SELECT * FROM london_stages WHERE MATCH('(@(authnameclean,perftitleclean,commentcclean,commentpclean) "Mr Benj May"/1) | (@(roleclean,performerclean) "Mr Benj May")') 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 5678 matches on Event Comments, 1309 matches on Performance Comments, 607 matches on Performance Title, 19 matches on Author, and 0 matches on Roles/Actors.
Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Wells. Mainpiece [1st time: C 5, by Simon. Prologue by John Henniker (Town and Country Magazine, June 1791, p. 281). Larpent MS 906; not published; synopsis of plot in Morning Post, 11 May]. "Scarcely [any] performer in the piece thought it worth while to charge their memories with words, that they would wish afterwards, if they had, to forget as fast as possible...The imitations were some tolerably true, and a few excellent. Siddons and Storace were outrageous caricatures. Mrs Wells once came infinitely nearer the former. She is now deficient in tone and emphasis--all is shiver and sob. Mrs Crawford, Mrs Jordan and Mrs Abington were worthy her talents in the mimetic art" (Oracle, 11 May). Public Advertiser, 27 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Wells, No. 12, Weymouth-street, Portland-place. Receipts: #313 3s. (148.15; 8.7; tickets: 156.1)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: National Prejudice

Performance Comment: [Principal Characters-Lewis, Quick, Holman, Farren, Blanchard, Davies, Macready, C.] Powell, Mrs Mattocks, Mrs Wells, Miss Chapman, Mrs Harlowe, Mrs Davenett, Mrs Pope. [Cast from European Magazine, May 1791, p. 389, and Larpent MS: Sir Paul Flippant-Lewis; Mr Tudor-Quick; Egerton-Holman; Frank Tudor-Farren; William-Blanchard; Marquis Luzan-Davies; Sir Frederick O'Neil-Macready; Henry Tudor-[C.] Powell; Florizet-Mrs Mattocks; Miss Clerimont-Mrs Wells; Lucy Tudor-Miss Chapman; Emma Tudor-Mrs Harlowe; Madame Detour-Mrs Davenett; Harriet Clerimont-Mrs Pope; [New Prologue-Harley.

Afterpiece Title: The Poor Soldier

Entertainment: Imitations End II: (for that Night only some) Comic Imitations-Mrs Wells; End: instead of an Epilogue, some Tragic Imitations-Mrs Wells

Event Comment: Benefit for Bannister. Under the Patronage of His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. [In mainpiece the playbill retains Mrs Bland as Ariel , but "Ariel was, on account of the sudden indisposition of Mrs Bland, read by Miss Heard" (Diary, 8 May). Miss Heard may also have substituted for Mrs Bland in the afterpiece.] Afterpiece [1st time; F 2, by James Cobb, for whose authorship see Kemble Mem. Larpent MS 982; not published]. Public Advertiser, 2 May: Tickets to be had of Bannister, No. 7, Suffolk-street, Charing Cross. Receipts: #227 8s. (95.17; 7.5; tickets: 124.6) (charge: #90 2s. 6d.)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: At Hay The Tempest

Afterpiece Title: Fortune's Wheel

Song: In: Vocal Parts, as17921213, Sedgwick, _Kelly, Mrs +Crouch; Masque of Neptune and Amphitrite, as17930102 In course of Evening: +The Little Farthing Rushlight-Bannister Jun

