Event Comment: The United Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but it very probably occurred not later than May 1691, as the play was advertised in the London Gazette, 4-8 June 1691. For discussions of it, see E. W. White, Early Performances of Purcell's Operas, Theatre Notebook, XIII (1958-59), 44-45, and R. E. Moore, Henry Purcell and the Restoration Theatre, Chapter III. Downes, Roscius Anglicanus, p. 42: King Arthur an Opera, wrote by Mr Dryden: it was Excellently Adorn'd with Scenes and Machines: The Musical Part set by Famous Mr Henry Purcel; and Dances made by Mr Jo. Priest: The Play and Musick pleas'd the Court and City, and being well perform'd, twas very Gainful to the Company. Roger North: I remember in Purcell's excellent opera of King Arthur, when Mrs Butler, in the person of Cupid, was to call up Genius, she had the liberty to turne her face to the scean, and ner back to the theater. She was in no concerne for her face, but sang a recitativo of calling towards the place where Genius was to rise, and performed it admirably, even beyond any thing I ever heard upon the English stage....And I could ascribe it to nothing so much as the liberty she had of concealing her face, which she could not endure should be so contorted as is necessary to sound well, before her gallants, or at least her envious sex. There was so much of admirable musick in that opera, that it's no wonder it's lost; for the English have no care of what's good, and therefore deserve it not (Roger North on Music, ed. John Wilson [London, 1959], p. 217-18)

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Butler and Young Sandham. At the particular Desire of several Ladies of Quality

Event Comment: At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. Written by the late Sir John Vanbrugh

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Heron. Mainpiece: Written by Sir John Vanbrugh

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by the late Sir John Vanbrugh

Event Comment: By Command of His Royal Highness the Duke. Mainpiece: Written by the late Sir John Vanbrugh

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by Sir John Vanbrugh

Event Comment: By Command of His Royal Highness. Mainpiece: Written by the late Sir John Vanbrugh

Event Comment: At the Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Mainpiece: Written by the late Sir John Vanbrugh

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by the late Sir John Vanbrugh

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Butler. Boxes as 17 March. Tickets at Mrs Butler's House in Leicester Fields

Event Comment: Written by Sir John Vanbrugh

Event Comment: Benefit for Quick. 1st piece [1st time; PREL 1, by John Dent]. 2nd piece: In 3 Acts. 3rd piece: In 2 Acts. Morning Chronicle, 26 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Quick, No. 98, High Holborn. Receipts: #409 11s. (201.4.6; 5.0.0; tickets: 203.6.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [altered by John Philip Kemble]. Receipts: #427 19s. (360.8.6; 66.5.6; 1.5.0)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; mf 2, by John Dent. Prologue by the author (see text)]: A new Overture and Songs by Hook. Account-Book, 19 Nov.: Paid Dent for his farce #100. Receipts: #84 17s. (53/14; 30/18; 0/5)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; MD 3, by John Philip Kemble, adapted from LODOISKA; ou, Les Tartares, by Jean Elie Bedeno Deiaure]: The Music composed, and selected from Cherubini, Kreutzer, and Andreozzi, by Storace. With entirely new Dresses, Scenes, Decorations and Machinery. [Scenery for Acts I and III was by Greenwood, for Act II by Malton, Lupino and Demaria; machinery was by Cabanel (see text).] Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Morning Chronicle, 4 Oct. 1794: This day is published LODOISKA (1s. 6d.). Powell, 7 June: Lodoiska rehearsed at 12 and at night (Bannister Jun., Hobler absent). 8 June: Lodoiska rehearsed at night at 6. 9 June: Lodoiska rehearsed at 12. Receipts: #318 1s. (213/11; 101/15; 2/15)

Event Comment: The Lord Mayor's Show. London Intelligencer, 31 Oct.: London, Octob. 29. This day the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor of the City of London (Sir John Lawrence) was sworn into the said Office...After which...he return'd into the City, where the Solemnity of the day was perform'd with great Magnificence and in exceldent Order. Evelyn, Diary: Was the most magnificent triumph by Water & Land of the Ld: Major

