Event Comment: Benefit Hill and Mrs Hill, the late Miss Anderson

Event Comment: Benefit: The Deceas'd Author's Friend or The Author [the bills vary]. A new Tragedy. [By William Bond. For a discussion of the play, see a letter from Hill to Victor, in Victor, History of the Theatres, II, 196-97. Hill states that the youth who speaks the Prologue is Harvey, a young man of eighteen or nineteen.

Event Comment: Benefit Winstone, Hill, Miss Cole. Tickets for Leigh, Peploe, Foxall also taken

Event Comment: The United Company. The date of the first performance is not precisely known, but by 9 May 1693 it had been acted four times (see Dryden's letter, below); on the other hand, the Gentleman's Journal, February 1692@3 (issued in March) had stated that D'Urfey's new farce would not appear until after Easter. Hence, it may well have been the first new play after Passion Week. A dialogue, Behold, the man with that gigantick might, the music by Henry Purcell and sung by Mr Reading and Mrs Ayliff, is in Orpheus Britannicus, 1690. See Purcell's Works, Purcell Society, XXI (1917), viii-x. A dialogue, By these pigsnes eyes that stars do seem, the music by John Eccles and sung by Dogget and Mrs Bracegirdle, is in Joyful Cuckoldom, ca. 1695. Another, Stubborn church division, folly, and ambition, to a Ground of Mr Solomon Eccles, is in Thesaurus Musicus, 1694. And Maiden fresh as a rose, the verse by D'Urfey and sung by Pack, but not printed in the play, is in The Merry Musician, I (1716), 56-57. This last song may have been for a later revival. Gentleman's Journal, April 1693 (issued in May 1693): Since my last we have had a Comedy by Mr Durfey; 'tis called the Richmond Heiress or a Woman once in the right (p. 130). Dryden to Walsh, 9 May 1693: Durfey has brought another farce upon the Stage: but his luck has left him: it was sufferd but foure dayes; and then kickd off for ever. Yet his Second Act, was wonderfully diverting; where the scene was in Bedlam: & Mrs Bracegirdle and Solon [Dogget] were both mad: the Singing was wonderfully good, And the two whom I nam'd, sung better than Redding and Mrs Ayloff, whose trade it was: at least our partiality carryed it for them. The rest was woeful stuff, & concluded with Catcalls; for which the two noble Dukes of Richmond and St@Albans were chief managers (The Letters of John Dryden, pp. 52-53)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not Acted these thirty Years. Taken from the French of Moliere by Sir John Vanbrugh. [This version by James Ralph.] The Songs new set by John Frederick Lampe, and a new Grand Dance, in Grotesque Characters, proper to the Play. Afterpiece: a Farce of two Acts. Alter'd from Beaumont and Fletcher. [Author unknown. Apparently not published.]

Event Comment: The Characters all New Dress'd. A new Comedy [by Dr Benjamin Hoadly] never before acted. [The previous July Garrick had been entertained by the Rev. Dr John Hoadly at Alresford and carried on a pleasant correspondence with him afterwards. In his letter 19 Aug. 1746 (Folger) he wrote]: I had the pleasure of the Doctor's company [brother Benjamin Hoadly] to supper at my lodgings the night before I set out for this place; we talk'd about Ranger, but whether he will appear next winter or sleep forever in ye scritore, is not yet determined: 'tis pit, faith. [That this friendship was exceedingly profitable to Garrick is indicated by the fact that Benjamin Hoadly seems to have turned over the profits from the three author's nights to Garrick. (1) Garrick by a bargain with John Rich received #80 advance cash and promised to pay nightly charges (3rd, 6th, & 9th nights) of #60, and (2) to divide equally the remaining profits on those nights. The agreement was drawn 27 Dec. 1746. Garrick noted on this document]: N.B. the copy of the play is my own, and the profit arising from the printing of it. [Hoadly seems to have received only the #100 given him by George II for dedicating the printed copy to him.] [Settlement for the three performances was made 6 April. Total receipts for those nights (14, 18, 21 Feb.) was #570 11s. Total expenses were #182 2s. (including #2 2s. for the licensing). The profit of #388 9s. was equally divided and Garrick received his #194 4s. 6d. on that day. He had received the other #80 the day before the play opened, 11 Feb. 1747. See documents in Folger, Holograph Letters of David Garrick, p. 38, seemingly Edmund Malone's copy, of BM Add MSS 21508.] Receipts: #205 9s. 6d