Event Comment: The United Company. There is uncertainty concerning this date; it appears on Luttrell's copy (Huntington Library) of the separately printed Prologue and Epilogue, and the date may represent the time of his purchase rather than a date of performance. The Prologue and Epilogue are reprinted in Wiley, Rare Prologues and Epilogues, pp. 141-45. Downes (Roscius Anglicanus, pp. 39-40): All the preceding Plays, being the chief that were Acted in Dorset-Garden, from November 1671, to the Year 1682; at which time the Patentees of each Company United Patents; and by so Incorporating the Duke's Company were made the King's Company, and immediately remov'd to the Theatre Royal in Drury-Lane. Upon this Union, Mr Hart being the Heart of the Company under Mr Killigrew's Patent never Acted more, by reason of his Malady; being Afflicted with the Stone and Gravel, of which he Dy'd some time after: Having a Sallary of 40 Shillings a Week to the Day of his Death. But the Remnant of that Company; as, Major Mohun, Mr Cartwright, Mr Kynaston, Mr Griffin, Mr Goodman, Mr Duke Watson, Mr Powel, Sr, Mr Wiltshire, Mrs Corey, Mrs Bowtell, Mrs Cook, Mrs Montfort. [Joined the new company]. Note, now Mr Monfort and Mr Carlile, were grown to the Maturity of good Actors. The mixt Company then Reviv'd the several old and Modern Plays, that were the Propriety of Mr Killigrew, as Rule a Wife, and have a Wife: Mr Betterton Acting Michael Perez; Don Leon, Mr Smith, Cacofogo, Mr Cartwright: Margaretta, Mrs Barry: Estiphania, Mrs Cook. Next, @The Scornful Lady.@The Plain Dealer.@The Mock Astrologer.@The Jovial Crew.@The Beggars Bush.@Bartholomew-Fair.@The Moor of Venice.@Rollo.@The Humorous Lieutenant.@The Double Marriage.@ With divers others. George Powell, Preface to The Treacherous Brothers (1690): The Time was, upon the uniting of the Two Theatres, that the Reviveing of the old stock of Plays, so ingrost the study of the House, that the Poets lay dorment; and a new Play cou'd hardly get admittance, amongst the more precious pieces of Antiquity, that then waited to walk the Stage. Cibber, Apology, ed. Lowe, I, 95-96): I shall content myself with telling you that Mohun and Hart now growing old [for, above thirty Years before this Time, they had severally born the King's Commission of Major and Captain in the Civil Wars), and the younger Actors, as Goodman, Clark, and others, being impatient to get into their Parts, and growing intractable, the Audiences too of both Houses then falling off, the Patentees of each, by the King's Advice, which perhaps amounted to a Command, united their Interests and both Companies into one, exclusive of all others in the Year 1682. This Union was, however, so much in favour of the Duke's Company, that Hart left the Stage upon it, and Mohun survived not long after

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Title Unknown

Event Comment: The King's Company. The date of the first performance is not known. Wilson (Six Restoration Play-Dates, pp. 222-23) argues from a number of references (principally in the Epilogue) to events of early 1681 which point to a premiere near May 1681: to the dissolution of Parliament, 28 March 1681; to the comet which appeared in November 1680 and disappeared in January 1680@1; to the Hatfield Maid; to William Lilly, the astrologer, who is referred to as though alive, thus suggesting a premiere before his death, 9 June 1681. It is possible that the premiere may have been earlier than this. In 1681 was published Poeta de Tristibus; or, The Poet's Complaint, whose author had obviously read the Prologue and Epilogue to The Unhappy Favourite. He represents himself as a disappointed dramatist whose tragedy has been rejected by both houses because "their Summer-store@Will all this Winter last." With the work entered in the Term Catalogues in 1682 and a copy purchased by Narcissus Luttrell with his note "4d 1681 12 Nov" (see A Bibliography of John Dryden, ed. Macdonald, pp. 235-36), his quotations from the Epilogue to The Unhappy Favourite and references to the Prologue would offer no difficulties if it were not that the "Author's Epistle" in which the references are made is dated "at Dover the Tenth day of January 1680@1," thus suggesting that he had seen the Prologue and Epilogue before that date. Nevertheless, some of the references in the Epilogue (to Heraclitus Ridens, beginning on 1 Feb. 1680@1, and Democritus Ridens, beginning on 14 March 1680@1) preclude a January premiere for the Prologue and Epilogue. Possibly the dating of the "Author's Epistle" is in error

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Unhappy Favourite; Or, The Earl Of Essex

Event Comment: The United Company. The date of the first performance is not known. The edition of 1687 states on the title page: This may be printed, April 23. 1686. It was entered in the Stationers' Register, 8 May 1686, under the title: The Disappointed Marriage; or, Ye Generous Mistris. It was probably first given before mid-April 1686, with the publication delayed, a delay accounting for the fact that Mrs Percival, who did not marry Mountfort until 2 July 1686, appears in the cast as Mrs Mountford. A song, O love that stronger art than wine, the music by John Blow, the verse by Ousley, and sung by John Bowman, is in The Theater of Music, The Fourth Book, 1687

