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