Event Comment: By Command of Their Majesties. The many Ladies who have Places for the suceeding nights of the new Pantomime [The Magic Oak] are respectfully acquainted that, on account of Bologna Jun.'s accident, it cannot be performed before Easter Monday. [The Mouth of the Nile, also advertised on playbill of 5 Mar., was not acted on this night.] Doors, &c. as 21 Nov. 1798. Receipts: #364 13s. 6d. (361.13.6; 3.0.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Townsend and Mrs Johnson. 3rd piece [1st time in London; F 1, by William Dunlap]: Performed with distinguished Applause at the John St.? Theatre, New York [on 9 Jan. 1797]; compressed into one act [from two], and adapted for the English Stage by a Gentleman [perhaps the author]. "Commencing at half past eleven o'clock, and after a tiresome variety of other entertainments, the audience thought they had had enough for their money, and demanded the fall of the curtain before the conclusion of [Tell Truth and Shame the Devil]" (Monthly Mirror, June 1799, p. 367). Morning Chronicle, 8 May: Tickets to be had of Townsend, No. 9, Leicester-place. [Mrs Johnson not listed.] Receipts: #442 17s. 6d. (108.1.0; 1.11.0; tickets: 333.5.6, of which Townsend sold 218.2.0; Mrs Johnson 115.3.6)

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. Pepys, Diary: To the Opera, which begins again to-day with The Witts, never acted yet with scenes; and the King and Duke and Duchess were there...and indeed it is a most excellent play, and admirable scenes. Downes (p. 21): All the other Parts being exactly Perform'd; it continu'd 8 Days Acting Successively

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. Pepys, Diary: Walking through Lincoln's Inn Fields observed at the Opera a new play, Twelfth Night, was acted there, and the King there; so I, against my own mind and resolution, could not forbear to go in, which did make the play seem a burthen to me, and I took no pleasure at all in it; and so after it was done went home with my mind troubled for my going thither, after my swearing to my wife that I would never go to a play without her

Event Comment: Pepys, Diary: I away by coach to the Nursery, where I never was yet, and there to meet my wife and Mercer and Willet as they promised; but the house did not act to-day; and so I was at a loss for them

Event Comment: The King's Company. There is no indication of the date of the first performance, but a licensing date of 6 April 1677 and the large number of minor actors in the cast suggest a Lenten performance. Preface to edition of 1677: I think (without Ostentation) never was House more throng'd;...The first, second, and other times it was Acted, I think lost me no Credit, but...Fortune...Jaded me, robbing me of the Honour of my Plays continuance for that time; by a Mischance which hapned to one, whose Part was too considerable to be quickly studied

Event Comment: The United Company. The Prologue and Epilogue are printed in Miscellaneous Works, Written by His Grace, George, late Duke of Buckingham (London, 1704), pp. 9-13. There is no certainty that Buckingham wrote the adaptation itself, but, in view of his writing both the Prologue and Epilogue, it seems likely. The Epilogue alludes to Shaftesbury, who had taken refuge in Holland and who had died there on 21 Jan. 1682@3, suggesting that the play, if acted, was probably presented in February 1682@3 or soon thereafter. The adaptation was apparently never printed

Event Comment: The United Company. The date of the first performance is not certain, but it was very likely this day. Writing on 12 May 1688, Peregrine Bertie states that it had been acted nine days successively. If the ninth performance fell on Friday 12 May, the premiere probably occurred on Wednesday 3 May. The Prologue and Epilogue, printed separately, are reprinted in Wiley, Rare Prologues and Epilogues, pp. 261-63. Downes (Roscius Anglicanus, p. 41): This Play by its Excellent Acting, being often Honour's with the presence of Chancellor Jeffereies, and other great Persons had an Uninterrupted run of 13 Days together. Note, The Poet receided for his third Day in the House in Drury Lane at single Prizes 130 l. which was the greatest Receipt they ever had at that House at single Prizes. Dedication, Edition of 1688: This, I must confess, made me hope for success upon the Stage, which it met with, but so great, as was above my expectation (in this Age which has run mad after Farces) no Comedy, for these many years, having fill'd the Theatre so long together: And I had the great Honour to find so many Friends, that the House was never so full since it was built, as upon the third day of this Play; and vast numbers went away, that could not be admitted. For Leigh as Belfond Sr, see Cibber, Apology, ed. Lowe, I, 147-48; and for Underhill as Lolpoop, I, 154-55. For further comment upon the play, see 12 May 1688