Event Comment: The King's Company. The date of the premiere is not certain. This performance is known from an entry in the Newdigate newsletters, which also states that Rollo was to be acted on the following Monday. If this statement is accurate, the performance of The Loyal Brother on 4 Feb. 1681@2 may be the third night rather than the opening performance. Newdigate newsletters, 4 Feb. 1681@2: On Monday morn [the Moorish Ambassador] & ye Comers meet to conclude ye treaty and in ye afternoon goes to see Rollo D. of Normandy at ye Ks playhouse wre ye K was this afternoon to see ye new play calld ye Loyall brothr (Wilson, More Theater Notes from the Newdigate Newsletters, p. 59). The Prologue and Epilogue were printed separately and have been reprinted in Wiley, Rare Prologues and Epilogues, pp. 70-72. Luttrell acquired his copies (Huntington Library) on 7 Feb. 1681@2. In The Life of John Dryden (Chapel Hill, 1961), Charles E. Ward believes (pp. 166, 355) that The Loyal Brother was first acted in the autumn of 1681; but the entry in the Newdigate newsletters seems to make February 1682 the more probable time

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill retains Incledon, but "Family distresses (The loss of an amiable wife) preventing Incledon from appearing in public, the part of Darbony was assigned to Hill" (Dramatic Censor, I, 181).] Receipts: #215 11s. 6d. (212.0.6; 3.11.0)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; P 2 (?), by James Wild. MS: Larpent 1000]: The greatest part entirely new, with a few Select Scenes from the most approv'd Compositions. With new Scenery, Machinery, Dresses and Decorations. The Dresses entirely new. The new Music composed by Shield, the rest selected from Harington, Dr Arne, Eley, Reeve, Pepusch, Galliard, George Ware, Hook, &c. The Scenery and Machinery entirely new painted by Richards, Hodgins, Walmsley, Lupino, Pugh, Phillips and Malton. The Dances entirely new, composed by Byrn. Account-Book, 23 Apr. 1795: Paid James Wild in full for Dr Faustus #40. European Magazine, Jan. 1794, p. 49: Dr Faustus has afforded entertainment to three if not four generations. It was first produced at Drury-lane in 1723, by Mr Thurmond, a dancing-master, and was afterwards succeeded at Lincoln's inn-fields, in the same year, by Mr Rich's more splendid performance [entitled The Necromancer; or, Harlequin Doctor Faustus], which received improvement at different revivals of it. At the latter end of 1766 [at Covent Garden] Mr Woodward made some alterations, and it was revived with great success. It is again brought forward with applause, and recalls to the remembrance of those who formerly saw it with delight, the recollection of the most enchanting period of life. The opening scene of Tartarus . . . was first introduced in the speaking pantomime of The Mirror [at Covent Garden, 30 Nov. 1779). Receipts: #352 13s. 6d. (324/13/6; 28/0/0)

Event Comment: By His Majesty's Command. Afterpiece: a New Dramatick Entertainment of Musick and Grotesque Dancing. Edition of 1740: Set to Musick by Mr John-Frederick Lampe. [For further letters concerning John Hill and Rich, see London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 11 and 12 Feb.