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Luckey Chance; Or, An Alderman's Bargain

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, 9-12 May 1696, suggests that it was first acted not later than April 1696. It may, however, have been first performed sometime earlier, for two songs for it were set by Henry Purcell, who had died in November 1695. See Purcell's Works, Purcell Society, XXI (1917), vi-vii. A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702), p. 18: Pausanias, or Lover of his Country, Damn'd, tho writ by a person of Quality, and protected by Southern. One song, My dearest, my fairest, is a dialogue between Mr Cooke and Mrs Hodgson

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Pausanius, The Betrayer Of His Country

Event Comment: This comedy was wrote by Mr Moor, & except ye part of Faddle meet with Universal Applause (ye Author's first play) (Cross). New Scenes and Cloaths (General Advertiser). This C. was written by Moore--it is a good play--it was acted 11 times successively--Garrick's peculiar qualifications and happy use of them, added amazing spirit to the piece, and gave more consequence to Young Belmont than can well be imagined--Macklin, who never had in voice, figure or features much capacity for the fop cast, yet struck out some things in Faddle, that have not been since equalled, particularly in marking the obsequious knave throughout--Barry in the fourth act supported his character with emphatic dignity and in the last with melting tenderness--the part of Rosetta was undoubtedly conceived for Mrs Woffington, and she did it particular justice--the elegance, the notions of love, and the vanity of admiration, which are united in Rosetta, were natural to Mrs Woffington, so that she had the advantage of looking and speaking in her own character--the softness and pathos, which distinguished Fidelia sat with much ease on Mrs Cibber (Dramatic Censor, II, 206). [For contemporary account of plot and discussion of the play, see Gentleman's Magazine Feb. 1748, pp. 51-54; March 1748, pp. 114-17; May 1748, pp. 207-9; June 1748, pp. 257-59. See also G. Stayley, An Answer to an unjust criticism on the Foundling, listed in Register of Books, Gentleman's Magazine, May 1748, p. 240; A Criticism of the Foundling, in a letter to the author, listed in Register of Books, Gentleman's Magazine, March 1748, p. 144. The Larpent MS indicates many revisions. The substitution of Rake for Whoremaster, &c. Some Suggestive passages marked for excision. "The Disapprobation, which the Character of Faddle met with the first Night, made it necessary for me to shorten it in almost every Scene" (Dedication to 1st Edition).] Receipts: #200 (Cross); #200 5s. (Powel)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Foundling

Event Comment: [This day Horace Walpole wrote as follows to George Montagu, forshadowing an event to take place on 27 July: "If you will stay with me a fortnight or three weeks, perhaps I may be able to carry you to a play of Mr Bentley's--you stare--but I am in earnest--nay, and de par le roy. In short, here is the history of it. You know the passion he always had for the Italian comedy. About two years ago he writ one, intending to get it offered to Rich--but without his name--he would have died to be supposed an author, and writing [I, 372] for gain. I kept this a most inviolable secret. Judge then of my surprise when about a fortnight or three weeks ago I found my Lord Melcomb reading this very Bentleiad in a circle at my Lady Hervey's. Cumberland had carried it to him, with a recommendatory copy of verses, containing more incense to the King and my Lord Bute, than the Magi brought in their portmanteaus to Jerusalem. The idols were propitious, and to do them justice, there is a great deal of wit in the piece, which is called The Wishes or Harlequin's Mouth Opened. A bank note of #200 was sent from the Treasury to the author, and the play ordered to be performed by the summer company. Foote was summoned to Lord Melcomb's, where Parnassus was composed of the peer himself, who, like Apollo as I am going to tell you, was dozing, the two Chief Justices and Lord Bute. Bubo read the play himself, with handkerchief and orange by his side. But the curious part is a prologue which I never saw. It represents the god of verse fast asleep by the side of Helicon. The race of modern bards try to wake him, but the more they repeat of their works, the louder he snores. At last "Ruin seize thee ruthless King" is heard, and the god starts from his trance. This is a good thought, but will offend the bards so much, that I think Dr Bentley's son will be abused at least as much as his father was. The prologue concludes with young Augustus, and how much he excels the ancient one, by the choice of his friend. Foote refused to act this prologue, and said it was too strong. 'Indeed,' said Augustus's friend, 'I think it is.' They have softened it a little, and I suppose it will be performed. You may depend upon the truth of all this; but what is much more credible, is that the comely young author appears every night in the Mall in a milkwhite coat with a blue cape, disclaims any benefit, and says he has done with the play now it is out of his own hands, and that Mrs Hannah Clio alias Bentley writ the best scenes in it. He is going to write a tragedy, and she, I suppose, is going--to court."--Horace Walpole's Correspondence with George Montagu. Ed. W. S. Lewis and Ralph S. Brown Jr (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1941), I, 372-73. [IX, 372-373.

