SELECT * FROM london_stages WHERE MATCH('(@(authnameclean,perftitleclean,commentcclean,commentpclean) "Mr Betterton"/1) | (@(roleclean,performerclean) "Mr Betterton")') GROUP BY eventid ORDER BY weight() desc, eventdate asc OPTION field_weights=(perftitleclean=100, commentpclean=75, commentcclean=75, roleclean=100, performerclean=100, authnameclean=100), ranker=sph04

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We found 4319 matches on Event Comments, 1376 matches on Performance Comments, 529 matches on Performance Title, 309 matches on Author, and 22 matches on Roles/Actors.
Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but the fact that the Dedication of the play is dated 15 Jan. 1696@7 suggests that it was probably first acted not later than December 1696. The play was advertised in the Post Man, 21-23 Jan. 1696@7. The music was set by John Eccles. Dedication, Edition of 1697: I make you a Present of a Play, that miscarri'd on the first Nights Performance; tho' afterwards, without any farther Discouragement, it kept it self alive till the third day was over, and then I must confess the City Lady expir'd....This I am confident on, that the like Unfortunate Accidents which attended this Comedy, wou'd have been sufficient to have Dam'd a much better Play. The tedious waiting to have the Curtain drawn, after the Prologue was spoke, occasion'd by Mr Underhill's violent Bleeding, put the Audience out of Humour, and made it susceptible of the least Disgust; and when once the Torrent of its Displeasure break bounds, nothing cou'd put a stop to his Vehemence. After Mr Underhill was no longer able to come upon the Stage, scarce any thing was done but by Halves, and in much Confusion; in the midst of which, I think my self oblig'd to applaud the Justice I receiv'd from the Incomparable Mrs Barry. I very well know that the Ode in the third Act seems to be introduc'd something unseasonably. It was made and set long since, in hopes of having it perform'd before the King, at his return from Flanders; and the Music being so finely compos'd by Mr John Eccles, I was loath it shou'd be wholly lost to the Town. A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702), p. 20: Damn'd

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The City Lady; Or, Folly Reclaim'd

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of the first production is not known, but the play was probably not acted later than September 1695, as it was advertised in the London Gazette, No. 3122, 10-14 Oct. 1695. Preface, Edition of 1696: It was the first I ever made Publick by appearing on the Stage, which (with the Advantage it met with, of admirable Acting) is all the Recommendations I have for exposing it...Ariadne. A song, Restless, in thought disturbed, set by John Eccles and sung by Mrs Hodgson, is in A Collection of Songs, 1696

Performances

Mainpiece Title: She Ventures And He Wins

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of the first performance is not known. As the play was advertised in the Post Boy, 20-23 Nov. 1697, it was probably first acted not later than October 1697; and, in view of its apparently unsuccessful appearance, may have been a late summer or early fall production. When this play was entered in the Term Catalogues, it had the title, Love's Reward; or, The Unnatural Mother

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Unnatural Mother

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of the premiere is not known, but the Epilogue refers to it as a summer production and the play was advertised in the London Gazette, No 3108, 22-26 Aug. 1695; hence, it appeared first not later than August. A song, Stretch'd in a dark and dismall grove, composed by John Eccles and sung by Mrs Hudson, is in Deliciae Musicae, The Third Book, 1696. A Comparison Between the Two Stages (p. 16): Sullen: Imprimis, Here's Pyrrhus King of Epire. Ramble: Whose is that? Sullen: Charles Hopkin's, an Irish Gentleman of good Sense, and an excellent Ovidian. Ramble: What was it's Fate? Sullen: Damn'd

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Pyrrhus King Of Epirus

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but the Dedication to the Edition of 1698 is dated 16 Dec. 1697, suggesting a premiere in November 1697

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Italian Husband

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but the fact that the play was advertised in the Post Boy, 26-28 July 1698, suggests that the premiere occurred probably in mid-June or late June 1698. A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702), p. 20: Damn'd

