London Stage Event: March 1693 at Drury Lane Theatre

March 1693

Event Information

Theatre: Drury Lane Theatre

Theatrical Season: 1692-1693

Volume: 1

Comments: The United Company. The date of the first performance is not known. The January issue of the Gentleman's Journal, wnich did not appear until some time in February, stated: Mr Congreve...hath written a Comedy, which will be acted in a little time, and is to be call'd, The Old Batchelor (p. 28). The Gentleman's Journal, February 1692@3 (issued in March 1693): The success of Mr Congreve's Old Batchelor has been so extraordinary, that I can tell you nothing new of that Comedy; you have doubtless read it before this, since it has been already printed thrice. And indeed the Wit which is diffus'd through it, makes it lose but few of those Charms in the Perusal, which yield such pleasure in the Representation. Mr Congreve will in some time give us another play; you may judge by this how acceptable it will be (p. 61). In addition, a reference in the Epilogue indicates that it was produced during Lent, ano since the third edition was advertized in the London Gazette, No. 2856, 23-27 March 1693, early March seems the most likely date for the premiere. According to The Female Wits (ca. 1696), The Old Batchelor was acted fourteen days successively. John Barnard of Yale University states that Narcissus Luttrell's copy of The Old Batchelor in the Newberry Library bears the notation: "10d Mar. 16 1692@3." BM Add. Mss. 4221 (341) Memoirs Relating to Mr Congreve Written by Mr Thomas Southern (in Macdonald, Bibliography of Dryden, p. 54n): When he began his Play the Old Batchelor haveing little Acquaintance with the traders in that way, his Cozens recommended him to a friend of theirs, who was very usefull to him in the whole course of his play, he engag'd Mr Dryden in its favour, who upon reading it sayd he never saw such a first play in his life, but the Author not being acquainted with the stage or the town, it woud be pity to have it miscarry for want of a little Assistance: the stuff was rich indeed, it wanted only the fashionable cutt of the town. To help that Mr Dryden, Mr Arthur Manwayring, and Mr Southern red it with great care, and Mr Dryden putt it in the order it was playd, Mr Southerne obtained of Mr Thos. Davenant who then governd the Playhouse, that Mr Congreve should have the privilege of the Playhouse half a year before his play was playd, wh. I never knew allowd any one before. The music for the play was composed by Henry Purcell. See Purcell's Works, Purcell Society, XXI (1917), iii-v

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Source: London Stage Information Bank