Performances

Mainpiece Title: All In The Wrong

Dance: As17610616

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 12 years. [See 24 Jan. 1758.] Prologue written by Paul Whitehead. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Mr Sarjant (only) at the Stage-Door. No persons can be admitted behind scenes, nor any Money returned after curtain is drawn up. To begin exactly at 6 o'clock. [Customary note in succeeding bills.] Receipps: #190 14s. (Account Book). @The New Occasional Prologue@As when the merchant to increase his store@For Dubious seas, advent'rous quits the shore;@Still anxious for his freight, he trembling sees@Rocks in each buoy, and tempest in each breeze@The curling wave to mountain billow swells,@And every cloud a fancied storm fortells:@Thus rashly launch'd on this Theatric main,@Our All on board, each phantom gives Us pain;@The Aatcall's note seems thunder in our ears,@And every Hiss a hurricane appears;@In Journal Squibs we lightning's blast espy,@And meteors blaze in every Critic's eye.@Spite of these terrors, still come hopes we view,@Hopes, ne'er can fail us--since they're plac'd--in you.@Your breath the gale, our voyage is secure,@And safe the venture which your smiles insure;@Though weak his skill, th' adventurer must succeed,@Where Candour takes th' endeavor for the deed.@For Brentford's state, two kings could once suffice;@In ours, behold! four kings of Brentford rise;@All smelling to one nosegay's od'rous savor@The balmy nosegay of--the Public favor.@From hence alone, our royal funds we draw,@Your pleasure our support, your will our law.@While such our government, we hope you'll own us;@But should we ever Tyrant prove--dethrone us.@Like Brother Monarchs, who, to coax the nation@Began their reign, with some fair proclamation,@We too should talk at least--of reformation;@Declare that during our imperial sway,@No bard shall mourn his long-neglected Play;@But then the play must have some wit, some spirit,@And We allow'd sole umpires of its merit.@For those deep sages of the judging Pit,@Whose taste is too refin'd for modern wit,@From Rome's great Theatre we'll cull the piece,@And plant on Britain's stage the flow'rs of Greece.@If some there are, our British Bards can please,@Who taste the ancient wit of ancient days,@Be our's to save, from Time's devouring womb,@Their works, and snatch their laurels from the tomb.@For you, ye Fair, who sprightlier scenes may chuse,@Where Music decks in all her airs the Muse,@Gay Opera shall all its charms dispense,@Yet boast no tuneful triumph over sense;@The nobler Bard shall still assert his right,@Nor Handel rob a Shakespear of his night,@To greet the mortal brethren of our skies [upper galleries]@Here all the Gods of Pantomime shall rise:@Yet midst the pomp and magic of machines,@Some plot may mark the meaning of our scenes;@Scenes which were held, in good King Rich's days,@By sages, no bad epilogues to plays.@If terms like these your suffrage can engage,@To fix our mimic empire of the stage;@Confirm our title in your fair opinions,@And crowd each night to people our dominions.@--(Poems and Miscelaneous Compositions, Ed. Capt. Edward Thompson, 1777) Covent Garden opened with the Rehearsal with alterations. I was in the Pit. Powell, from Drury Lane, one of the new managers who have bought the patent from Rich's heirs, spoke an occasional Prologue. Shuter did Bayes pretty much to my liking, adding many crochets of his own.... Entertainment The Mock Doctor,...Young Jasper pretty well by one Massey, being his first appearance on that stage (Neville MS Diary)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Rehearsal

