Event Comment: Christopher Rich's Company. The date of this revival is not certain. Apparently the revival was in preparation before the division of the company, but the publication of the Songs in 1695 confines the production to the period between mid-April and the late autumn. For the opera, see The Works of John Dryden, Vol. VIII: The Plays, edited by John Harrington Smith and Dougald MacMillan (Berkeley and Los Angeles, 1692), pp. 325-30; Moore, Henry Purcell and the Restoration Theatre, Chapter VI;and Purcell's Works, Purcell Society, Vol. XIX. The Songs (1695), the music by Henry Purcell, lists the following pieces and singers: I, Wake, wake, Quivera, sung by Freeman. I, Why shou'd men quarrel, sung by The Boy, with Flutes. Their looks are such that mercy flows, sung by Freeman. II, I come to sing, sung by Freeman. Scorn'd Envy here's nothing, sung by Freeman. Begone, curst Feinds of Hell, sung by Freeman. III, Ah, how happy we are, sung by Freeman and Church. I attempt from Love's sickness to fly, sung by Mrs Cross. IV, They tell us that you mighty powers above, sung by Mrs Cross. In addition, other parts of the opera appeared elsewhere: Act V, a Masque, set by Daniel Purcell, O Bless the Genial Bed with chast delights, in Deliciae Musicae, First Book of the Second Volume, 1696. [The others, since they do not name the performers, are omitted here.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Beaumont and Fletcher, reviv'd. Afterpiece: Not acted these three years. [See 8 Aug. 1761.] Mr Powell made his first appearance this Night in Philaster. His Reception was very great, he play'd the part amazingly well, & Seems to have Requisites to make a very Capital Performer. N.B. Covent Garden Theater begun to play every Night (Hopkins). Philaster by Mr Powell. Prodigious applause (Cross Diary). This play [Philaster] was wrote by Beaumont and Fletcher, and is now altered by Mr Colman. Mr Powell, a young gentleman clerk to Sir Robert Ladbrook, made his first appearance in the character of Philaster.--A greater reception was never shown to anybody,--he was so very much frightened, he could not speak for some time, and, when he did, the tears ran fast down his cheeks,--but he soon recovered himself, and went through the part with a great deal of nature and feeling,--Continued claps and huzza of bravo! &c. &c. Upon the whole I think him possessed of every requisite necessary to make him an ornament to the stage.--N.B. Mr D. Garrick instructed him in this part--when I see him in another shall be able to judge better of his capabilities.--Miss Pope appeared this Night in the character of Maria in the Citizen,--by endeavoring to be very fine she overdid it,--and it was plain to see she wanted her master. N.B.--Covent Garden began to play of our nights--the first time they ever begin first since Mr Garrick was manager (Hopkins Diary--MacMillan). Receipts: #258 11s. 6d. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: This Farce is suppos'd to be written by Mr King. & was tolerably well receiv'd. The Tunes are very dull (Hopkins). Farce well receiv'd (Cross Diary). Receipts: #144 2s. 6d. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: The Rose is a New Musical performance of Two Acts by Dr Arne a very dull insipid piece. Mr G. protested against its being perform'd its being perform'd it was hiss'd from the beginning & wd not Suffer it to be given out again, therefore Mr King went on & told them it Should not be perform'd again until it be alter'd (Hopkins Diary). [Macmillan's note from Kemble differs slightly. See critical damnation of The Rose in British Theatre Article in The London Magazine, Dec. 1772.] Book of the Entertainment to be had at the Theatre (playbill). Paid Mr Petit for men's cloaths, #8 8s. CTreasurer's Book). [Reviewer for Town and Country Magazine (Theatre, No. XLI) disappointed with the Rose: "We are told that this precious piece of stuff is the production of an Oxford student; it may be so, of this every auditor is certain, that the collegian who penned it was so entirely lost in the pursuit of some abstruse study, that he has totally forgot grammar, common sense, and even his mother tongue...it was unanimously damn'd."] Receipts: #172 6s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Never perform'd. New Scenes and Dresses (playbill). This Comedy was written by Mr Obrien. It was very much hiss'd from the 2d Act & with the greatest difficulty we got thro' the Play amidst Groans hisses &c. They would not Suffer it to be given out again. After many Altercations between the Audience Mr G. & Mr King by the Author's Consent the Play was withdrawn (Hopkins Diary). [Macmillan's note from Kemble briefer. See long review of The Duel in British