*p3@dl The Old Batchelor. [Edition of 1693:% Prologue intended for the Old Batchelor [sent to the Author, by an unknown Hand%-; Prologue-Mrs Bracegirdle; Epilogue-Mrs Barry; Heartwell-Betterton; Bellmour-Powel; Vainlove-Williams; Sharper-Alexander [$Verbruggen=]; Sir Joseph-Bowen; Bluff-Hains; Fondlewife-Dogget; Servant-Underhill; Araminta-Mrs Bracegirdle; Belinda-Mrs Mountfort; Laetitia-Mrs Barry; Sylvia-Mrs Bowman; Lucy-Mrs Leigh. *c3@dl The United Company. The date of the first performance is not known. The January issue of the Gentleman's Journal, wnich did not appear until some time in February, stated: $Mr Congreve=...hath written a Comedy, which will be acted in a little time, and is to be call'd, The Old Batchelor (p. 28). The Gentleman's Journal, February 1692@3 (issued in March 1693): The success of Mr Congreve's Old Batchelor has been so extraordinary, that I can tell you nothing new of that Comedy; you have doubtless read it before this, since it has been already printed thrice. And indeed the Wit which is diffus'd through it, makes it lose but few of those Charms in the Perusal, which yield such pleasure in the Representation. Mr Congreve will in some time give us another play; you may judge by this how acceptable it will be (p. 61). In addition, a reference in the Epilogue indicates that it was produced during Lent, ano since the third edition was advertized in the London Gazette, No. 2856, 23-27 March 1693, early March seems the most likely date for the premiere. According to The Female Wits (ca. 1696), The Old Batchelor was acted fourteen days successively. $John Barnard= of Yale University states that $Narcissus Luttrell='s copy of The Old Batchelor in the Newberry Library bears the notation: "10d Mar. 16 1692@3." BM Add. Mss. 4221 (341) Memoirs Relating to Mr Congreve Written by Mr Thomas Southern (in $Macdonald=, Bibliography of Dryden, p. 54n): When he began his Play the Old Batchelor haveing little Acquaintance with the traders in that way, his Cozens recommended him to a friend of theirs, who was very usefull to him in the whole course of his play, he engag'd $Mr Dryden= in its favour, who upon reading it sayd he never saw such a first play in his life, but the Author not being acquainted with the stage or the town, it woud be pity to have it miscarry for want of a little Assistance: the stuff was rich indeed, it wanted only the fashionable cutt of the town. To help that Mr Dryden, $Mr Arthur Manwayring=, and $Mr Southern= red it with great care, and Mr Dryden putt it in the order it was playd, Mr Southerne obtained of $Mr Thos. Davenant= who then governd the Playhouse, that Mr Congreve should have the privilege of the Playhouse half a year before his play was playd, wh. I never knew allowd any one before. The music for the play was composed by $Henry Purcell=. See Purcell's Works, Purcell Society, XXI (1917), iii-v.
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*p1693 03 00 dl The Old Batchelor. Edition of 1693: Prologue intended for the Old Batchelor [sent to the Author, by an unknown Hand-; Prologue-Mrs Bracegirdle; Epilogue-Mrs Barry; Heartwell-Betterton; Bellmour-Powel; Vainlove-Williams; Sharper-Alexander [$Verbruggen=]; Sir Joseph-Bowen; Bluff-Hains; Fondlewife-Dogget; Servant-Underhill; Araminta-Mrs Bracegirdle; Belinda-Mrs Mountfort; Laetitia-Mrs Barry; Sylvia-Mrs Bowman; Lucy-Mrs Leigh.*c1693 03 00 dl The United Company. The date of the first performance is not known. The January issue of the Gentleman's Journal, wnich did not appear until some time in February, stated: $Mr Congreve=...hath written a Comedy, which will be acted in a little time, and is to be call'd, The Old Batchelor (p. 28). The Gentleman's Journal, February 1692@3 (issued in March 1693): The success of Mr Congreve's Old Batchelor has been so extraordinary, that I can tell you nothing new of that Comedy; you have doubtless read it before this, since it has been already printed thrice. And indeed the Wit which is diffus'd through it, makes it lose but few of those Charms in the Perusal, which yield such pleasure in the Representation. Mr Congreve will in some time give us another play; you may judge by this how acceptable it will be (p. 61). In addition, a reference in the Epilogue indicates that it was produced during Lent, ano since the third edition was advertized in the London Gazette, No. 2856, 23-27 March 1693, early March seems the most likely date for the premiere. According to The Female Wits (ca. 1696), The Old Batchelor was acted fourteen days successively. $John Barnard= of Yale University states that $Narcissus Luttrell='s copy of The Old Batchelor in the Newberry Library bears the notation: "10d Mar. 16 1692@3." BM Add. Mss. 4221 (341) Memoirs Relating to Mr Congreve Written by Mr Thomas Southern (in $Macdonald=, Bibliography of Dryden, p. 54n): When he began his Play the Old Batchelor haveing little Acquaintance with the traders in that way, his Cozens recommended him to a friend of theirs, who was very usefull to him in the whole course of his play, he engag'd $Mr Dryden= in its favour, who upon reading it sayd he never saw such a first play in his life, but the Author not being acquainted with the stage or the town, it woud be pity to have it miscarry for want of a little Assistance: the stuff was rich indeed, it wanted only the fashionable cutt of the town. To help that Mr Dryden, $Mr Arthur Manwayring=, and $Mr Southern= red it with great care, and Mr Dryden putt it in the order it was playd, Mr Southerne obtained of $Mr Thos. Davenant= who then governd the Playhouse, that Mr Congreve should have the privilege of the Playhouse half a year before his play was playd, wh. I never knew allowd any one before. The music for the play was composed by $Henry Purcell=. See Purcell's Works, Purcell Society, XXI (1917), iii-v.
Parsed Data