Afterpiece Title: The Mock Doctor

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Richard Cumberland, altered by the author from his The Country Attorney. Prologue and Epilogue probably by Cumberland. Larpent MS 828; not published; synopsis of plot in Universal Magazine, May 1789, p. 267]: With new Dresses, &c. Receipts: #165 6s. 6d. (155.5.6; 10.1.0)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: A School For Widows

Performance Comment: Characters by Lewis, Ryder, Quick, Pope, Farren, Davies, Fearon, Mrs Mattocks, Miss Tweedale, Mrs Rock, Miss Wewitzer, Mrs Abington. Cast from London Chronicle, 9 May, and Larpent MS: Jack Marmoset-Lewis; Mr Worldly-Ryder; Sir Wilful Wayward-Quick; Frederick-Pope; Lord Mirabel-Farren; Mr Gayless-Davies; Sterling-Fearon; John-Evatt; Mrs Worldly-Mrs Mattocks; Arabella-Miss Tweedale; Lucy-Mrs Rock; Mrs Gayless-Miss Wewitzer; Lady Charlotte Richmore-Mrs Abington; Prologue-Pope; Epilogue-Mrs Abington.

Afterpiece Title: The Highland Reel

Event Comment: Benefit for Farren. Public Advertiser, 6 May: Tickets to be had of Farren, No. 73, Gower-street. Account-Book, 16 May: Received Farren's benefit deficiency #33 7s. 6d. [Reckoned as follows: Farren disposed of #209 12s. in tickets; this sum he kept. Money [i.e. tickets sold at the doors of the theatre] amounted to #71 12s. 6d. From this money he was obliged to meet the house charge of #105, and hence owed the treasury the amount stated above.] Receipts: #281 4s. 6d. (69.".0; 2.10.6; tickets: 209.12.0)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Heiress

Related Works
Related Work: The Stolen Heiress or the Salamanca Doctor Outplotted Author(s): Thomas May

Afterpiece Title: The Feast of Anacreon

Afterpiece Title: The Intriguing Chambermaid

Entertainment: Monologue. End IV: A Comic Description of the Curiosities in the Tower of London-Edwin

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Joseph Richardson, based on The Coxcomb, Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher. Prologue by Richard Tickell. Epilogue by John Burgoyne (see text)]: With new Dresses, Decorations, &c. Morning Herald, 1 May 1792: This Day is published The Fugitive (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #315 7s. 6d. (275.0.0; 39.2.0; 1.5.6)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Fugitive

Performance Comment: Characters by Dodd, Bensley, King, Wroughton, Parsons, Palmer, Barrymore, Maddocks, Wewitzer, Phillimore, Benson, Banks, Mrs Hopkins, Miss Farren, Mrs Jordan, Mrs Kemble, Mrs Ward, Miss Pope. [Cast from text (J. Debrett, 1792): Lord Dartford-Dodd; Sir William Wingrove-Bensley; Admiral Cleveland-King; Mr Wingrove-Wroughton; Old Manly-Parsons; Young Manly-Palmer; Mr Welford-Barrymore; Jenkins-Maddocks; Larron-Wewitzer; O'Donnel-Phillimore; William-Benson; Servant-Banks; Mrs Manly-Mrs Hopkins; Miss Herbert-Miss Farren; Miss Julia Wingrove-Mrs Jordan; Miss Manly-Mrs Kemble; Mrs Rachel Cleveland-Mrs Ward; Mrs Larron-Miss Pope; Prologue-Bannister Jun; Epilogue-Mrs Jordan. [These were spoken, as here assigned, at all subsequent performances, except on 14 and 16 May.]These were spoken, as here assigned, at all subsequent performances, except on 14 and 16 May.]

