The London Stage Database team will be retiring the Legacy Search on May 1, 2025. Please take a moment before that date to reproduce any pre-2021 searches and export any resulting datasets you may wish to preserve for future use. We are making this change in order to free up computational resources for new features and data, currently in development with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Watch this space for more updates and, coming soon, new ways to keep up with the latest project developments!
SELECT * FROM london_stages WHERE MATCH('(@(authnameclean,perftitleclean,commentcclean,commentpclean) "John Dryden Esq"/1) | (@(roleclean,performerclean) "John Dryden Esq")') GROUP BY eventid ORDER BY weight() desc, eventdate asc OPTION field_weights=(perftitleclean=100, commentpclean=75, commentcclean=75, roleclean=100, performerclean=100, authnameclean=100), ranker=sph04

Result Options

Download:
JSON XML CSV

Search Filters

Event

Date Range
Start
End

Performance

?
Filter by Performance Type










Cast

?

Keyword

?
We found 9825 matches on Author, 1782 matches on Performance Comments, 1657 matches on Event Comments, 371 matches on Performance Title, and 0 matches on Roles/Actors.

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Messiah

Music: Previous to The Messiah: An Ode, written by W. T. Fitzgerald, Esq</a>., the Music entirely new by Dr Arnold-; Concerto on the violin-Barthelemon

Performance Comment: T. Fitzgerald, Esq=., the Music entirely new by Dr Arnold-; Concerto on the violin-Barthelemon.
Event Comment: The Last Night of the Company's performing this Season. Account-Book, 24 June: Balance carried forward to Thos. Harris Esq</a>'s Private Account #1,614 2s. 5d. Receipts: #151 2s. (145.15.6; 5.6.6)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Country Girl

Afterpiece Title: Sylvester Daggerwood

Afterpiece Title: The Shipwreck

Song: In: The Blue Bell of Scotland, as18000512; accompanied on the Lute, as18000512; In course Evening: Crazy Jane-Mrs Bland; In 3rd piece: a new ballad, The Fisherman and the River Queen (Written and Composed by M. G. Lewis, Esq</a>, M. P., Author of Crazy Jane.)-Mrs Bland

Performance Comment: G. Lewis, Esq=, M. P., Author of Crazy Jane.)-Mrs Bland.
Event Comment: [The King's Company. Evelyn, Diary: Saw the Virgin Queene a play written by Mr Dryden &c. [Possibly the run of this play continued, for Pepys saw it again on 25 March and there are no certain performances of other plays at the King's Theatre. If Secret Love was acted without interruption, except for the customary non-acting days in Lent, it was probably given on 16, 18, 19, 21, and 23 March.

Performances

Mainpiece Title: [the Virgin Queen

Event Comment: The King's Company. Pepys, Diary: To the King's playhouse, to see a new play, acted but yesterday, a translation out of French by Dryden [see 14 Sept. 1668], called The Ladys a la Mode; so mean a thing as, when they come to say it would be acted again to-morrow, both he that said it, Beeson [Beeston], and the pit fell a-laughing, there being this day not a quarter of the pit full

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Ladies A La Mode

Event Comment: The United Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but Luttrell's copy of the separately printed Prologue and Epilogue bears the date 12 Nov. 1683 (item 87, Sotheby's sale, 12 June 1939), and the premiere probably occurred shortly before that date. A revised version of the Epilogue, correcting errors, appeared almost immediately after the one first published; it bears Luttrell's date of 14 Nov. 1683. The Epilogue, in the revised version, bears the note: Written by Mr Dryden. The Prologue and both versions of the Epilogue are reprinted in Wiley, Rare Prologues and Epilogues, pp. 183-87. In addition, a song, Awake O Constantine awake, with music by Thomas Farmer, is in The Theater of Music, 1865; it also appeared in A Collection of the Newest and Choicest Songs, 1864 (which bears Luttrell's date, 10 March 1683@4, Bindley Collection, William Andrews Clark@Jr@Library)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Constantine The Great

