Event Comment: The
Duke's Company. As the play was not printed until 1689, the date of composition is uncertain. In Act I, however, a reference to the death of the
Earl of Rochester (26 July 1680) suggests that the play probably followed that even rather closely. On the other h
and, the latest likely date for the first production seems set at late 1682 by the fact that
Thomas Farmer's music for the play in
BM Add. Mss. 19183-19185 is dated December 1682. The play has been placed in September 1680 as the earliest likely date (the presence of an experienced cast makes somewhat unlikely a production in mid-summer 1680). A song,
All other blessings are but toys, with music by Thomas Farmer, is in
Choice Ayres and Songs, The Fourth Book, 1683. A song,
Lovely Selina, innocent and free, with music by
John Blow, is in the same collection;
and another,
Weep all ye nymphs, with music by John Blow, is in
The Theater of Music, The First Book, 1685
Performances
Mainpiece Title: The Princess Of Cleve
Performance Comment: Edition of 1689: The Prologue-; Prince of Cleve-Williams; Duke Nemours-Betterton; St. Andre-Lee; Vidam of Chartres-Gillo; Poltrot-Nokes; Princess of Cleve-Mrs Barry; Tournon-Mrs Lee [Elinor Leigh]; Marguerite-Lady Slingsby; Elianor-Mrs Betterton; The Epilogue-.