Theatre article, London Magazine, Dec. 1772, and Town and Country same month.] Paid Mr Scott (c[opper] laceman) #83 9s.; Mr Waller (hosier) #17 18s. 6d.; Mr Hatsell (mercer) #80 19s.; Mr Barrow & Co. for oil, #45 13s.; Mr Cropley (linen draper) #73 14s.; Mr Cubitt (tinman) #15 19s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #241 4s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: DDesdemona-Mrs Davies. $Mrs Havard being ill Mr King play'd Iago (Hopkins). Mrs Yates ill...Mrs Davies Desdemona (Cross Diary). Benefit for Vernon. Tickets for The Roman Father will be taken. Both main and afterpiece, By Particular Desire. Mr King Iago. Mr Havard could not play Mrs Havard being dead (Hopkins Diary-MacMillan). A mistake in the Diary. Mrs Havard died Friday 27th (J. P. Kemble MS Notes-MacMillan). Music A La Mode deferr'd on account of Indisposition of a principal performer. Last time of performing till the Holidays. Charges: #64 4s. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: MMiss Cheney made her first appearance this Night, in Miss Prue, a Pretty Figure, play'd with Spirit, very Aukward, & Speaks too much at the top of her Voice (Hopkins). Miss Prue by a young Gentlewoman. Great Applause (Cross Diary). This night Miss Cheney made her first appearance on the stage in the character of Miss Prue--play'd with spirit,--a very pretty, genteel Figure, but very raw and aukward--got great applause. Think there is materials in her composition with care and application to make an actress.--Mr Yates in the speech where he says 'the more she cries, the less she'll p--' happened to speak the words a little too plain, and was justly hissed by the Audience--his song was encored,--he sung it again,--a Hiss and a Clap when he went off (Hopkins Diary--MacMillan). Receipts: #187 16s. 6d. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: MMiss Williams made her first appearance this Night in Polly. Spoke some of the part tolerably well, wants power in her singing (Hopkins). Polly by Miss Williams. Great Applause (Cross Diary). Miss Williams made her first appearance this night in Polly--a Lady, I think, that has but few requisites for the stage--a very indifferent voice spoke some of the part tolerable,--some few hisses (Hopkins Diary--MacMillan). Receipts: #256 9s. 6d. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: The worst House I ever saw.--This morning Mr Packer's mother died, and we were oblig'd to get Mr Parsons to do Vizard, and Mr Baddeley Smuggler.--No apology was made, and I believe nobody took any notice of the change.--Miss Street and Master Clinton, Dancers, first time, greatly applauded (Hopkins Diary--MacMillan). Receipts: #63 3s. 6d. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: MMiss Plym made her first appearance in the character of Viola--a very pretty figure both in breeches and otherwise,--a thin weak voice, and received a decent reception (MacMillan">Hopkins Diary--$MacMillan). Miss Plym made her first appearance this Night in Viola, a very pretty Figure in both Dresses, a Thin weak Voice. pretty well receiv'd (Hopkins). Viola Miss Plym, first appearance; great applause (Cross Diary). Mainpiece: Not acted these 5 years. [See 5 Feb. 1755.] Receipts: #99 3s. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. King & Queen (Cross Diary). The play and Farce went off extremely well--The King and Queen seemed vastly pleased--after the play the King sent the Lord Huntington to return Mr Powell thanks in his name for the entertainment he gave them, and his good wishes for his success (Hopkins Diary--MacMillan). Receipts: #240 15s. 6d. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: In 4th Act, when Olivia draws her Sword, Mr Obrien ran up to the Centry P S & frighten'd the poor Man, that he fell flat upon the Stage,--which greatly diverted the Audience (Hopkins). In the fourth Act Mr O'Brien run up to the Centry, when Olivia draws her sword, and frightened the poor soldier that he fell down flat upon his back to the great mirth of the Audience (Hopkins Diary--MacMillan). Receipts: #81 7s. 6d. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: MMrs Yates very imperfect, and played very bad (Hopkins Diary--MacMillan). Receipts: #63 5s. 6d. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: MMr W. Palmer, made his first appearance this Night in Hymen. a Tolerable Voice; but Extremely Aukward & the worst Speaker I ever heard (Hopkins). This night Mr W[ingfield] Palmer (son of Mr Palmer who married Miss Pritchard) made his first appearance on this stage in the character of Hymen,--a tolerable voice,--but the most aukward, and the worst speaker I ever heard (Hopkins Diary--MacMillan). Receipts: #174 17s. 6d. