Event Comment: Not Acted these Fifteen Years. [After this performance the dl at Oxford, where Betterton spoke a prologue written by Joseph Trapp. It appeared as a broadside and in The Players Turn'd Academicks and has been reprinted by Wiley. p. 124.

Event Comment: [By William Walker. Not advertised in Daily Courant, but this date accepted as premiere by Nicoll, p. 363 and Genest, II, 303.] Preface: It was so hem'd in between the Benefits that it seem'd meerly Confin'd to the Limits of a Single Night before hand

Event Comment: [This performance, following the Great Storm of 1703, aroused the wrath of the reformers, typified by Jeremy Collier's remark in his Dissuasive from the Play-House: "But Stupidity under that Convulsion was not the worst of our Case: No, that dreadful Hurricane, the Voice of an angry Heaven, and Terrour of Earth and Sea, was it seems a Jest at the Play House: Macbeth with his Lightning and Thunder the Entertainment of the Day, and the Mention of Chimnies blown down, clapt by the Audience with an unusual Length of Pleasure and Approbation" (p. 18).

Event Comment: [By Mary Griffith Pix. Date of premiere unknown. Downes (p. 48) states that it was acted at the beginning of May 1705 and that it expired on the sixth day.

Event Comment: Never Acted before. [By John Vanbrugh.] Downes, p. 48: and all Parts very well Acted: but the Nice Criticks Censure was, it wanted just Decorum, made it flag at last

Event Comment: [Text by P. A. Motteux. Music adapted by Pepusch.] A new Opera. By Subscription. The Front Boxes and Side Boxes to be laid open into the Pit; where none are to be admitted but by the Subscribers' Tickets. And the Stage Boxes, Balconies, and Galleries are for the Benefit of the House

Event Comment: [Words by P. A. Motteux.] Never perform'd before. The Dances, Choruses, and other Entertainments being properly introduc'd as on Foreign Stages. Admission to pit and boxes by tickets only (not to exceed 400) at half a guinea; stage boxes, half a guinea; first gallery 5s., upper gallery 2s. 6d. Receipts: #240 6s. 9d

Event Comment: Lady Wentworth, writing on 10 Dec., said: Yesterday I had lyke to have been ketched in a trap, your Brother Wentworth had almost parswaded me to have gon last night to hear the fyne muisick, the famous Etallion sing att the rehersall of the Operer, which he assured me it was soe dark none could see me. Indeed musick was the greatist temtation I could have, but I was afraid he deceaved me, soe Betty only went with his wife and him; and I rejoysed I did not, for thear was a vast deal of company and good light--but the Dutchis of Molbery had got the Etallian to sing and he sent an excuse, but the Dutchis of Shrosberry made him com, brought him in her coach but Mrs Taufs huft and would not sing because he had first put it ofe; though she was thear yet she would not, but went away. I wish the house would al joyne to humble her and not receav her again. This man out dus Sefashoe, they say that has hard both (Wentworth, p. 66)

Event Comment: Benefit Cavaliero Nicolini Grimaldi. And (at the Desire of several Persons of Quality) the Boxes are to be open'd to the Pit, and none to be admitted but by printed Tickets, which are deliver'd by him. [Ch. Dering, writing to John Percival, stated that Nicolini got 800 guineas.-Egmont MS, p. 246.

Event Comment: Benefit Husband and Mrs Willis. [Hogan, p. 246, identifies the gentlewoman as Miss Willis.

Event Comment: Benefit Cibber. At the Desire of several Ladies of Quality. London in 1710 (p. 96): It was a fine piece, and on that account had a large audience

Event Comment: Receipts: #128 18s. 6d. [According to Deutsch, p. 30, Francesca Vanini-Boschi introduced a Handel aria into this opera on this day.

Event Comment: Admission by ticket only at half a guinea. First Gallery 5s. Upper Gallery 2s. At 6 p.m. Letter by Peter Wentworth, 11 Jan.: Wednesday was the Opera and there he [Prince Eugene] brought a great crowd, so much that Operas are to be perform'd thrice a week whilst he stays here (Wentworth Papers, p. 246)