Event Comment: Charles II to Madame, 14 July 1664: I am just now come from seeing a new ill play and it is almost midnight (C. H. Hartman, Charles II and Madame [1934], p. 108). W. J. Lawrence, in a review of Boswell, The Restoration Court Stage, in Modern Language Review, XXVIII (1933), 103, stated his belief that this play was acted at court this day

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. The date of the first production is not known, but as the play was licensed for printing on 27 March 1679, the premiere must have been no later than March 1679. It is possible that Midnight's Intrigue--see introductory note to the 1676-77 season-is an earlier version of this play. The Epilogue suggests that the players faced thin audiences during the spring and that Drury Lane had been closed for some time: So hard the Times are, and so thin the Town, @Though but one Playhouse, that must too lie down. It is possible that Mrs Behn's The Young King may have been acted at this time. See September 1679

Event Comment: DDaily Post, 29 May: We are assur'd that there will be no more Plays acted this Season at [dl], and we hear that there was Yesterday no Play acted...as had been advertiz'd for that Day; the Occasion we are inform'd was, that at Midnight on Saturday last several persons arm'd took Possession of the same, by Direction from some of the Patentees, and lock'd up and barricado'd all the Doors and Entrances thereunto, against the whole Company of his Majesty's Comedians, as also against Mr Cibber, Jun. notwithstanding he had paid to one of the Patentees several hundred Pounds for one third Part of the Patent, Cloaths, Scenes, &c. and all Rights and Privileges thereunto annexed, for a certain Term not yet expired. Mr Cibber, Jun. and the rest of the Company of Comedians, and this Morning to wait upon his Grace the Duke of Grafton, Lord Chamberlain of his Majesty's Houshold, with their humble Petition, and the Representation of their Cast, and to beg his Grace's Favour and Protection

Event Comment: DDaily Advertiser, 30 May: Some of the Patentees of [dl] having thought fit, at Midnight on Saturday last, to give a very extraordinary Instance of the Wisdom and Justice of their Conduct, and of their Capacity for the Management they had undertaken, did also in Justification of their Proceedings, publish and disperse on Monday last, a printed Paper, containing several unjust and false Suggestions and Misrepresentations almost in every Particular, of their own Conduct, and the Case and Intention of the present Company of Comedians, who, in humble Duty...do intend very speedily by plain Matters of Fact, to set the whole affair in a just and clear Light. [See 4 June for a statement by the Patentees.

Event Comment: At the Desire of several Eminent Citizens. A concert, etc. Benefit for Stevens (bookseller). Mainpiece: Written by E. Young, author of the Midnight Thoughts. Boxes 5s. Pit 2s. 6d. Gallery 1s. 6d

Event Comment: MMiss Midnight will give Tea. &c. Benefit for Pittard le Charpentier and a Free Mason