*p1695 11 00 dl Oroonoko. Edition of 1696: Prologue to Oroonoko [Sent by an Unknown Hand,-Mr Powell; Oroonoko-Verbruggen; Aboan-Powell; Lieutenant Governor-Williams; Blanford-Harland; Stanmore-Horden; Jack Stanmore-Mills; Captain Driver-Ben Johnson; Daniel-Mich. Lee; Hottman-Sympson; Imoinda-Mrs Rogers; Widow Lackit-Mrs Knight; Charlot Welldon-Mrs Verbruggen; Lucy Welldon-Mrs Lucas; Epilogue to Oroonoko [Written by $Mr Congreve=, edition of 1699]-Mrs Verbruggen.*c1695 11 00 dl <i>Rich's Company</i>. The date of the premiere is not known, but the fact that the play was advertised in the <i>Post Boy</i>, 12-16 Dec. 1695, suggests that it was probably first acted not later than November 1695. The edition of 1696 mentions two songs and their performers: <i>A lass there lives upon the green</i>, the words by an unknown hand, set by $Courteville=, and sung by $the Boy= to $Miss Cross=; and <i>Bright Cynthia's pow'r divinely great</i>, words by $Mr Cheek=, set by $Courtevill=, sung by $Leveridge=. These two songs are also in <i>Deliciae Musicae</i>, The Fourth Book, 1696, as is a third, <i>Celemene, pray tell me</i>, set by $Henry Purcell= and sung by the Boy and $Girl=. The words were written by $D'Urfey=; and the Boy presumably was $Bowen=, and the Girl, $Miss Cross=. See <i>Purcell's Works</i>, <i>Purcell Society</i>, XXI (1917), v-vi. <i>A Comparison Between the Two Stages</i> (1702), p. 19: <i>Sullen</i>: <i>Oronooko</i>. <i>Ramble</i>: Oh! the Favourite of the Ladies. Sullen: It had indeed uncommon Success, and the Quality of both Sexes were very kind to the Play, and to the Poet: No doubt it has Merit, particularly the last Scene; but 'tis as certain, that the Comick Part is below that Author's usual Genius. Ramble: I have a particular regard for $Mr Southern='s Stile and agreeable Manner; there's a Spirit of Conversation in every thing he writes. Sullen: I think very few exceed him in the Dialogue; his Gallantry is natural, and after the real manner of the Town; his acquaintance with the best Company entered him into the secrets of their Intrigues, and no Man knew better the Way and Disposition of Mankind. But yet I must say, his Diction is commonly the best part of him, especially in Comedy; but in Tragedy he has once in this, and in one other, Drawn the Passions very well.