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Queen Catharine; Or, The Ruines Of Love

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but the fact that the play was advertised in the Post Boy, 6-8 July 1699, suggests a first performance not later than June, probably in May 1699

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The False Friend; Or, The Fate Of Disobedience

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of the premiere is not known, but the fact that the play was advertised in the Post Boy, 16-18 April 1700, suggests that the first production came before Easter, March 31. A song, Delia tired Strephon with her flame, with music by John Eccles and sung by Bowman, is in Wit and Mirth, 1706

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Beau Defeated; Or, The Lucky Younger Brother

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of the first performance is not certain, but the fact that the play was advertised in the London Gazette, 6-11 May 1696, suggests that it was first acted not later than April 1696. A song, Come, Hodge, come, Robin, set by John Eccles and sung by Wiltshire and Mrs Hudson, was printed in Deliciae Musicae, The Second Book of the Second Volume, 1696. Dedication, Edition of 1696: Which I wrote three Years ago....nor the Displeasure of the Judicious, who I hope will not condemn this Play from the appearance it had upon the Stage, where it suffer'd in the Acting....Tho. Dogget. A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702), pp. 16-17: Ramble: Oh that's Dogget's: The Players have all got the itching Leprosie of Scribling as Ben. Johnson calls it; twill in time descend to the Scene-keepers and Candle-snuffers: Come, what came on't? Sullen: Not then directly Damn'd, because he had a part in't himself, but it's now dead and buried

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Country-wake

Performance Comment: Edition of 1696: Prologue-Mrs Barry; Epilogue-Mrs Betterton; Sir ThomasTestie-Underhill; Woodvill-Betterton; Friendly-Kenneston; Old Hob-Trefise; Young Hob-Dogget; Lady Testie-Mrs Barry; Flora-Mrs Bracegirdle; Lucia-Mrs Bowman; Betty-Mrs Lee.
Cast
Role: Epilogue Actor: Mrs Betterton
Role: Woodvill Actor: Betterton
Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but the fact that the play was advertised in the Post Man, 4-6 June 1696, suggests that it was acted not later than May 1696, possibly that it was given in late April. In III is a song, Unguarded lies the wishing maid, set by John Eccles and sung by Leveridge. In IV is a song, The secrets of peace, set by Finger and sung by Mrs Hudson. A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702), p. 20: This is Mrs Manley's; it made a shift to live a half a dozen Days, and then expir'd

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Royal Mischief

Performance Comment: Edition of 1696: Prologue-Mrs Betterton; Levan Dadian-Bowman; Prince of Libardian-Kynaston; Osman-Betterton; Ismael-Hudson; Acmat-Freeman; Bassima-Mrs Bracegirdle; Homais-Mrs Barry; Selima-Mrs Bowman; Epilogue-Miss Bradshaw.
Cast
Role: Prologue Actor: Mrs Betterton
Role: Osman Actor: Betterton
Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but the fact that the play was advertised in the Post Boy, 11-13 May 1697, suggests that it was first acted about mid-April, a month before publication. For an account of the history of the play before its production, see Cibber, Apology, I, 217-18

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Provok'd Wife

Performance Comment: Edition of 1697: Prologue-Mistress Bracegirdle; Epilogue [Written] by another Hand-Lady Brute, Bellinda; Constant-Verbrugen; Heartfree-Hudson; Sir John Brute-Betterton; Treble-Bowman; Rasor-Bowen; Justice of the Peace-Bright; Lady Brute-Mrs Barry; Bellinda-Mrs Bracegirdle; Lady Fancyfull-Mrs Bowman; Mademoiselle-Mrs Willis.
Cast
Role: Sir John Brute Actor: Betterton
Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but the fact that the play was advertised in the Post Man, 24-26 June 1697, suggests that it was probably first acted not later than May 1697, and there is no specific indication of a premiere earlier than May. In Songs Compleat, 1719, the music for one song is attributed to Croft