Afterpiece Title: All the World's a Stage

Event Comment: Benefit for Burton, Miss Heard, Miss Tidswell, & Mrs Bramwell. [2nd piece: With alterations by John Philip Kemble.] 3rd piece: Not acted these 6 years. "Of [Wroughton's] comedy something favourably must be said. His personations are usually natural, easy, and spirited; he is perhaps too locomotive: he cannot bear to stand still...To this peculiar bustle of his motion may be attributed much of his success in Sir John Restless [in All in the Wrong]...For the same reason, no man can play Ford with half the effect Wroughton does" (Monthly Mirror, Mar. 1796, p. 304). Morning Herald, 30 May: Tickets to be had of Miss Heard, No. 43, Haymarket [others not listed]. Receipts: #337 6s. 6d. (30.13.0; 40.16.6; 3.4.6; tickets: 260.10.0; odd money: 2.2.6) (charge: #202 11s.)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Purse

Afterpiece Title: The Merry Wives of Windsor

Afterpiece Title: The Gentle Shepherd

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; M. ENT 2, by William Linley. Larpent MS 1246; not published]: With new Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations. The Overture and Musick entirely new, composed by William? Linley. Books of the Songs to be had in the Theatre. [Notice on playbill of 20 Nov.: The Author of The Pavilion, submitting with deference to the decision of the Public, has withdrawn it for the present to make such alterations as he hopes may render it an Entertainment better entitled to their approbation. (On 21 Jan. 1800, altered, it was acted as The Ring.)] "Miss DeCamp need never wish to have a better foil to her exquisite style of acting, than the puny efforts of Kelly and Mrs Crouch. They may be singers, but never should attempt to perform" (Dramatic Censor, I, 9). Receipts: #291 4s. 6d. (157.3.0; 131.8.6; 2.13.0)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Secret

Afterpiece Title: The Pavilion

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of the first performance is not certain, but the evidence points toward this day. On Thursday 19 Nov. 1696, Robert Jennens reported that the two pieces had been acted four or five days together. If that day saw the fifth performance, the premiere probably occurred on 14 Nov. 1696. The Single Songs and Dialogue in Mars and Venus, set by John Eccles (Acts I and II) and Godfrey Finger (Act III), was published separately in 1697. The pieces for whom a performer is indicated are as follows: Prologue. The first Song Sung by Mrs Hudson, set by Finger: Come all, with moving songs [it is reproduced opposite page 300 in Wiley, Rare Prologues and Epilogues]. Love alone can here alarm me, sung by Mrs Ayloffe. Scorn tho' Beauty frowns to tremble, sung by Mrs Hudson. To double the sports, sung by Mrs Ayloffe. To treble the pleasures with regular measures, sung by Mrs Ayloffe. To meet her, May, the Queen of Love comes here, set by John Eccles and sung by Mrs Hudson. See Vulcan, Jealousie, Jealousie appears, set by Finger and sung by Mrs Hudson. Yield, no, no, sung by Mrs Bracegirdle and Bowman. Gildon, English Dramatick Poets, p. 115: This Play met with extraordinary Success having the Advantage of the excellent Musick of The Loves of Mars and Venus perform'd with it. Downes, Roscius Anglicanus, pp. 44-45: The Anatomist, or Sham Doctor, had prosperous Success, and remains a living Play to this Day; 'twas done by Mr Ravenscroft. A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702), p. 20: I remember the success of that was owing to the Musick

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Anatomist; Or, The Sham Doctor

Afterpiece Title: The Loves of Mars and Venus

Event Comment: Benefit for Holman. 1st piece [1st time; C 5, by Benjamin Hoadly, based partly on L'Ecole des Femmes, by Moliere. Larpent MS 1160; not published. Prologue by John Taylor; Epilogue by Edward Jerningham (European Magazine, May 1797, p. 342)]: Mr Holman having been favored by the Family of Doctor Hoadly, Author of the Suspicious Husband, with a Manuscript Comedy in Five Acts, the production of that celebrated Writer, he most respectfully informs the Public that it will be presented under the Title of The Tatlers. True Briton, 1 May: The Play was given to Holman by Dr Hoadly Ashe, Hoadly's nephew. Ibid, 10 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Holman, No. 14, John-street, Adelphi. Account-Book: Paid Insurance and Duty on #10,000 for one year from 16th Inst. at the Royal Exchange Fire Office #136 17s; ditto on #10,000 for one year from Lady Day at the Phoenix Fire Office #112 10s. Receipts: #290 11s. 6d. (143.16.0; 10.11.6; tickets: 136.4.0)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Tatlers

