Event Comment: Dryden to Walsh, 9 May 1693: The play I am now writeing is a feignd story: & a Tragicomedy of the nature of the Spanish Fryar: And I am sure the tale of it is likely to be diverting enough. I have plotted it all; & written two Acts of it. This morning I had their chief Comedian whom they call Solon [Dogget], with me; to consult with him concerning his own Character: & truly I thinke he has the best Understanding of any man in tihe Playhouse (Letters of John Dryden, p. 54)

Event Comment: Rich's Company. The evidence for this date as the premiere of The Relapse is Jennens' report on 19 Nov. 1696 that Drury Lane expected to produce a new play on this date, coupled with the fact that Lady Morley saw this play on 25 Nov. 1696. The play was advertised in the Post Boy, 26-29 Dec. 1696. Preface, Edition of 1697: One word more about the Bawdy, and I have done. I own the first Night this thing was acted, some indecencies had like to have happen'd, but 'twas not my Fault. The fine Gentleman of the Play, drinking his Mistress's Health in Nants Brandy, from six in the Morning, to the time he wadled upon the Stage in the Evening, had toasted himself up, to such a pitch of Vigor, I confess I once gave Amanda for gone, and am since (with all due Respect to Mrs Rogers) very sorry she scap'd; for I am confident a certain Lady (let no one take it to herself that is handsome) who highly blames the Play, for the barenness of the conclusion, wou'd then have allowed it, a very natural Close. Gildon, English Dramatick Poets, p. 145: This Play was received with mighty applause. Cibber, Apology, I, 216: This Play (the Relapse) from its new and easy Turn of Wit, had great Success, and gave me, as a Comedian, a second Flight of Reputation along with it

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: [In Daily Courant, 22 and 23 Sept., the advertisements bore the heading: "By the deserted Company of Comedians of the Theatre Royal."

Event Comment: For the Encouragement of the Comedians Acting in the Hay-Market, and to enable them to keep the Diversion of Plays under a separate Interest from the Opera. By Subscription. The Boxes to be open'd to the Pit, and none to be admitted but by the Subscription Tickets. First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. [Cibber (II, 4-5) states that each subscriber received three tickets for the first day of each of three plays offered by subscription for a payment of three guineas.

Event Comment: Benefit Cave Underhill the old Comedian. At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. [In Tatler, 26 May, Underhill had announced his benefit, stating that he had losses to the value of nearly #2,500. See also Tatler, 31 May.

Event Comment: Benefit Underhill [in Daily Courant, 11 May, that Ancient Comedian Cave Underhill." In the same issue Ventoso had been advertised as by a Gentleman for his first appearance.

Event Comment: Receipts: #173 3s. [When the comedians on 6 Nov. received a license to act, Collier became director of the opera, an enterprise which he farmed out to Aaron Hill. See Cibber, Apology, II, 101-6.

Event Comment: [Opening night, under the management of John Rich.] By the Company of Comedians under Letters Patents granted by King Charles the Second. Beginning exactly at Six. No Persons are to be admitted behind the Scenes, nor any Money to be return'd after the Curtain is drawn up. Receipts: #143. Weekly Packet, 18 Dec.: This Day the New Play-House...is to be open'd...by the Company that act under the Patent; tho' it is said, that some of the Gentlemen who have left the Theatre in Drury-Lane for that Service, are order'd to return to their Colours, upon Pain of not exercising their Lungs anywhere; which may in Time prove of ill Service to the Patentee; that has been at vast Expence to make his Theatre as convenient for the Reception of an Audience as any one can possibly be

Event Comment: Benefit Johnson. The Diary of Mary Countess Cowper, pp. 103-4; She [Mrs Clayton] and Lady W. Powlett, and I went to the Play together, for the Benefit of Johnson, who is the best Comedian this Day upon the Stage, and I believe as true and good a Player as ever was in any Age, for the Parts that he plays

Event Comment: Not acted these Twenty Years. Written by Shakespear, and since revis'd with several Alterations. The whole Play being new dress'd. N.B. The Play will begin exactly at Six a-Clock. Weekly Journal or Saturday's Post, 5 Oct., reports a rumor that J. J. Heidegger has sent to France to recruit a set of comedians to act French plays at the king's

Event Comment: By His Royal Highnesses' Command. By the Company of Comedians from both Theatres. The Pit and Boxes to be laid together

Event Comment: Benefit the French Comedians [Bullock paid #40]. Written by Mons le Noble

Event Comment: Benefit M and Mlle Salle, the two Children who dance in the Company of the French Comedians. By His Royal Highness's Command. Tickets for L'homme a bonne fortune taken this day. [The Prince present. #40 paid to Bullock.

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: By the Comedians from the Theatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields. An excellent new Dramatick Opera

Event Comment: Daily Post, 4 Feb.: There is upon the Road from Paris, thither, a Company of French Comedians, which, 'tis said, are to perform at the Theatre in the Hay-Market twice every Week the Remainder of this Season; and we hear that 1000l. is already subscribed towards their Encouragement

Event Comment: By the Company of French Comedians, just arrived from France. A Comedy in French after the Italian Manner. Pit and Boxes at 5s. Stage Boxes 7s. 6d. Gallery 2s

Event Comment: Admission as 10 March. N.B. The Noble and Honorable Subscribers to the French Comedians, are humbly intreated to pardon the Omission of sending them Tickets on Thursday last, it having proceeded merely from a Mistake, which shall be prevented for the future, and each one shall have a perpetual Ticket sent to him on Tuesday next

Event Comment: By the French Comedians

Event Comment: At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. Written by the famous Molliere. Daily Courant, 2 May: Monsieur deGrimbergue, Director of the French Comedians, hereby gives Notice, that he is extreamly sorry he could not give on Friday last all the Entertainment he had promised in his Publick Bills, by reason that Signora Violenta unluckily fell sick that very day; and Mons Dangeville refused to Dance, being puft up by the Applause he had the good Fortune to meet with; fancying he hath a Right to do so whenever he pleases

Event Comment: By the Company of French Comedians. Pit and Boxes together by Tickets only at 5s. Gallery 2s. At 6 p.m. [This is the opening night of the New Theatre in the Haymarket.