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Never Acted before. [By John Hewitt.] Preface to edition of 1737: This Comedy made it's Appearance under many Disadvantages:...It was read for the first Time to the Performers, Tuesday the 15th, and acted Monday the 21st. Mrs Giffard, who had been Ill the Whole Season, undertook the Character of Lady Betty Manly, but finding herself indisposed, returned the Part on Thursday Evening. It was then given to Mrs Hamilton, who on Saturday about one in the Afternoon declared she could not do it unless it was cut, which the Nature of that Part not admitting, there was a Necessity to ask the Favour of Miss Hughes to undertake it, who with a great deal of good Nature, studied and played it perfect, tho' at so short a Warning

Event Comment: [Extra night] By Permission [of the Lord Chamberlain]. Benefit for Griffiths and Fearon. Tickets delivered for Hamlet and a Comedy will be admitted. Tickets to be had of Griffiths and of Fearon at Clay's, Cabinet-maker, Princess-street, Soho

Event Comment: [By Sir John Vanbrugh and Colley Cibber.] All the Characters new drest. Mist's 13 Jan.: On Wednesday last a most horrid, barbarous, and cruel Murder was committed...upon a posthumous Child of the late Sir John Vanbroog, by one who, for some Time past, has gone by the Name of Keyber. It was a fine Child born, and would certainly have lived long, had it not fallen into such cruel Hands. Davies (Dramatic Miscellanies, III, 260-61): In all the tumults and isturbances of the theatre on the first night of a new play, which was formerly a time of more dangerous service, to the actors, than it has been of late, Mrs Oldfield was entirely mistress of herself; she thought it her duty, amidst the most violent opposition and uproar, to exert the utmost of her abilities to serve the author. In the comedy of uproar, to exert the utmost of her abilities to serve the author. In the comedy of the Provoked Husband, Cibber's enemies tried all their power to get the play condemned. The reconciliation scene wrought so effectually upon the sensible and generous part of the audience, that the conclusion was greatly and generously approved. Amidst a thousand applauses, Mrs Oldfield came forward to speak the epilogue; but when she had pronounced the first line,-Methinks I hear some powder'd critic say-a man, of no distinguished appearance, from the seat next to tne orchestra, saluted her with a hiss. She fixed her eye upon him immediately, made a very short pause, and spoke the words poor creature! loud enough to be heard by the audience, with such a look of mingled scorn, pit, and contempt, that the most uncommon applause justified her conduct in this particular, and the poor reptile sunk down with fear and trembling. See also Cibber, Apology, I, 310-11; Victor, History of the Theatres, II, 105

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by John O'Keeffe. Prologue by John Taylor (see text). Address by John Wolcot (Pocket Magazine, supra)]: With new Dresses and Decorations. [Mrs Lee was from the Salisbury theatre.] Morning Chronicle, 11 May 1795: This Day is published Life's Vagaries (2s.). Receipts: #268 3s. 6d. (259.19.6; 8.4.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by Sir John Vanbrugh

Event Comment: Benefit Sir John (General Advertiser). Boxes 3s. Pit 2s. 6d. First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s

Event Comment: MMrs Jeffries made her first appearance on this stage in Belinda.--not perfect.--was pretty well received.--is a little smart figure (Hopkins MS Notes). At 15 minutes past 4, took my place in the Pit at Drury Lane to see the Provok'd Wife. Mr Garrick is inimitable as Sir John Brute, Palmer does Heartfree, and Mrs Abington Lady Fanciful (with a song not printed in the play) very well. Constant by Cautherly, whose figure and manner I do not like, Vernon in Col. Bully sings a song (Neville MS Diary)

Event Comment: SSir John Brute, Mr Garrick (Cross Diary)