Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the premiere is not known, but the fact that the play was advertised in the
Post Boy, 12-16 Dec. 1695, suggests that it was probably first acted not later than November 1695. The edition of 1696 mentions two songs and their performers:
A lass there lives upon the green, the words by an unknown hand, set by
Courteville, and sung by
the Boy to
Miss Cross; and
Bright Cynthia's pow'r divinely great, words by
Mr Cheek, set by
Courtevill, sung by
Leveridge. These two songs are also in
Deliciae Musicae, The Fourth Book, 1696, as is a third,
Celemene, pray tell me, set by
Henry Purcell and sung by the Boy and
Girl. The words were written by
D'Urfey; and the Boy presumably was
Bowen, and the Girl,
Miss Cross. See
Purcell's Works,
Purcell Society, XXI (1917), v-vi.
A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702), p. 19:
Sullen:
Oronooko.
Ramble: Oh! the Favourite of the Ladies. Sullen: It had indeed uncommon Success, and the Quality of both Sexes were very kind to the Play, and to the Poet: No doubt it has Merit, particularly the last Scene; but 'tis as certain, that the Comick Part is below that Author's usual Genius. Ramble: I have a particular regard for
Mr Southern's Stile and agreeable Manner; there's a Spirit of Conversation in every thing he writes. Sullen: I think very few exceed him in the Dialogue; his Gallantry is natural, and after the real manner of the Town; his acquaintance with the best Company entered him into the secrets of their Intrigues, and no Man knew better the Way and Disposition of Mankind. But yet I must say, his Diction is commonly the best part of him, especially in Comedy; but in Tragedy he has once in this, and in one other, Drawn the Passions very well