Event Comment: Edward Bedingfield to the Countess of Rutland, 1 Jan. 1684@5: Wee are in expectation of an opera composed by Mr Dryden, and set by Grabuche [Grabut], and so well performed at the repetition that has been made before his Majesty at the Duchess of Portsmouth's pleaseth mightily, but the rates proposed will not take soe well, for they have set the boxes at a guyny a place, and the Pitt at halfe. They advance 4,000 l. on the opera, and therefore must tax high to reimburse themselves (HMC, 12th Report, Appendix, Rutland MSS., Part V, Vol. II, p. 85)

Performances

Event Comment: Thomas Shadwell to Earl of Dorset, 19 Jan. 1691@2 (summary): Asks that he will order The Innocent Impostors to be the next new play to be acted. He would have had it acted in Roman Habits and then, with a mantle to have covered her hips, [if] Mrs Barry would have acted the part; but Thomas Davenant has with a great slight turned him off, and says he will trouble himself no more about the Play. Asks Dorset to favour the author and him. Complains of priority being given to Durfey's play and a play by Dryden (HMC, 4th Report, Appendix [1874], pp. 280-81)

Performances

Event Comment: Gentleman's Journal, March 1691@2 (licensed 9 March 1691@2): And after Easter we are to have a New Opera; and Mr Dryden's Cleomenes very shortly

Performances

Event Comment: The United Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but Dryden, on 12 Dec. 1693, reported that it had then been acted eight times. If these performances were consecutive, the premiere probably occurred in November; but the fact that the play was advertised in the London Gazette, 4-7 Dec. 1693, suggests tnat the premiere was near the end of October or early in November. Henry Purcell composed the overture and act tunes. See Purcell's Works, Purcell Society, XVI (1906), xxxi. Two of the songs whose music he composed are in Thesaurus Musicus, 1694: Cynthia frowns when e're I woo her, sung by Mrs Ayliff; and Ancient Phillis has young Graces, sung by Bowman. See also 12 Dec. 1693 and 22 March 1692@3

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Double Dealer

Event Comment: Evelyn, Diary, 11 Jan. 1693@4: Sup'd at Mr Ed Sheldons where was Mr Dryden the Poet, who now intending to Write no more Plays (intent upon the Translation of Virgil) read to us his Prologue & Epilogue to his last Valedictory Play, now shortly to be Acted

Performances

Event Comment: Newdigate newsletters, 26 March 1696: Mr Dryden ye famous Poet is writing a play wch will bee Intituled Englands deliverance from Popish Conspirators (Wilson, Theatre Notes from the Newdigate Newsletters, p. 82)

Performances

Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the premiere is not known, but the fact that the play was advertised in the Post Man, 3-5 March 1697@8, suggests that the first performance occurred probably not later than early February 1697@8. The Preface is signed by George Powell, who refers to the author of the play as unknown. In addition, Powell mentions that his company has recently revived some of Dryden's plays: Don Sebastian, Secret Love; or, The Maiden Queen, Marriage a la Mode, King Arthur, and adds: In relation to our reviving his Almanzor...very hard crutching up what Hart and Mohun...could not prop

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Fatal Discovery; Or, Love In Ruines

Performance Comment: Edition of 1698: Prologue-Mr Powell in answer to a scurrilous one, spoke against him, at Betterton's Booth in Little-Lincolns-Inn-Fields; Epilogue-; Cornaro-Powell; Segerdo-Evans; Conall-Thomas; Gabinius-Harland; Dandalo-Johnson; Beringaria-Mrs Knight; Arapsia-Mrs Powell; Margaretta-Mrs Verbruggen; Eromena-Mrs Cross; Cleonista-Mrs Temple.
Cast
Role: Dandalo Actor: Johnson
Related Works
Related Work: The Fatal Discovery Author(s): John Home
Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of the premiere is not known, but Dryden's letter (see 11 April 1700) places its expected presentation between 11 and 25 April. The fact that the play was advertised in the London Gazette, 29 April 1700, suggests a premiere early in April

