and pass'd
the Correction and Approbation of
the late famous Mr Dryden, and several o
ther Persons distinguish'd as well by
their Wit and Learning, as by
their Taste and Discernment, was acted with general Applause, towards
the End of
the Year 1699, and Beginning of 1700.
The Reasons why this Excellent Play stopt, on a sudden, in a full Career, are, in some Measure, accounted for in Mr Boyer's Preface: To which he might have added, That
the Dutchess of Marlborough, who at that Time bore an irresistable Sway, bespoke
the Comedy
then in Vogue [
The Constant Couple], during
the Ruin of
Iphigenia in Aulis; And that this Tragedy receiv'd no small Prejudice, from
the Person that acted
Eriphyle [
Mrs Wilkins], who sunk under
the Weight of so great a Part.
A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702), pp. 24-25:
Sullen:
Then comes
the second
Iphigenia in all her Charms, and like a superious Mistress was resolv'd to eclipse her Rival: No cast was spar'd by
the Masters, nor toil by
the Actors;
the Town was bespoke in its favour, and all
the Friends of this new
Fletcher and
Beaumont were ingaged to clap it. She appear'd, but what pity 'twas (as
the Prefacer says) that a Play which had such a glorious run shou'd in four Days disappear, never to rise again. Oh! says
Mr D@@, mine was acted six Days; and I'll hold you a hundred Pound--just what I got by't--How's that?, says Boyer--I say, Sir, that I'll hold you, or any Man, a hundred Pound, 'twill be acted again ten times this Winter. With that
B@@ fell a laughing, and replies, Sir, says he, I'll stake my
French Dictionary against your
Criticisms on Blackmore, and that I think is odds enough--I say,"I'll hold you that Bet, that you did not get fifty Shillings by't, and that
the House lost a hundred Pound. This had like to ha' made sad work; but all was well, for nei
ther of 'em have been acted since, for
they both sleep in everlasting Tranquillity. [See also pp. 23-25 for o
ther remarks about
the two Iphigenia plays.