Event Comment: The United Company. The date of the premiere is not certain, but the fact that a song in the play, composed by Henry Purcell and sung by Mrs Hudson, is in the Gentleman's Journal, January@February 1693@4 (advertised in the London Gazette, No 2955, 5-8 Marcn 1693@4) suggests that the play had its premiere in February. The play was advertised in the London Gazette, No 2959, 19-22 March 1693@4. The music for additional songs was composed by Henry Purcell: The danger is over, sung by Mrs Hudson, is in Joyful Cuckoldom, ca. 1695; I sighed and owned my love, sung by Mrs Ayliff, is in Thesaurus Musicus, Book III, 1695. See also Purcell's Works, Purcell Society, XX (1916), i-iii. Two songs were composed by John Eccles: Still, I'm grieving, sung by Mrs Bracegirdle; and Give then royal maid your sorrows o're, sung by Mrs Cibber, are in Thesaurus Musicus, 1695. Gentleman's Journal, March 1694 (advertised in London Gazette, No 2964,5-9 April 1694): Mr Southern's new Play call'd The Fatal Marriage; or, The Innocent Adultery, has been so kindly receiv'd, that you are by this time no stranger to its merit. As the world has done it justice, and it is above my praise, I need not expatiate on that subject. [See also 22 March 1693@4.

Event Comment: [Mainpiece in place of The Merry Wives of Windsor, advertised on playbill of 10 Feb.] Afterpiece [1st time; BALL. P 1 (?), by John Cartwright Cross. Airs (T. Woodfall, 1798)]: The Scenery, Machinery, Dresses and Decorations entirely new. The Music by Reeve. The Scenery painted by Richards, Phillips, Lupino, Hollogan, and Blackmore. The Machinery by Cresswell, Sloper, Goostree, &c. The Dresses by Dick, Mrs Egan, &c. Receipts: #294 0s. 6d. (270.16.6; 23.4.0)

Event Comment: [Emery was from cg. Mainpiece: Epilogue by the younger George Colman.] Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. 2nd Gallery 1s. The Doors to be opened at 6:00. To begin precisely at 7:00 [same throughout season]. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Rice, at the Theatre. Printed by T. Woodfall, No. 1, Cross Court, Russel Court, Drury Lane

Event Comment: [In Daily Courant, 13 Nov., I Henry IV had been announced for this day.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 3 years. Afterpiece [1st time; MF 2, by William Pearce]: With new Music, Dresses, &c. The Music composed by Haydn, Sacchini, and Shield. The Scenery by Richards. Books of the Songs [W. Woodfall, 1792] to be had at the The Theatre. Public Advertiser, 20 Apr. 1793: This Day is published Hartford Bridge (1s.). Receipts: #294 17s. 6d

Event Comment: Benefit for increasing the Fund for Support of Decay'd Musicians, or their Families. Pit and Boxes to be put together at Half a Guinea each. Gallery 5s. Doors open at Five. Gallery at Four, to begin at Half an Hour after Six. None to be admitted without tickets. Tickets delivered to Subscribers to this Charity will admit one person into any part of the House. Subscribers tickets may be had of Richard Dawson at his house near Henry the VII's Chapel, Westminster, who is empower'd by the Society to deliver them, and to receive the subscriptions. The Governors beg leave to inform the Nobility and Gentry to whom this Charity is so much oblig'd, that from June 1756 to June 1757 they have necessarily laid out for decay'd musicians and their families, widows of decay'd musicians, and in maintaining and educating orphans who are left in distress, and in putting them Apprentice, and for Physic, Burials, and other incidental charges #532 13s. 7d. The Books are open and may be inspected by subscribers the first Sunday in every month at a meeting of the Governors, at the Turk's Head in Greek Street, Soho. All expenses attending the meetings of the Governors, Court of Affidavits Committee for managing of this Concert, are defrayed by themselves

Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the premiere is not knwon, but the Dedication is dated February 1699@1700, the play was entered in the Term Catalogues in February 1699@1700, and advertised in the Flying Post, 16 March 1699@1700. The latest likely date for the first production is January 1700, but the play may have appeared in late December as a rival to lif's production of I Henry IV early in January 1700. Cibber, Apology, I, 275: But the Master of the Revels, who then licens'd all Plays for the Stage, assisted this Reformation [of the morality of the stage] with a more zealous Severity than ever. He would strike out whole Scenes of a vicious or immoral Character, tho' it were visibly shewn to be reform'd or punish'd; a severe Instance of this kind falling upon my self may be an Excuse for my relating it: When Richard the Third (as I alter'd it from Shakespear) came from his Hands to the Stage, he expung'd the whole first Act without sparing a Line of it. This extraordinary Stroke of a Sic volo occasion'd my applying to him for the small Indulgence of a Speech or two, that the other four Acts might limp on with a little less Absurdity! no! he had no leisure to consider what might be separately inoffensive. [Cibber continues with an explanation of the censor's argument for cutting the act.] Preface to Cibber's Ximena, 1719: Richard the Third, which I alter'd from Shakespear, did not raise me Five Pounds on Third Day