Event Comment: Rich's Company. Lady Morley attended this performance: Lady Morley and two in the Box at Constant Couple. See Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, p. 378. There is no certainty that this is the first performance, but the fact that the play was advertised in the Post Man, 7-9 Dec. 1699, suggests that the first production may have occurred in mid-November. The Prologue also refers to the abandonment of Dorset Garden to "That strong Dog Sampson" (see 15 and 25 Nov. 1699). A song, Thus Damon knock'd at Celia's door, set by Daniel Purcell, was published separately about this time. Preface, Edition of 1700: All will join with me in Commendation of the Actors, and allow, without detracting from the Merit of others, that the Theatre Royal affords an excellent and compleat Set of Comedians. Mr Wilks's Performance has set him so far above Competition in the Part of Wildair, that none can pretend to envy the Praise due to his Merit. Preface to The Inconstant (1702): I remember, that about two Years ago, I had a Gentleman from France [The Constant Couple] that brought the Play-house some fifty Audiences in five months. A Comparison between the Two Stages (1702), p. 32: Critick: But above all, commend me to the ingenious Author of the Trip to the Jubilee. Ramble: Oh Lord, Sir! you won't quarrel with that Play; never any thing did such wonders. Critick: Oh 'twas admirable! admirable! I wonder the Town did not just then bespeak the Bays for him. Sullen: Nay, for ought you and I know, he may live to enjoy 'em; I assure you all the run of the Town is on his side. The Owl was never more esteem'd at Athens than the Trip to the Jubilee was here. Critick: Indeed I have known a Footman have a great stroak with his Lord at begging a Favour; if all the Footmen in Town that admire him were to club for his Preferment, I don't know what might be done. Ramble: The Footmen? Ay, and the middle Gallery too, I assure you are of his side, and that's a strong Party. Critick: Why, I believe it, 'tis about the pitch of their Understanding; but if ever it diverted one Man of tolerable Sense I'll be hang'd. Sullen: I don't know who are your People of tolerable Sense, Mr Critick, but at the play I have seen the Pit, Box and Stage so crowded--and if that is not a sign

Event Comment: London Post, 24-27 Nov. 1699: [William Joy] being oblig'd to leave Town in order to pursue some other Method, can shew but twice, which will be God-willing on Wednesday and Friday next at the Theatre in Dorset Garden, beginning Precisely at 11 a Clock, being resolved to shew no more before he leaves the Town

Event Comment: London Post, 4-6 Dec. 1699: At the Request of several Persons of Quality, on Thursday next, being the 7th Inst. at the Theatre in Dorset Garden, the Famous Kentishmen, Wm. and Rich. Joy, design to show to the Town before they leave it, the same Tryals of Strength both of them, that Wm. had the Honour of showing before His Majesty, and their Royal Highnesses, with several other Persons of Quality; for which, he receiv'd a considerable Gratuity....Beginning exactly at 2, and Ending at 4. The Boxes 4s. the Pit 2s. 6d. 1st Gallery 2s. Upper Gall. 1s

Event Comment: London Post, No. 30, 1-3 Jan. 1700: This day at the Theatre-Royal in Dorset-garden, the Famous Kentish-man Mr Joy, designs to show the same Tryals of Strength, he had the honour of showing before his Majesty, the Prince and Princess of Denmark, and several Persons of Quality, viz. The lifting a weight of 2240 l. Holding an extraordinary large Cart-Horse; and afterwards breaking a Rope that will bear 3500 weight. There will likewise be shewn the Sister, carrying 5 Bushels of Wheat, or any other grain; She being but 15 Years of Age. They will also show on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, beginning at 3 of the Clock, and ending at 4 in the Afternoon. Boxes 3s. Pit 2s. 1st Gallery 1s. Upper gallery 6d

Event Comment: James Brydges, Diary: I went with [Mr Coke], Mr How, Sr Theoph. Oglethorpe, Sr G. Coply &c.: to Lockits, & about 8: went with ye last to ye Playhouse in Covent Garden; wee did but just look in (Huntington MS St 26)

