*p1697 06 00 lif The Novelty 0. Edition of 1697: Prologue-Mr Bowen.*a1697 06 00 lif The Novelty 1; Thyrsis, A Pastoral. Shepherds-; Thyrsis-Scudamore; Damon-Bayle; Montano-Arnold; Shepherdesses-; Dorinda-Mrs Lassells; Cleomira-Mrs Boman.*a1697 06 00 lif The Novelty 2; All Without Money. [By Peter Motteux.] A Short Comedy Needmore-Scudamore; Speedwell-Bowen; Theodosia-Mrs Prince; Brother to Theodosia-Bayle; Freeman-Arnold; Clara-Mrs Bud; Dorothy-Mrs Lawson; Le Soupe-Freeman.*a1697 06 00 lif The Novelty 3; Hercules [By Peter Motteux.]. A Masque; Set to Musick- [by $Mr John Eccles=; Hercules-Redding; Omphale-Mrs Boman; Dejanira-Mrs Willis; Two of Hercules' Children-Miss Bradshaw, Jemmy Laroche; Nesica-Mrs Perrin.*a1697 06 00 lif The Novelty 4; The Unfortunate Couple. By $Edward Filmer=. A short Tragedy. Grammont-Betterton; Elvira-Mrs Barry; Dampierre-Freeman; Lysette-Mrs Lawson; Leonora-Mrs Boman.*a1697 06 00 lif The Novelty 5; Natural Magick. By $Peter Motteux=. A short Farce, after the <i>Italian manner</i>. Pantalone-Trefuses; Cynthio-Arnold; Pasquarel-Sorin; Mezzetin-Knap; Nicholas-Trout; Columbina-Mrs Lawson; Epilogue-Mrs Prince.*c1697 06 00 lif <i>Betterton's Company</i>. The date of the premiere is not known, but the fact that the play was advertised in the <i>Post Man</i>, 8-10 June 1697, suggests a first performance in late May or the beginning of June. Preface: I [$Motteux=] write the <i>Masque of Hercules</i>, and $Mr Eccles=, having set it with his usual Success, and yet more masterly than my <i>Mars and Venus</i>, if possible, I prevail'd with the ingenious $Mr J. Oldmixon= to give me a short Pastoral, while I scribbled over a Farce after the <i>Italian Manner</i>, and an Imitation of part of a diverting <i>French Comedy</i> of one Act (for such Plays are very common in Foreign Parts). Then I wanted nothing but a Tragedy....At last I bethought myself of one already studied, called <i>The Unnatural Brother</i>, written by an ingenious Gentleman and acted 6 Months ago, tho not with the success it deserv'd. Yet the latter Part was extremely applauded: So I was persuaded to make bold with it, as I do....I could easily contract the most moving Part of the Story into the Compass of one Act, with some Additions....All this was done in a very short time, the warm Season threatening me with your Absence....The foregoing Lines were published as a Preface to that Masque, some few copies of which were printed for the use of the Audience, the first day of the Novelty's being Acted. <i>A Comparison Between the Two Stages</i> (1702), p. 20: Every Word stolen, and then Damn'd.