*p1680 09 00 dg Theodosius; or, The Force of Love. Edition of 1680: Prologue-; Theodosius-Williams; Varanes-Betterton; Marcian-Smith; Lucius-Wiltshire; Atticus-Bowman; Leontine-Leitherfull; Pulcheria-Mrs Betterton; Athenais-Mrs Barry; Epilogue-.*c1680 09 00 dg The <i>Duke's Company</i>. The date of the first production is not known, but the entry of this play in the <i>Term Catalogues</i> for November 1680 suggests a first offering in September or October 1680. The music for the play was composed by $Henry Purcell=, his first (according to $Downes= composing for the stage. Downes (<i>Roscius Anglicanus</i>, p. 38) gives a shortened cast and adds: All the Parts in't being perfectly perform'd, with several Entertainments of Singing; Compos'd by the Famous Master Mr Henry Purcell, (being the first he e'er Compos'd for the Stage) made it a living and Gainful Play to the Company: The $Court=; especially the Ladies, by their daily charming presence, gave it great Encouragement. Dedication, Edition of 1680: The Reputation that this Play received on the Stage, some few Errors excepted, was more than I could well hope from so Censorious an Age....You [the $Duchess of Richmond=] brought $her Royal Highness= just at the exigent Time, whose single Presence on the Poet's day is a Subsistence for him all the Years after. A song, <i>Hail to the myrtle shade</i>, is in <i>Choice Ayres and Songs</i>, The Third Book (dated 2 Nov. 1680).