Event Comment: [[By William Congreve. Premiere.] Congreve wrote on 26 March: I wished particularly for you on Friday last, when Eccles his music for the prize was performed in Dorset Garden, and universally admired. Mr Finger's is to be to-morrow; and Russel and Weldon's follow in their turn....The number of performers, besides the verse-singers, was 85. The front of the stage was all built into a concave with deal boards; all which was faced with tin, to increase and throw forwards the sound. It was all hung with sconces of wax-candles, besides the common branches of lights usual in the playhouses. The boxes and pit were all thrown into one; so that all sat in common; and the whole was crammed with beauties and beaux, not one scrub being admitted. The place where formerly the music used to play, between the pit and the stage, was turned into White's chocolate-housev....Our friend Venus performed to a miracle; so did Mrs Hodgson Juno. Mrs Boman was not quite so well approved in Pallas.-Congreve to Keally, in Congreve, I, 71-72

Event Comment: At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. The Queen Theatre in Dorset-Garden is now fitting up for a new Opera; and the great Preparations are made to forward it and bring it upon the Stage by the beginning of June, adds to every body's Expectation, who promise themselves mighty Satisfaction from so well-order'd and regular an Undertaking as this is said to be, both in the Beauties of the Scenes, and Varieties of Entertainments in the Musick and Dances

Event Comment: Note, That the Theatre in Dorset-Garden being now repair'd from the Damage done by the late great Winds, the same will be ready by the latter end of this Week to Act in, or for Entertainments of Musick and Danceing

Event Comment: At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. And on Wednesday next a Play will be Acted at the Theatre in Dorset-Garden

Event Comment: At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. By reason of the badness of the Weather, we shall defer Acting in Dorset Garden for some time

Event Comment: Benefit Kitty Pawlet. Tickets for She Would and She Would Not taken. At 6 p.m. In Cross-street, Hatton Garden

Event Comment: By Gentlemen for their Diversion At the Two Golden Balls in Hart Street, near Covent Garden At 6 p.m

Event Comment: Benefit of a Gentleman who has been reduced by the Fall of Stocks [apparently the actor who plays Castalio]. At the Great Green Gates in Cross-street, Hatton-Garden. At 6 p.m

Event Comment: At Lee's Great Theatrical Booth over against the Hospital Gate. Mainpiece: A Dramatic Opera. A Masque of Paradise, with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Edenv, the Serpent, and all the Creation, the Heavens open, the Sun appears, and an Angel descends and drives them thence. With Scenes, Machines, and Decorations proper

Event Comment: At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. With a new Scene representing a Prospect of Covent-Garden, Piazza. Written by Mr Congreve

Event Comment: Benefit Pardini. At the Great House the Lower End of Spring Garden, Charing Cross

Event Comment: The Lilliputian Theatre, Under the Direction of Mr Richardson...in Mr Hewetson's Great Room, the Upper End of Bow-Street, Covent-Garden. A New Opera. Price 2s. 6d. Gallery 1s. 6d. At 6 p.m

Event Comment: DDaily Journal, 8 Aug.: On Wednesday last in the Evening her Majesty, the Prince of Wales, his Royal Highness the Duke, the Princess Royal, and the Princesses Amelia and Carolina, were entertained in the Gardens at Richmond by the Comedians of the Theatre Royal in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields

Event Comment: Receipts: #32 4s. [Universal Spectator, 16 Jan., reports that the subscription for Rich's new playhouse in Covent Garden has reached #6,000 and that James Sheppard, the architect, has completed the plans for the structure.

Event Comment: Benefit Cunningham, Linnen-Draper (lately an Inhabitant of the Golden Key, in Henrietta Street, Covent Garden) in Order to release him out of Prison. At the particular Desire of several Ladies of Quality

Event Comment: DDaily Post, 5 June: We were partly misinform'd as to the Reception of the two Pieces play'd on Thursday Night...We are assured the Comedy call'd The Old Debauchees, did meet with universal Applause; but The Covent Garden Tragedy will be Acted no more, both the Author and the Actors being unwilling to continue any Piece contrary to the Opinion of the Town

Event Comment: Benefit Seedo. At the particular Desire of several Persons of Quality. [For a discussion of The Covent Garden Tragedy, see Grub St. Journal, 8 June.

Event Comment: For a further discussion of The Covent Garden Tragedy, see Grub St. Journal, 15 June

Event Comment: For a letter on The Covent Garden Tragedy, see Daily Post, 21 June

Event Comment: At the Great Theatrical Booth in the Cherry-Tree Garden near the Mote. Mainpiece: With the Original Songs. At Noon daily