*p1661 08 24 lif Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. $Downes= (<i>Roscius Anglicanus</i>, p. 21): Hamlet-Betterton; Horatio-Harris; King-Lilliston; Ghost-Richards; Polonius-Lovel; Rosencrans-Dixon; Guilderstern-Price; 1st Gravemaker-Underhill; 2d Gravemaker-Dacres; Queen-Mrs Davenport; Ophelia-Mrs Sanderson.*c1661 08 24 lif The <i>Duke's Company</i>. If the run of <i>The Wits</i> occurred as it is outlined above, this would presumably be the first day of <i>Hamlet</i>. <i>Pepys, Diary</i>: To the Opera, and there saw <i>Hamlet, Prince of Denmark</i>, done with scenes very well, but above all, $Betterton= did the prince's part beyond imagination. $Downes= (p. 21): The Tragedy of <i>Hamlet</i>: <i>Hamlet</i>r being Perform'd by Mr Betterton, $Sir William= (having seen $Mr Taylor= of the <i>Black-Fryars Company</i> 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.