Performance Comment: Principal Characters-Quick, Holman, Pope, Munden, Murray, Middleton, Thompson, Miss Chapman, Miss Mansel, Mrs Davenport, Mrs Mattocks. Cast from European Magazine, May 1797, p. 341: Cobler-Quick; Shatter-Holman; Allworthy-Pope; Froward-Munden; Sir ThomasSevern-Murray; Woodville-Middleton; Jonathan-Thompson; Miss Severn-Miss Chapman; Fanny Allworthy-Miss Mansel; Madge Haggard-Mrs Davenport; Lady Nettleton-Mrs Mattocks; Prologue-Holman; Epilogue-Mrs Mattocks.

Afterpiece Title: Cross Purposes

Afterpiece Title: Netley Abbey

Event Comment: The King's Company. This performance is on the L. C. list, 5@141, p. 359: Augustus Caesar. See also Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 346. The music for a song in act I, scene I, was composed by Nicholas Staggins, and printed in Choice Ayres and Songs, The Second Book, 1679. There is no certainty that this was the premiere, but it may well have been. The play was entered in the Term Catalogues, May 1676

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Gloriana; Or, The Court Of Augustus Caesar

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. This performance is on the L. C. list, 5@142, p. 81: At the Virtuoso. See also Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 348. Nell Gwyn also attended this performance; see VanLennep, Nell Gwyn's Playgoing, p. 407. The Diary of Robert Hooke, 25 May 1676: Mr Abraham Hill gave J. Hoskins, Aubery and I an account of Vertuoso play. A song, How retched is the slave to love, the music by Francis Forcer, is in Choice Ayres and Songs, The Second Book, 1679. Downes (Roscius Anglicanus, p. 37): The Libertine and Virtuoso: Both Wrote by Mr Shadwell; they were both very well Acted, and got the company great Reputation

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Virtuoso

Performance Comment: Edition of 1676: Prologue-; Epilogue-; A copy in the William Andrews Clark Jr Memorial Library, Los Angeles, has the following manuscript cast, which may well be the original cast. (The trimming of the page has sometimes cut off the first letter or two of a name, and these have been supplied.) Sir NicholasGimcrack-Percivall; Sir Formal Trifle-Anthony Leigh; Sir Samuel Hearty-Underhill; Longvill-Betterton; Bruce-Smythe; Hazard-Jevon; Lady Gimcrack-Mrs Shadwell; Clarinda-Mrs Currer; Miranda-Mrs Betterton; unassigned-Mrs Price.
Event Comment: The Duke's Company. The date of the first production is uncertain. The fact that the Epilogue suggests that it followed Settle's The Female Prelate is not a factor in the dating, as the Newdigate newsletters--see Wilson, Theatre Notes from the Newdigate Newsletters, p. 80--show that Settle's play was first acted on 31 May 1680, whereas Caesar Borgia was entered in the Term Catalogues, November 1679. Although the reference in the Epilogue to burning the Pope's Effigies" has been argued as referring to the Pope-burning procession of 17 Nov. 1679, the references in the Epilogue to Father Lewis, who was tried and convicted at York, 28 March 1679, suggest that it was written before his execution, 27 Aug. 1679. Hence the play may have been acted first some time in the late spring or the summer. A song, Blush not redder than the Morning, with music by Thomas Farmer, is in Choice Ayres and Songs, The Third Book, 1681

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Caesar Borgia, Son Of Pope Alexander The Sixth

Event Comment: The United Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but the fact that the play was announced in the London Gazette, 23-27 May 1689, and entered in the Term Catalogues, June 1689, suggests that the premiere probably occurred not later than April 1689, possibly very early in May 1689