Event Comment: The United Company. Tne date of the first performance is not known, but the Gentleman's Journal, March 1692 (licensed 9 March 1691@2), refers to its having already been produced. See also a letter concerning it dated 19 Jan. 1691@2. Probably the play was given in early February 1692. A song, How long must women wish in vain, the music by Robert King, is in Comes Amoris, The Fourth Book, 1693. Gentleman's Journal, March 1692: We have had lately a new Play, called, The Innocent Impostors. It hath been acted four times. Mr Shadwell Poet-Laureat, usher'd it into the Stage. It is said that the Author of it is not one of the Laity; therefore since he desires not to be known, I shall not presume to let you know his Name, tho the Play being Historical, and altogether of the Tragick kind, and withal treated with all the decency imaginable, can never be inglorious to its ingenious Author

Event Comment: The United Company. This performance is known by one of the rare playbills extant from this period. It is in HMC, Verney MSS., 7th Report, p. 509, and reproduced opposite page 240 in Lawrence, Elizabethan Playhouse, 2d Series: Never Acted but once. At the Theatre Royal, in Drury-Lane, this present Wensday being the Nineth day of November, will be presented, A New Play called, Henry the Second King of England. No money to be return'd after the curtain is drawn. By their Majesties Servants. Vivant Rex & Regina. Lady Margaret Russell to Katherine Russell, 10 Nov. 1692: You will be surprised that Lady Cavendish has been hindered by a little sore throat from going yesterday to a new play of King Henry and Rosamond, which is much commended (HMC, 12th Report, Appendix, Part V, Rutland MSS., p. 124)

Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the first production is not known, but the fact that it was advertised in the London Gazette, No. 3122, 10-14 Oct. 1695, indicates that it was probably acted not later than September 1695. Three songs were published separately: O how you protest, possibly set by Henry Purcell and sung by Mrs Knight; 'Twas within a Furlong, the words by Thomas D'Urfey, set by Henry Purcell, and sung by the Girl [Miss Cross]; and Man is for the woman made, the words by Pierre Motteux and set by Henry Purcell, are in Deliciae Musicae, The Third Book, 1696. See also Purcell's Works, Purcell Society, XX (1916), xix-xx. Preface, Edition of 1696: Notwithstanding the many Accidents that concurr'd to the Ruin of this Play, it succeeded above my Expectations: And I must own my self infinitely oblig'd to the Town, in receiving so favourably, what I at first never design'd for the Stage. Gildon, English Dramatick Poets, p. 121: This particular Play met with pretty good Success, for the Season of the Year, considering it the first Essay by a Young Writer, unacquainted with the Town. A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702), p. 18: Sullen: Mock-Marriage, a young Fellows of the Town, a Retainer, and kind of Pensioner to the Stage. Ramble: What was it's Fate? Sullen: Damn'd, Damn'd

Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the premiere is not known, but the fact that the play was advertised in the London Gazette, No. 3130, 7-11 Nov. 1695, suggests that it was acted not later than October 1695, although the first production may have been earlier than that. Part of the music was composed by Henry Purcell: Celia has a thousand charms, sung by Young Bowen; Take not a woman's anger ill, sung by Leveridge; and How happy is she, sung by Miss Cross; all are in Deliciae Musicae, The Third Book, 1696. See also Purcell's Works, Purcell Society, XXI (1917), x-xi. Another song, To me you made a thousand vows, set by John Blow, is in Amphion Anglicus, 1700. Dedication, Edition of 1696: I...found so much interrutpion and discouragement from some prejudic'd Gentlemen, who ought to have us'd me better, or, at least, had no reason to use me ill, that I repented I had bestow'd any time upon it....In spite of 'em, my Lord, it was kindly receiv'd, and that too, at a time when the Town was never thinner of Nobility and Gentry

Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but the fact that the play was advertised in the Post Boy, 27-30 June 1696, suggests that it was first acted not later than early June 1696 and probably not later than late May 1696. A dialogue, Fly, fly from my sight, between a Eunuch Boyr and a Virgin, set by Daniel Purcell and sung by Bowen and Mrs Cross, is in Deliciae Musicae, The Second Book of the Second Volume, 1696. This was also printed separately, without a date, by Thomas Cross, with the statement that the dialogue was written by Thomas D'Urfey. Gildon, English Dramatick Poets, ca. 1698, p. 111: For the Distress of Morena never fail'd to bring Tears into the Eyes of the Audience

Event Comment: A new Farce, never acted but twice. [By John Corey. Date of premiere unknown.

Event Comment: For the Benefit of the Author, Mr Chaves. Never acted but twice

Event Comment: Benefit the English Harlequin. By a New Company of English Comedians, who never yet appear'd upon that Stage. [Second Piece: "a New Farce (of one Act)." Apparently not published. Third Piece: "a New Entertainment in Grotesque Characters."

Event Comment: This performance, though announced, may not have been given. The next advertisement of it on 2 Feb. 1730 has the heading: Never Acted but Once

Event Comment: Daily Journal, 27 Jan.: We hear that the Beggar's Opera is soon to be acted at [DL]; the Part of Lucy ... by Mrs Clive . . . Polly by Mr Cibber's Wife, who is to have all the first Parts, having, during the Run of Zara, shewn her natural Genius, by never any one Night varying in either Tone of Voice or Action from the Way she was taught. [See Prompter, 27 Jan., for an essay on the corruption of the stage by pantomime.]

Event Comment: The hay advertised for 30 May and later two plays which never got staged: Macheath turn'd Pyrate; or, Polly in India. An Opera. Very much taken, if not improv'd from the famous Sequel of the late celebrated Mr Gay. With a New Prologue, proper to the Occasion. And after the Run of that, the Town will be entertain'd with a new Farce of two Acts, call'd The King and Titi; or, The Medlars. Taken from the History of Prince Titi, Originally written in French, and lately translated into English

Event Comment: LLord Wentworth to the Earl of Strafford, 19 Jan.: We was at Covent Garden Play House last night, my mother was so good as to treat us with it, and the Dragon of Wantcliff was the farce. I like it vastly and the musick is excessive pretty, and tho it is a burlesque on the operas yet Mr Handel owns he thinks the tunes very well composed....and it has been acted 36 times already and they are always pretty full. The poor operas I doubt go on but badly, for tho every body praises both Cafferielli and the opera yet it has never been full, and if it is not now at first it will be very empty towards the latter end of the winter.--Wentworth Papers, p. 539

Event Comment: Afterpiece: Never acted there [but see 16 May 1738]

Event Comment: Benefit Garrick. By Command of Prince and Princess of Wales. [Winston MS. from Dyer MS.: A prodigious audience] Farce never acted there. Seven rows of the Pit will be rail'd into the Boxes. Stage to be form'd into side boxes where servants may keep places. Tickets of Mr Valliant, Bookseller, Strand; or at Garrick's, Bow St., Covent Garden

Event Comment: Mainpiece: never acted [a tragedy by Thomas Cooke]. Macklin's Reply to Garrick published

Event Comment: Mainpiece never acted there. [Originally produced at dl, 27 April 1714.] The Tragedy of Regulus, written by the Author of King Charles the First [Wm. Havard] is now in rehearsal at Drury Lane and will be perform'd there in a short time

Event Comment: Benefit W. Giffard. Mainpiece: Never acted there. From a New Edition, with many additions and Alterations by the Author. Tickets deliver'd for Saturday the 08th will be taken this day