Event Comment: The United Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but the play was licensed 6 April 1687 in the Stationers' Register, 24 May 1687. The play was probably given first in March, as the Prologue refers to the speaking head, which was mentioned in the Newdigate newsletters (Folger Shakespeare Library), 26 March 1687: A Country man haveing invented a head & soe contrived it that whatever language or tune you speak in the Mouth of it it Repeated distinctly and Audibly. [I owe this reference to Professor John Harold Wilson]

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 10 Years. Afterpiece: Not acted these 20 years. Music, Dances and Other Decorations for afterpiece entirely new. [In a letter to John Gilbert-Cooper, the actor Charles Adams states that "the Prompter gave me a little Part in the Emperor of the Moon...I appear'd in it thrice." He was "paid Twenty Shilling Pr Week." See Theatre Notebook, XI (1957), p. 136. The only male parts left were Baliardo's servant Peter and the figures in the tableau of the final scene.] Receipts: #160 (Cross); #158 11s. (Powel)

Event Comment: The Doors to be opened at Five o'clock. To Begin exactly at Six o'clock. [Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s.] Vivant Rex et Regina. [Customary footnote for each succeeding Bill. Only significant variations will be noted further. Criticism: For contemporary comment on performances and plays this season see John Potter's Theatrical Review, or New Companion to the Playhouse. 2 vols. London, 1772, a day by day account of Plays and actors at Drury Lane and Covent Garden theatres for the season 1771-72. He is rather severe in his comments on most of the actors at cg. The four relatively constant expenditures set up for each night this season include music: averaging #7 5s.; wardrobe charges of from 1 to #3; properties 7s. to #1; and renters, paid to Garton, the treasurer, #10. Extras, when they occur, which is almost nightly, for such things as kettle drum, side drum, bagpipes, chorus singers, supernumeraries, together with all repair bills paid advances to actors, &c. are duly recorded. I include only what appear to be significant ones which illustrate the theatre as a show business.] Receipts: #186 4s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Dibdin. In Act IV of mainpiece the Procession from the Abbey at the Coronation of Anne Bullenv. Paid John Doe for sticking Black Bills #6 3s. Receipts: none listed (charge: #84)

Event Comment: Benefit for Munden. Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by Thomas Hurlstone. Text (J. Debrett [1792]) gives cast for season of 1792-93. Poetical Sketch by John Wolcot (Morning Herald, 11 May)]: With new Scenery, Dresses, and other Decorations. The Overture and Music entirely new, composed by Carter. Morning Herald, 13 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Munden, No. 15, Catherine-street. Ibid, 1 Dec. 1792: This Day is published Just in Time (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #415 3s. (126.4.6; 4.9.6; tickets: 284.9.0) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: Benefit for Holman. Afterpiece : Not acted these 8 years [not acted since 16 sar. 1786]. Oracle, 16 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Holman, No. 14, John-street, Adelphi. Receipts: #318 19s. (205.3.6; 5.11.0; tickets: 108.4.6)

Event Comment: LLondon Daily Post and General Advertiser, 6 Feb., contains a letter: To Mr John Hill, on his Answer to Mr Rich's Defence

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Beaumont and Fletcher, acted but once these 15 years. Afterpiece: At the particular Desire of several persons of Quality. Benefit for my Self & Wife (Cross). [See The Spouter; or, The Triple Revenge, farce in two acts attributed to Mr Murphy, satirizing John Hill, Theophilus Cibber, Samuel Foote. Discussed by Genest, IV, 459-61.] Receipts: #214 (Cross)

Event Comment: A Second Musical Entertainment Perform'd on St. Cecilia's day, November XXII. 1684. The Words by the late ingenious Mr John Oldham, Author of the Satyrs Against the Jesuits. Set to Music in two, three, four, and five Parts, by Dr John Blow, Master of the Children, and Organist of His Majesty's Chappel-Royal. [This work was published in 1685.

Event Comment: [Miss Hill, who was from the Plymouth theatre, is identified in European Magazine, Oct. 1794, p. 285.] Receipts: #257 11s. (250.12.6; 6.18.6)