Event Comment: Betterton's Company. James Brydges, Diary: About 8: Sr G; [Coply] & I...going by ye playhouse in Lincolns inn fields, met Mr Edwin (Huntington MS St 26)

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. James Brydges, Diary: About 6: he [Brydges' brother Henry] set me down at y- Playhouse in Lincolns inn fields, where I met Me Coke, Mr Hammond, & Sir Godfrey Coply: about 8: I came home (Huntington MS St 26)

Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the first production is not certain, but tradition states that Dryden died on the third day (1 May 1700); if this report is correct, the first performance occurred on 29 April 1700. In A Collection of New Songs...Compos'd by Mr Daniel Purcel, Perform'd in the Revis'd Comedy call'd the Pilgrim (1700) is a song, Chronos, Chronos, mend thy pace, with Janus sung by Freeman, Momus by Pate, Diana by Mrs Erwin. Gottfried Finger apparently composed the passage sung by Venus, Calms appear when storms are past. William Egerton, Faithful Memoirs of...Mrs Anne Oldfield (1731): The Pilgrim was indeed reviv'd for the Benefit of Mr Dryden, Ann. 1700, but he dying on third Night of its Representation, his Son attended the Run of it, and the Advantages accrued to his Family. Cibber, Apology, I, 269-70: This Epilogue, and the Prologue the same Play [The Pilgrim], written by Dryden, I spoke myself, which not being usually done by the same Person, I have a mind, while I think of it, to let you know on what Occasion they both fell to my Share....Sir John Vanbrugh, who had given some light touches of his Pen to the Pilgrim to assist the Benefit Day of Dryden, had the Disposal of the Parts, and I being then as an Actor in some Favour with him, he read the Play first with me alone, and was pleased to offer me my Choice of what I might like best for myself in it. But as the chief Characters were not (according to my Taste) the most shining, it was no great Self-denial in me that I desir'd he would first take care of those who were more difficult to be pleased; I therefore only chose for myself two short incidental Parts, that of the stuttering Cook and the mad Englishman....Sir John, upon my being contented with so little a Share in the Entertainment, gave me the Epilogue to make up my Mess; which being written so much above the Strain of common Authors, I confess I was not a little pleased with. And Dryden, upon his hearing me repeat it to him, made a farther Compliment of trusting me with the Prologue. Cibber, Apology, I, 305-6: In theYear 1699, Mrs Oldfield was first taken into the House, where she remain'd about a Twelve-month almost a Mute and unheeded, 'till Sir John Vanbrugh, who first recommended her, gave her the Part of Alinda in the Pilgrim revis'd. This gentle Character happily became that want of Confidence which is inseparable from young Beginners, who, without it, seldom arrive to any Excellence: Notwithstanding, I own I was then so far deceiv'd in my Opinion of her, that I thought she had little more than her Person that appear'd necessary to the forming a good Actress; for she set out with so extraordinary a Diffidence, that it kept her too despondingly down to a formal, plain (not to say) flat manner of speaking. Nor could the silver Tone of her Voice 'till after some time incline my Ear to any Hope in he favour. A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702), p. 27: [After Drury Lane and Lincoln's Inn Fields had revived Shakespeare and Johnson] Nay then, says the whole party at D. Lane, faith we'll e'en put the Pilgrim upon him--ay faith, so we will, says Dryden, and if youll let my Son have the Profits of the Third Night, I'll give you a Secular Mask: Done, says the House, and so the Bargain was struck

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. Flying Post, 2-4 July 1700: At the Request, and for the Entertainment of several Persons of Quality, at the New Theatre in Lincolns-Inn-Fields, to Morrow, being Friday, the 5th of this instant July, will be acted, The Comical History of Don Quixote, both Parts being made into one by the Author. With a new Entry by the little Boy, being his last time of Dancing before he goes to France: Also Mrs Elford's new Entry, never performed but once; and Miss Evan's Jigg and Irish Dance: With several new Comical Dances, compos'd and perform'd by Monsieur L'Sac and others. Together with a new Pastoral Dialogue, by Mr George and Mrs Haynes; and variety of other Singing. It being for the Benefit of a Gentleman in great distress; and for the Relief of his Wife and Three Children. Downes, Roscius Anglicanus, p. 45: Don Quixote, both Parts made into one, by Mr Durfey, Mrs Bracegirdle Acting, and her excellent Singing in't; the Play in general being well Perform'd tis little Inferior to any of the preceding Comedies