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Fate Of Capua

Event Comment: Rich's Company. If the tradition (see 29 April 1700) is correct, this, the day of Dryden's death, was the third performance of this revived play

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Pilgrim

Related Works
Related Work: The Pilgrim Author(s): John FletcherJohn Vanbrugh

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Jew Of Venice

Performance Comment: Edition of 1701 lists: Bassanio-Betterton; Antonio-Verbruggen; Gratiano-Booth; Lorenzo-Baily; Shylock-Dogget; Duke of Venice-Harris; Portia-Mrs Bracegirdle; Nerissa-Mrs Bowman; Jessica-Mrs Porter; Prologue written by Bevil Higgons: The Ghosts of Shakespear and Dryden arise Crown'd with Lawrel-; Epilogue-.
Event Comment: Benefit Mills. At the Desire of Several Persons of Quality. Written by the late Famous Mr Dryden

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Conquest Of Granada By The Spaniards: With The Loves Of Almanzor And Almahide

Song: As17031102

Dance: duRuel, duRuel's Wife

Music: As17040404

Event Comment: At the particular Desire of several Ladies of Quality. As it was altered from Shakespear by Sir Will. D'avenant, and the late Mr Dryden, Poets Laureat. With new Scenes, Machines, and all the Original Decorations proper to the Play

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Tempest

Related Works
Related Work: The Tempest Author(s): John Dryden
Related Work: The Tempest; or, The Enchanted Island Author(s): John Dryden
Event Comment: As it was alter'd (from Shakespear) by the late Sir William Davenant and Mr Dryden

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Tempest

Performance Comment: Parts-Mills, Johnson, Norris, Miller, Thurmond, Bickerstaff, F. Leigh, Cross, Miss Willis, Miss Lindar; Dorinda-a young Gentlewoman (who never perform'd before [probably Miss Seal; see17180801]).probably Miss Seal; see17180801]).
Related Works
Related Work: The Tempest Author(s): John Dryden
Related Work: The Tempest; or, The Enchanted Island Author(s): John Dryden
Event Comment: As it was alter'd from Shakespear by Sir Wm. Davenant and the late Mr Dryden, Poets Laureat

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Tempest

Performance Comment: See17180611 but Prospero-Mills; Stephano-Bickerstaff; Trincalo-Miller; Ventoso-Norris; Mustacho-F. Leigh; Caliban-Johnson; Sycorax-Cross; Hippolita-Miss Willis; Ariel-Miss Lindar; Miranda-Miss Teno; Dorinda-Miss Seal.
Cast
Role: Caliban Actor: Johnson
Related Works
Related Work: The Tempest Author(s): John Dryden
Related Work: The Tempest; or, The Enchanted Island Author(s): John Dryden
Event Comment: Written by Shakespear. And revised with Alterations by Mr Dryden. Receipts: #21 8s. 6d

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Troilus And Cressida

Related Works
Related Work: Troilus and Cressida; or, Truth Found Too Late Author(s): John Dryden
Event Comment: Written by Shakespear, and revised with Alterations by Mr Dryden. Receipts: #23 5s

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Troilus And Cressida

Related Works
Related Work: Troilus and Cressida; or, Truth Found Too Late Author(s): John Dryden
Event Comment: Not Acted these Twenty-Five Years. Written by the late Mr Dryden

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Cleomenes; Or, The Spartan Hero

Related Works
Related Work: Cleomenes, The Spartan Heroe Author(s): John Dryden

Dance: Mrs Rogeir, Mrs Tenoe

Event Comment: As it was alter'd from Shakespear by Sir William D'avenant and Mr Dryden. With all Decorations and Dances proper to the Play. Being the last Time of Acting this Summer

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Tempest

Related Works
Related Work: The Tempest Author(s): John Dryden
Related Work: The Tempest; or, The Enchanted Island Author(s): John Dryden
Event Comment: Written by Mr Dryden. Receipts: #23 19s. 6d

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Don Sebastion, King Of Portugal