Event: 1878 | 16930300 | dl | The United Company. The date of the first performance is not known. The January issue of the Gentleman's Journal, wnich did not appear until some time in February, stated: $Mr Congreve=...hath written a Comedy, which will be acted in a little time, and is to be call'd, The Old Batchelor (p. 28). The Gentleman's Journal, February 1692@3 (issued in March 1693): The success of Mr Congreve's Old Batchelor has been so extraordinary, that I can tell you nothing new of that Comedy; you have doubtless read it before this, since it has been already printed thrice. And indeed the Wit which is diffus'd through it, makes it lose but few of those Charms in the Perusal, which yield such pleasure in the Representation. Mr Congreve will in some time give us another play; you may judge by this how acceptable it will be (p. 61). In addition, a reference in the Epilogue indicates that it was produced during Lent, ano since the third edition was advertized in the London Gazette, No. 2856, 23-27 March 1693, early March seems the most likely date for the premiere. According to The Female Wits (ca. 1696), The Old Batchelor was acted fourteen days successively. $John Barnard= of Yale University states that $Narcissus Luttrell='s copy of The Old Batchelor in the Newberry Library bears the notation: "10d Mar. 16 1692@3." BM Add. Mss. 4221 (341) Memoirs Relating to Mr Congreve Written by Mr Thomas Southern (in $Macdonald=, Bibliography of Dryden, p. 54n): When he began his Play the Old Batchelor haveing little Acquaintance with the traders in that way, his Cozens recommended him to a friend of theirs, who was very usefull to him in the whole course of his play, he engag'd $Mr Dryden= in its favour, who upon reading it sayd he never saw such a first play in his life, but the Author not being acquainted with the stage or the town, it woud be pity to have it miscarry for want of a little Assistance: the stuff was rich indeed, it wanted only the fashionable cutt of the town. To help that Mr Dryden, $Mr Arthur Manwayring=, and $Mr Southern= red it with great care, and Mr Dryden putt it in the order it was playd, Mr Southerne obtained of $Mr Thos. Davenant= who then governd the Playhouse, that Mr Congreve should have the privilege of the Playhouse half a year before his play was playd, wh. I never knew allowd any one before. The music for the play was composed by $Henry Purcell=. See Purcell's Works, Purcell Society, XXI (1917), iii-v

Performance: 1883 | 1878 | p | The Old Batchelor | Edition of 1693: Prologue intended for the Old Batchelor [sent to the Author, by an unknown Hand-; Prologue-Mrs Bracegirdle; Epilogue-Mrs Barry; Heartwell-Betterton; Bellmour-Powel; Vainlove-Williams; Sharper-Alexander [$Verbruggen=]; Sir Joseph-Bowen; Bluff-Hains; Fondlewife-Dogget; Servant-Underhill; Araminta-Mrs Bracegirdle; Belinda-Mrs Mountfort; Laetitia-Mrs Barry; Sylvia-Mrs Bowman; Lucy-Mrs Leigh.
Cast:
3216 | 1883 | by an unknown Hand

3217 | 1883 | Prologue | Mrs Bracegirdle

3218 | 1883 | Epilogue | Mrs Barry

3219 | 1883 | Heartwell | Betterton

3220 | 1883 | Bellmour | Powel

3221 | 1883 | Vainlove | Williams

3222 | 1883 | Sharper | Alexander

3223 | 1883 | Sir Joseph | Bowen

3224 | 1883 | Bluff | Hains

3225 | 1883 | Fondlewife | Dogget

3226 | 1883 | Servant | Underhill

3227 | 1883 | Araminta | Mrs Bracegirdle

3228 | 1883 | Belinda | Mrs Mountfort

3229 | 1883 | Laetitia | Mrs Barry

3230 | 1883 | Sylvia | Mrs Bowman

3231 | 1883 | Lucy | Mrs Leigh.

Mainpiece

Title: The Old Batchelor

Comments:
Edition of 1693: Prologue intended for the Old Batchelor [sent to the Author, by an unknown Hand-; Prologue-Mrs Bracegirdle; Epilogue-Mrs Barry; Heartwell-Betterton; Bellmour-Powel; Vainlove-Williams; Sharper-Alexander [Verbruggen]; Sir Joseph-Bowen; Bluff-Hains; Fondlewife-Dogget; Servant-Underhill; Araminta-Mrs Bracegirdle; Belinda-Mrs Mountfort; Laetitia-Mrs Barry; Sylvia-Mrs Bowman; Lucy-Mrs Leigh.

Cast:

Role: by an unknown Hand Actor:
Role: Prologue Actor: Mrs Bracegirdle
Role: Epilogue Actor: Mrs Barry
Role: Heartwell Actor: Betterton
Role: Bellmour Actor: Powel
Role: Vainlove Actor: Williams
Role: Sharper Actor: Alexander
Role: Sir Joseph Actor: Bowen
Role: Bluff Actor: Hains
Role: Fondlewife Actor: Dogget
Role: Servant Actor: Underhill
Role: Araminta Actor: Mrs Bracegirdle
Role: Belinda Actor: Mrs Mountfort
Role: Laetitia Actor: Mrs Barry
Role: Sylvia Actor: Mrs Bowman
Role: Lucy Actor: Mrs Leigh.

March 1693

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