December 1691
Event Information
Theatre:
Drury Lane Theatre
Theatrical Season:
1690-1691
Volume:
1
Comments:
The United Company. The date of the premiere is not known, but the Gentleman's Journal, January 1691@2, suggests that it was first given in December 1691, although the tendency of this journal to be dated one month and appear in the next month makes the interpretation of its information difficult: We have had a new Comedy this last Month, call'd The Wives Execuse; or Cuckolds make themselves: It was written by Mr Southern, who made that call'd Sir Anthony Love, which you and all the Town lik'd so well. I will send you The Wives Excuse, as soon as it comes out in Print, which will be very speedily: And tho' the Town hath not been so kind to this last, as to the former, I do not doubt but you will own that it will bear a Reading; which some that meet with a better Fate too often do not; some that must be granted to be good Judges commend the Purity of its Language (pp. 51-52). Henry Purcell composed the music for this work. One song, Corinna I excuse thy face, the words (according to the Edition of 1692) by Tho. Cheek, the music by Henry Purcell, but without the singer's name, is in The Banquet of Musick, The Sixth and Last Book, 1692 (licensed 17 Feb. 1691@2). Say, cruel Amoret, sung by Mountfort; Hang this whining way, sung by Mrs Butler; and Ingrateful lover, the words by Major General Sackville, are in Joyful Cuckoldom, ca. 1695. See also Purcell, Works, Purcell Society, XXI (1917), xxvi-xxix
Performance List
Mainpiece
Comments:
Edition of 1692: Prologue-Mr Betterton; Lovemore-Betterton; Wellvile-Kynnaston; Wilding-Williams; Courtall-Bowman; Springame-Mich. Lee; Friendall-Mountford; Ruffle-Bright; Musick Master-Harris; Mrs Friendall-Mrs Barry; Mrs Sightly-Mrs Bracegirdle; Mrs Wittwoud-Mrs Mountford; Mrs Teazall-Mrs Cory; Betty-Mrs Richardson; Epilogue-Mrs Barry.
Edition of 1692: Prologue-Mr Betterton; Lovemore-Betterton; Wellvile-Kynnaston; Wilding-Williams; Courtall-Bowman; Springame-Mich. Lee; Friendall-Mountford; Ruffle-Bright; Musick Master-Harris; Mrs Friendall-Mrs Barry; Mrs Sightly-Mrs Bracegirdle; Mrs Wittwoud-Mrs Mountford; Mrs Teazall-Mrs Cory; Betty-Mrs Richardson; Epilogue-Mrs Barry.
Cast:
- Role: Prologue Actor: Mr Betterton
- Role: Lovemore Actor: Betterton
- Role: Wellvile Actor: Kynnaston
- Role: Wilding Actor: Williams
- Role: Courtall Actor: Bowman
- Role: Springame Actor: Mich. Lee
- Role: Friendall Actor: Mountford
- Role: Ruffle Actor: Bright
- Role: Musick Master Actor: Harris
- Role: Mrs Friendall Actor: Mrs Barry
- Role: Mrs Sightly Actor: Mrs Bracegirdle
- Role: Mrs Wittwoud Actor: Mrs Mountford
- Role: Mrs Teazall Actor: Mrs Cory
- Role: Betty Actor: Mrs Richardson
- Role: Epilogue Actor: Mrs Barry.