Event Comment: This play, possibly an adaptation from Corneille, was apparently not printed. It bears, however, some resemblances to Walter Hawkesworth's Latin comedy, Labyrinthus (which was first acted at Trinity College, Cambridge, in March 1602@3); and this Restoration play may be a variation on Hawkesworth's. Pepys, Diary: To the King's Playhouse...my wife and I and Madamoiselle. I paid for her going in, and there saw The Labyrinth, the poorest play, methinks, that ever I saw, there being nothing in it but the odd accidents that fell out, by a lady's being bred up in men's apparel, and a man in a woman's

Event Comment: This work apparently was not published. It was referred to in Domestick Intelligence, 19 Dec 1679: Acted by Scholars of a Latin School in Cannon Street

Event Comment: The United Company--Peregrine Bertie to the Countess of Rutland, 12 May 1688: We have had since my last another new play, a comedy writ by Shadwell, called the Esquire of Alsatia. It has been acted nine days successively, and on the third day the poet got 16l. more than any other poet ever did. When all this is granted, there is nothing in it extraordinary--except it is a Latin song--but the thing reason why it takes soe well is, because it brings severall of the cant words upon the stage which some in town have invented, and turns them into ridicule (HMC, 12th Report, Appendix, Rutland MSS., Part V, Vol. II, p. 119)

Event Comment: Translated from the Latin, as it was acted before King James the First by the Students at Cambridge

Event Comment: DDaily Advertiser, 22 Nov.: A Latin Play of Terence's, call'd Eunuchus; the Theatre was newly built by the said Mr Galliardy, and is large enough to contain 150 Spectators; the Scenes were all new, and the House neat and well lighted; the Performers were young Lords, and Sons of Gentlemen of Distinction, whose Propriety of Speech and Justness of Action, exceeded all that had ever been done of the kind; the Dresses were exceeding rich, and after the Eastern Fashion; the Decorations handsome, and every thing performed...to the intire Satisfaction and Applause of the Audience

Event Comment: This year was printed, The Usefulness of Dramatic Interludes in the education of youth, an Oration spoken before the masters and scholars of the University of Basil, by Mr Werenfels, Translated from the Latin by Mr Duncombe. A 27-page pamphlet pleading for the revival of amateur drama in that University, on grounds of its beneficial moral influence. This month was printed An Essay upon Acting,-Gentlemen's Magazine, Register of Books

Event Comment: Benefit for a Grammar Schoolmaster. Given at half an hour after six. In the original Language with an Occasional Latin Prologue and by particular desire an English Epilogue. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. [Terence's Play, probably deferred until 24 June.

Event Comment: [See 27 May.] Benefit of a Grammar School Master. Terence's Andria in the original Language, with a New Latin Prologue, and an Occasional English Epilogue. After which will be spoken in English an allegorical Eulogy called Mimus. It is hoped the late disappointment (as it was in all its circumstances unaviodable) will be no detriment to the performance

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A Comedy [by William Kenrick] never performed before. [The play failed to succeed. Kenrick accounts for the failure in his Preface to the 1773 edition by reference to the Macklin affair (See 23 Oct., 30 Oct. and 18 Nov.) He quotes from the Public Advertiser (22 Nov.): "On Saturday last a new comedy called the Duellist was performed, for the first time, at Covent Garden Theatre. Previous to the curtain being drawn up, the following written handbill was dispersed about the house. 'Mr Macklin has been pursued by a malicious party to such a pitch of rancour, that at last they have succeeded so far in their cursed designs, as to get him discharged this theatre, and thereby have deprived him of the means of a livelihood; therefore if the public have any spirit, they will not suffer the new play to begin till Mr Colman promises that Mr Macklin shall be engaged again.' This handbill found its way into the green-room, and had a very visible effect on the performers, as was plainly evident from their confusion. The piece was received with great marks of approbation, and given out again for Monday, which was attended with some hissing, but that was greatly overpowered by the general applause of the audience. The overture to Thomas and Sally being attended to with silence, the greatest part of the author's friends quitted the theatre; which being taken advantage of by a party in the gallery, a riot ensued, and the entertainment was not suffered to go on till another play was given out for Monday." Kenrick agrees with this account, then analyses several other objections which he dismisses, to wit, in the play (a) too lengthy a satire on lawyers, (b) an indelicate passage in Latin (omitted from the printed version); in the audience, a conspiracy of Garrick and Bickerstaffe against him; and lack of a claque of his own friends to carry through their suport of him. Macklin's name appears on the playroll this night, but only for a accumulated 4 days of pay #8 16s. (Account Book).] Receipts: #221 3s. 6d. (Account Book)