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Bury Fair

Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the first production is not known, but the Prologue to the Second Part [1699] refers to warm weather and to May Fair. The Songs to both parts were advertised in the Post Boy, 24-27 June 1699, suggesting a first production not later than the end of May 1699. The following among the songs for Part I list the singer or composer or both: From azure plains, sung by Pate, in A Second Collection of New Songs and Ballads (1699). How comes it now good Mrs Spratt, sung by Pate and Leveridge (ibid.). Of all the world's enjoyments, sung by Leveridge (ibid.). Whilst wretched fools sneak up and down, composed by Daniel Purcell and sung by Leveridge and Pate (ibid.). Young Philander wooed me long, composed by Daniel Purcell (ibid.). For Part II: The devil he pulled off his jacket of flame, composed by Samuel Ackroyde (ibid.). He led her by the milk-white hand, composed by Samuel Ackroyde (ibid.)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Famous History Of The Rise And Fall Of Massaniello

Event Comment: Rich's Company. Lady Morley attended this performance: Lady Morley and one in the Box at the Grove an Opera. 10s. See Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Drama, p. 378. It is not known whether this performance was the premiere, but the publication of this work on 16 March 1699@1700 (Post Man, 14-16 March 1699@1700) suggests that if the usual month between premiere and publication intervened for this work, the premiere may have been in mid-February. On the other hand, a letter-see 20 Jan. 1699@1700-may refer to this work. The music was composed by Daniel Purcell. In Songs in the New Opera Called The Grove or Love's Paradice (1700) the following singers are listed: Mrs Irwin, Freeman, The Boy, Hughes, Mrs Lindsey, Pate, and Mrs Shaw. The Preface implies that the opera was a failure: As for the Persons who were not so generous...who thought the Catastrophe was not enough prepar'd, and that the discovery in the last Act was huddled and in confusion, they will now see if what he had writ had been spoken, every thing would have appear's clear and natural, which, to shorten the Entertainment had been before broken and disorder'd

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Grove; Or, Love's Paradice

Performances

Mainpiece Title: King Henry Viii

Afterpiece Title: The Sylphs

Performance Comment: As17740126, but Other characters-_Cushing, Davis. [The substitution may be a misprint since $Davis is listed twice.]The substitution may be a misprint since $Davis is listed twice.]
Event Comment: Benefit for Wild, prompter. 1st piece: Not acted these 20 years; altered from Dryden (by Joseph George Holman (Not. Dram.)]. 2nd piece [Ist time; M.INT 1, probably by John Cartwright Cross. MS: Larpent 1028; not published]. 3rd piece: In which an Engagement between an English and a French Man of War, a Shipwreck, and a Grand Military Procession as it pass'd, when the French Colours taken by the British Army were conveyed from St. James's to St. Paul's Cathedral [on 17 May 1794]. The above Procession is represented by Moving Figures, in which the Horse and Foot Guards, the Band of Music, the French Colours, &c. are seen to pass in the exact order they appeared on that memorable occasion. Morning Herald, 17 May: Tickets to be had of Wild, No. 46, Drury-lane. Receipts: #293 2s. 6d. (112/17/6; 14/2/0; tickets: 166/3/0)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Don Sebastian

Afterpiece Title: THE NEW DIVERTISEMENT

Afterpiece Title: THE SHIPWRECK; or, French Ingratitude

Music: End of Act II of 1st piece a Solo on the Union Pipes by Courtney; In the course of the Evening a Duetto on the Union Pipes and Harp by Courtney and Weippert

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Mountain. 2nd piece: Engagement and Funeral Processionv as 6 May. Morning Herald, 18 May: Tickets to be had of Mrs Mountain, No. 6, York-street, Covent Garden, Receipts: #245 18s. 6d. (89.18.0; 6.15.0; tickets: 149.5.6)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Bank Note

Afterpiece Title: The Death of Captain Faulknor

Afterpiece Title: Sprigs of Laurel

Song: In course of 2nd piece: As17950506; Incidental to 1st piece: The Irishman's Peep at the Continent-Johnstone; In course of entertainments: Black Eyed Susan-Incledon; Old Towler-Incledon

Music: 3rd piece: With the favorite Overture by Shield for Arrived at Portsmouth-; with a violin and oboe obligato-Mountain, W. Parke