Event Comment: [See Minutes of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge in Secretan, p. 107: "1703. Dec. 16: Also that at the bottom of the said paper a query might be put, whether acting the 'Tempest' upon the next Wednesday after the late dreadful storm, at the new play-house in Little Lincoln's Inn Fields, was proper or reasonable." See also The Terrible Stormy Wind and Tempest (1705), p. 24.

Event Comment: Benefit Powell. Note, That the Tickets given out for Tuesday in last Whitson-Week at the New Theatre in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, for the Benefit of Mr Powell, will be taken for this Play at the Theatre Royal

Event Comment: [In Daily Courant, 4 Sept., The Heir of Morocco had been announced for this day.] The Playhouse in Little-Lincoln's-Inn-Fields is to be Let for a Tennis-Court, or for any other use, (except a Playhouse). Enquire of Mr John Hall next Door to the Sign of the Angel in Little-Russell street

Event Comment: [By Nicholas Rowe.] Never Acted before. The Medley, 22 April: Whereas Nicodemus Somebody, Esq; alias The Merry Mr Pack, belonging to the Play-house in Lincolns-Inn-Fields, was on Wednesday Night last very noisy and troublesome in the first Gallery of Theatre-Royal in Drury-lane, he's desir'd hereby, when out of his own House, to behave himself with a little more Manners and Discretion, and not distinguish himself again by his ill-natur'd Gestures and frequent Hissings

Event Comment: At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. At 6 p.m. Post Boy, 28 Sept.: We hear that last Week Mr Rich made an Assignment of the New Theatre in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, and his Patent granted by King Charles II to Mr Keene and Mr Bullock jun. and that they open on Saturday next, with a celebrated Play of Shakespear's call'd, Cimbiline, which will be entirely new dress'd

Event Comment: Not Acted these Thirty Years. Written originally in French by Moliere. Original Weekly Journal, 28 June: On Friday 7-Night one Mr Kelley, an Irish Gentleman, was kill'd by Mr Ryan, one of the Actors of Lincolns-Inn-Fields Theatre; the Accident happen'd thus: Mr Ryan being at the Sun-Eating House in Long Acre at Supper; Mr Kelley, who before had terrified several Companions by drawing his Sword upon Persons whom he did not know, came up into the Room drunk, and abused Mr Ryan, who returned him very civil Usage, and desired his Absence: This did not satisfie Mr Kelley, who drew his Sword, made three Passes at Mr Ryan, before he could get his own Sword, which lay by in the Window; at last finding his own Life in Danger, He drew and ran Mr Kelley in the left Side, who fell down and immediately died

Event Comment: Not Acted these Two Years. Weekly Journal or Saturday's Post, 2 Aug.: Some Days ago [23 July] Mr Keene, and eminent Tragedian, and one of the Masters of the Theatre in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, riding in the Country, his Horse being unruly, threw him, and so bruised him that he died in two Days [on 25 July]. He was decently buried last Wednesday [30 July] in the Vault under St. Clement's Church, where lie the Bodies of Mr Mountfort, Mr Harden, Mr Powell, and others of his Fraternity

Event Comment: Original Weekly Journal, 2 Aug.: On Wednesday last, the Deceas'd Mr Keene was carried from his House in Cook's Court, by Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, to the Parish Church of St. Clement Danes; the Pall was held up by 3 Gentlemen from each Theatre, viz. Mr Booth, Mr Mills, and Mr Johnson, from the Old House; and Mr Bullock, Sen. Mr Spiller, and Mr Corey: Mr Charles Bullock appear'd as chief Mourner, the rest of the Actors from both Houses follow'd the Corpse to the Church, where was sung a very fine Anthem. 'Tis said Mr Walker, a Gentleman of that Profession, has made a very Pretty Elegy in Blank Verse upon the Occasion