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Intrigues At Versailles; Or, A Jilt In All Humours

Performance Comment: Edition of 1697: Prologue-; Duke de Sanserre-Betterton; Guillamour-Verbruggen; Count de Brissac-Boen [Bowen]; Count de Fiesque-Hudson; Count de Tonnere-Bowman; Sir Plunder Bosies-Underhill; Countess de Sanserre-Mrs Bracegirdle; Countess de Brissac-Mrs Bowman; Madam de Vandosme-Mrs Barry; Daubroy-Mrs Willis; La Busque-Mrs Lawson; Grossiere-Mrs Leigh; Epilogue-Mrs Barry (as in a fret).
Cast
Role: Duke de Sanserre Actor: Betterton
Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of the premiere is not known, but the fact that the play was advertised in the London Gazette, 18-20 June 1698, suggests that its first performance occurred in late April or early May 1698. A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702), p. 20: Damn'd

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Beauty In Distress

Performance Comment: Edition of 1698: Prologue-Bowen [an induction scene, with a player coming forward to announce that there is no prologue, then Bowen entering, having forgotten it, but the prompter gets Bowen's memory restored and the prologue proceeds]; Epilogue-Mrs Bracegirdle; Don Vicentio-Betterton; Ricardo-Verbruggen; Duke Ferdinand-Kynaston; Fabiano-Hodgson; Zemet-Arnold; Laura-Mrs Barry; Placentia-Mrs Bracegirdle; Morella-Mrs Moore; Melinda-Mrs Prince.
Cast
Role: Don Vicentio Actor: Betterton
Event Comment: Betterton's Company. A playbill for this performance was once in the possession of Thomas Hailes Lacy (1809-73); Fitzgerald, A New History, I, 389, refers to it; the playbill seems no longer to be extant

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Maid's Tragedy

Performance Comment: Melantius-Betterton?.
Cast
Role: Melantius Actor: Betterton?.
Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of the premiere is not known, but Dryden's letter (see 11 April 1700) places its expected presentation between 11 and 25 April. The fact that the play was advertised in the London Gazette, 29 April 1700, suggests a premiere early in April

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Fate Of Capua

Performance Comment: Edition of 1700: Prologue by Charles Boyle-; Epilogue by Coll. Codrington-Mrs Barry; Pacuvius Calavius-Hodgson; Virginius-Betterton; Marius Blosius-Berry; Vibius Virius-Bayly; Decius Magius-Boman; Perolla-Scudamore; Junius-Verbruggen; Favonia-Mrs Barry.
Cast
Role: Virginius Actor: Betterton

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Rehearsal

Afterpiece Title: The Chaplet

Dance: V: A Comic Dance-Daigville, Sga Vidini

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Romeo And Juliet

Afterpiece Title: Harlequin's Invasion

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Every Man In His Humour

Afterpiece Title: Polly Honeycomb

Dance: End: The Mountaineers, as17730930 Como, Sga Crespi (2nd appearance)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: New Brooms

Afterpiece Title: Matilda

Afterpiece Title: The Mayor of Garratt

Performances

Mainpiece Title: At Hay The Recruiting Officer

Afterpiece Title: The Mariners

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Mourning Bride

Afterpiece Title: The Jubilee

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Alchymist

Afterpiece Title: Polly Honeycomb

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Hamlet

Afterpiece Title: The Phoenix; or, Anacreontics Renovated [i

Afterpiece Title: Rosina

Entertainment: In 2nd piece: Imitations-Caulfield

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Love For Love

Afterpiece Title: The Chaplet

Ballet: II: Savoyard Travellers. Principal Savoyards-Grandchamps, Mlle Auretti, Mathews, Mrs Addison; Children Savoyards-Little Swiss, Miss Popling; Peasants-M'Neil, Mlle delaContri; see17491110

Performances

Mainpiece Title: A Writ Of Inquiry Will Be Executed On The Inquisitor General