Event Comment: See L. C. 7@3 (Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 382) for an agreement concerning new scenes and machines for a new opera by Settle

Event Comment: Post Boy, 13-15 April 1699: As both the Theatres have been very industrious to Entertain the Town with several eminent Master in Singing and Dancing, lately arrived, both from France and Italy, as Monsieur Balon, Signior Fideli, &c. we are now assured that the Masters of the Theatre Royal have engag'd Signior Clementine, the famous Eunuch, Servant of the Elector of Bavaria, to Sing on their publick Stage, for the short time of his stay in England. There is very great Expectation from his Performance as being a Person of that extraordinary Desert in Singing, that his yearly Salary on that Account is 500 #. a Year

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of the premiere is not known, but Dryden, on 14 Dec. 1699, indicated that the run of the play had been completed by that day. A copy in the Folger Shakespeare Library has a notice of its publication. Downes, Roscius Anglicanus, p. 45: Iphigenia a Tragedy, wrote by Mr Dennis, a good Tragedy and well Acted; but answer'd not the Expences they were at in Cloathing it. [In The Life of Mr John Dennis (London, 1734) the author states that Colonel Codrington prevailed on all his friends to take tickets for the dramatist's third night.] Preface, Edition of 1700: And from the first representations I expected all the success that I could reasonably desire. I never in my life at any Play took notice of a more strict attention, or, a more profound silence. And there was something like what happen'd at the Representation of Pacuvius his Tragedy. For upon Orestes discovering his passion to Iphigenia in the fourth Act, there was a general murmur through the Pit, which is what I had never seen before. But after three or four representations, several people, who during that time had wholly abandon'd themselves to the Impression which Nature had made on them, began to study how to be discontented by Art; and repented heartily at having been pleas'd with what Athens and Rome and Paris had been pleas'd before. A Comparison between the Two Stages (1702), p. 23: Critick: I must needs Complement him [Dennis] with the Success of his laborious Iphigenia: Ay, here's a Tragedy with a witness--show a more tragick Poet if you can--'twas a smart Epilogue. But I marvel a Man of Mr Dennis's Penetration wou'd suffer, nay beg his Friend to Burlesque him at that unreasonable rate: But the Author was conscious the Audience might mistake it for a Comedy, and so he gets Colonel C-(he was sure his Word wou'd be taken) to tell 'em it was not a Comedy but a Tragedy: The hint was good and necessary, for o' my word very few knew what to make of it before, tho' there were many Tremendous things in't. [The dialogue continues to examine Dennis' Preface, and Dennis's assertions there concerning his play.

Event Comment: Post Boy, 14-16 May 1700: Great Preparations have been making, for some Months past, for a New Opera to be acted next Term at the Theatre Royal, which, for Grandeur, Decorations, Movements of Scenes &c. will be infinitely superior to Dioclesian, which hitherto has been the greatest that the English Stage has produced, that probably 'twill equal the greatest Performance of the Kind, in any of the foreign Theatres. The Musick is compso'd by the Ingenious Mr Finger, and the Paintings made by Mr Robinson

Event Comment: Flying Post, 13-15 June 1700: We are credibly informed, That Yesterday a Trial brought on in the Court of Common-Pleas, against one of the players, for Prophanely using the name of God upon the Stage, contrary to an Act of Parliament made in King James the First's time; and that the Verdict was given against the Player; according to the Tenor of the said Act, &c

Event Comment: An order of the Court of Common Council for London forbids any performances of plays or interludes at Bartholomew Fair. See a broadside in the British Museum [1851 b. 25 (25)], reported by Alfred Jackson, Review of English Studies, XIV (1938), 55. Flying Post, 22-25 June 1700: The Right Honourable the Lord Mayor and Court of Alderman have ordered that no Play-house Bills be affix'd on any Post, &c. in this City; and the like Orders are resolved on in Westminster

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. London Post, 28 June-1 July 1700: Yesterday the Play called the Tempest was acted at the Old Play-house; and that called Love for Love at the new, both for the benefit of the poor English Slaves, &c. and I am told, that the sum arising thereby, amounted to about 250 #. It being put on the Playhouse Bills on Friday last, That each Company were to Act that day, and the whole Profits to go to'ards the Redemption of the English now in Slavery at Machanisso in Barbary, we are credibly informed, That, pursuant thereunto, the Treasurers of the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, did on Saturday last pay into the hands of the Churchwardens of St.@Martin's the sum of 20 #. out of the Receipts of the Play acted by that Company, towards the Relief of those our Natives from Slavery, which good example 'tis hoped, may move others to be speedy and generous in their Charity for the same purpose. What the other Company gave I do not yet hear

Event Comment: Afterpiece: [By John Vanbrugh.] Never Acted before. Mainpiece: With all the Original Scenes, Machines, and Decorations. To which will be added several new ones, particularly the intire front prospect of Blenheim Castlev. And another Piece alluding to the late glorious Successes of her Majesty's Arms, &c

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Robinson. By Command. With the Original Mad-Scenev. Admission as 2 April. Colman's Opera Register: Ye House & ye stage full ye King, Prince, &c. present

Event Comment: By Mrs Mynns. At the Queen's Arm Tavern near the Marshalsea Gate...that celebrated Entertainment....With all the Decorations, Movements, Scenes, Machines, Dances, Musick, &c. to the full Grandeur of what it appear'd Eight Years since in Bartholomew-Fair

Event Comment: Benefit Husband. With all the Original Musick, Scenes, Machines, Habits and Dances proper to the Play. N.B. That Night (only) the Front of the Gallery will be adorn'd with the Original Pictures of several of our most celebrated Poetsv, particularly those who have been most excellent in the Dramatick Way, as Shakespear, Ben. Johnson, Fletcher, Dryden, &c. together with that of our English Orpheus, the late Mr Henry Purcell. Receipts: money #52 9s.; tickets #43 16s. See also The Censor, No. 73 (9 April) and No. 75 (13 April)

Event Comment: Weekly Journal or Saturday's Post, 30 May: On Saturday last died Mr Francis Leigh, one of the Comedians of Drury-Lane Playhouse, and Partner with Mr Bullock in the Entertainments of Southwark Fair, &c. He was Son of the Celebrated Tony Leigh, so fam'd heretofore for his Mastership in Comick Performances

Event Comment: Not Acted these Ten Years. As it was alter'd from Beaumont and Fletcher, by C. Cibber. Daily Journal, 5 Jan.: Last Night the Rival Fools...was violently hiss'd, upon which Mr Cibber, in a very civil manner, address'd himself to the Audience, and told'em, 'That they did not offer that Play as one of their most polite Entertainments, that they had been reflected on by the Town for not pushing forward their young Actors; that this Play had been revived for no other Purpose, that it was impossible for the old ones to last forever, and therefore he beg'd the Audience to be silent, and give those who were desirous of it the liberty of hearing.' This Speech was interupted by a thundering Clap, and produced a good effect for an Act, and then the hissing began again, and grew so violent towards the latter end, that they were obliged to give the Play out two or three times, and much ado had the ingenious Mr Penkethman to be heard at last. (See also Weekly Journal or Saturday's Post, 6 Jan.

Event Comment: As it was alter'd from Beaumont and Fletcher, by C. Cibber. Daily Journal, 8 Jan.: Last Friday Night the Rival Fools was Acted for the second time...upon which there was a much greater Disturbance than the Night before, for the Actors were not only hiss'd, but pelted off the Stage with Oranges; scarce was Mr Wilks allow'd the liberty of speaking, and at the end of the 3d Act they were obliged to dismiss the Audience