Event Comment: Evening Post, 30 Aug.: Yesterday Mr Bullock, Master of the Play-House in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, was commanded to attend his Majesty at Hampton-Court, where he receiv'd Orders for his Company to perform several Plays for the Entertainment of His Majesty during his Stay there, in the Winter Season, and there is a magnificent Theatre erecting for that Purpose

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

Event Comment: Not Acted these Sixteen Years. Written by Shakespear. Receipts: #99 14s. Davies, Dramatic Miscellanies, I, 139: The first play acted at Lincoln's-inn Fields, which fixed the attention of the public, was The Merry Wives of Windsor. This comedy was so perfectly played in all its parts, that the critics in acting universally celebrated the merit of the performers. The characters were so well adapted to the abilities of the actors, that no play had been represented with equal skill and propriety at that theatre

Event Comment: Receipts: #23 0s. 6d.Daily Post, 3 Nov: On Tuesday last a Great Disturbance happen'd at the Playhouse in Lincoln's Inn Fields, occasion'd by several Persons assaulting the Centinels upon Duty there, and throwing Dirt at them

Event Comment: At the particular Desire of several Persons of Quality. Receipts: #35 13s. St. James's Journal, 29 Nov.: On Monday Mr Ogden, one of the Actors in Lincoln's Inn Fields, was committed to Newgate for treasonable Words

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A new Burlesque Entertainment of Dancing. Weekly Journal or Saturday's Post, 30 March: The Managers of Drury-lane Theatre observing how successful Lincoln's-Inn-Fields has been in several Entertainments, in which the Character of a Harlequin has the principal Part, were resolv'd to cut them out, and therefore prepared...Blind Man's Bluff, to be perform'd by no less than eight Harlequins; for, in their Way of Reasoning, eight Harlequins must divert much better than one; the Thing was so ridiculous there was no Musick to be heard but Hissing. [For an essay on the improvement of the stage, see Weekly Journal or Saturday's Post, 16 March.

Event Comment: At a Booth on Windmill Hill. London Journal, 20 April: On Monday Night last one Mr Redshaw, one of the Actors belonging to the Theatre in Lincoln's-Inn Fields, being to be kill'd in Jest in the Play of Darius on Windmill Hill, was kill'd in Earnest, for he was accidentally run into the Eye, of which Wound he died the Day following. [In British Journal, 20 April, the name is Redstraw; in Freeholder's Journal, 20 April, it is Rackstraw.

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Horton. Davies (Dramatic Miscellanies, I, 103-4): Upon Mrs Younger's quitting Drury-lane for a more advantageous income at Lincoln's-inn-fields, [Mrs Horton] was called upon by Wilks to act the part of Phillis in the Conscious Lovers. Younger had given the public so much entertainment in that part, that Mrs Horton met with very uncandid treatment from the audience; who so far forgot what was due to merit and the handsomest woman on the stage, that they endeavoured to discourage her by frequent hissing. She bore this treatment with patience for some time. At last, she advanced to the front of the stage, and boldly addressed the pit: "Gentlemen, what do you mean?What displeases you; my acting or my person?' This shew of spirit recovered the spectators into good humor, and they cried out, as with one voice, No, no, Mrs Horton; we are not displeased; go on, go on.

Event Comment: By a New Company who never appear'd on that Stage before. All the Songs and Dances set to Musick, as it is perform'd at the Theatre in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields. At 6:30 p.m

Event Comment: DDaily Journal, 8 Aug.: On Wednesday last in the Evening her Majesty, the Prince of Wales, his Royal Highness the Duke, the Princess Royal, and the Princesses Amelia and Carolina, were entertained in the Gardens at Richmond by the Comedians of the Theatre Royal in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields

Event Comment: By a Company of Comedians From the Theatre-Royal in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields. Boxes 3s. Pit 2s. Gallery 1s

Event Comment: On Monday Night last died, at his Lodgings in Richmond, Mr John Ogden, one of the Comedians...in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields. Daily Journal, 5 July