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: This night it was currently reported in the Green Room that Miss Bride was taken into keeping by Mr Calcraft (Hopkins Diary--MacMillan). Receipts: #119 14s. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: Books of the Farce to be had at the Theatre. Mr Powell's first appearance in Jaffier. Got much applause (Hopkins). Mr Powell's first appearance in Jaffier--he performed the first part of it with feeling, but in the fourth act he was wild, and wanted power--But was much applauded (Hopkins Diary--MacMillan). Tomorrow, The Midsummer Night's Dream, Written by Shakespear; with Alterations; Interspersed with Airs, Compos'd by the most eminent English Masters. Receipts: #235 7s. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: This piece was greatly Cut & Alter'd. the 5th Act Entirely left out & many Airs interspers'd all through; got up with a vast deal of trouble to everbody concern'd in it but particularly to Mr Coleman, who attended every Rehearsal & had alterations innumberable to make. Upon the Whole, never was anything so murder'd in the Speaking. Mr W. Palmer & Mrs Vincent were beyond Description bad; & had it not been for the Children's Excellent performance, (& particularly Miss Wright who Sung delightfully) the Audience would not have Suffer'd'em to have gone half thro' it. The Sleeping Scene particularly displeas'd. Next day it was reported, The Performers first Sung the Audience to S leep, & then went to Sleep themselves (Hopkins). Fairies pleas'd--Serious parts displeas'd--Comic between both (Cross Diary). This piece of Shakespear's was greatly cut and altered,--the fifth act entirely left out,--and many airs introduced--got up with a vast deal of trouble to all concerned, but particularly to Mr Colman, who attended every rehearsal, and had alterations innumerable to make. Upon the whole, I believe, never was piece so murdered as this was by the singing speakers, in which Mrs Vincent and Mr W. Palmer were beyond description bad; and had it not been for the children's excellent performance (particularly Miss Wright, who ran away with all the applause and very deservedly) the audience would not have suffered them to have gone half thro' it.--The sleeping particularly displeased. The next day it was reported, the performers sung the audience to sleep, and then went to sleep themselves (Hopkins Diary-MacMillan). Overture and airs composed by the most eminent English masters. Book of the play sold at the theatre, 1s. [See "A Midsummer Night's Dream in the Hands of Garrick and Colman," PMLA, June 1939.] Receipts: #98 7s. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: After the play on Saturday Night Mr Yates sent me the part of Bottom in the Fairy Tale & Said he would play it no more the part was given to Mr Baddeley & he play'd it to Night (Hopkins). Mr Yates sent me the part of Bottom, and said I must give it to somebody else, for he would do it no more.-Mr Baddeley Played it tonight, and very well (Hopkins Diary-MacMillan). Songs in the Entertainment given at the theatre. Receipts: #124 6d. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: MMr Foote, the author of the Farce play'd Majr Sturgeon. Mrs Clive Hiss'd, in Mrs Sneak (Hopkins). Mrs Clive not liked in Mrs Sneak (Hopkins Diary-MacMillan). [Mainpiece by Brooke.] Afterpiece: A Farce in 2 acts, never acted there. Receipts: #170 5s. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: MMr Powell's first Appearance in Leonatus. very Wild & Stampt too much with his foot receiv'd much Applause (Hopkins). Mr Powell's first appearance in the character of Leonatus,--he was very wild and uncouth in great part, and stampt with his feet in such a manner, that he appeared like a madman,--but gained much applause (Hopkins Diary-MacMillan). Receipts: #252 9s. 6d. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: A New Comedy Written by Mrs Sheridan. This play was well Acted, but the subject seem'd to displease. The three first Acts pass'd off tolerably; in 4 Act they begun to hiss, & continued it to the End of the play. When Mr Havard went forward & Address'd the Audience &c. as follows Ladies & Gentn as Some passages in the play had given offence, they should be omitted the Next Night. Much hissing, & many Cry'd out No more! no more &c. (Hopkins). Much Hiss'd (Cross Diary). A new Comedy (The Dupe) wrote by Mrs Sheridan.--This play was very well acted,--but the subject much displeased.--in 4th act much hissing, and so on to the end. When Mr Havard told the audience as some passages in the play had given offence, they should be omitted the next night, much hissing and many cried out, "No more, No more." (Hopkins Diary-MacMillan). Receipts: #167 18s. (MacMillan)