Event Comment: The United Company. This performance is on the L. C. list, 5@151, p. 369. See also Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 352. The MS music composed for a revival of this play, apparently at this time, by G. Finger and Daniel Purcell, is in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge

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: London Gazette, No 3444, 10-14 Nov. 1698: The Anniversary Feast of the Society of Gentlemen, Lovers of Musick, will be kept at Stationers-hall on St Cecilia's Day, being Tuesday the 22d Instant. According to a notice for a later concert (see 4 Jan. 1698@9) the music on this occasion was composed by Daniel Purcell

Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the premiere is not known, but the second edition (1700) states: The first appearance of this Play was on a Wednesday in Lent; for then (it seems) the Town look for a bad Entertainment. [As the play was advertised in the Flying Post, 2 April 1700, the first performance probably occurred in early March.] A Prologue by Sir Charles Sedley which may have been intended for this play is in Sedley's Works, ed. V. de Sola Pinto (London, 1928), I, 46-47, 288-89. A song in this play, separately printed ca. 1700, indicates that the music was composed by Daniel Purcell and that the song was sung by Mrs Erwin

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. The date of the first production is not known, but the entry of this play in the Term Catalogues for November 1680 suggests a first offering in September or October 1680. The music for the play was composed by Henry Purcell, his first (according to Downes composing for the stage. Downes (Roscius Anglicanus, p. 38) gives a shortened cast and adds: All the Parts in't being perfectly perform'd, with several Entertainments of Singing; Compos'd by the Famous Master Mr Henry Purcell, (being the first he e'er Compos'd for the Stage) made it a living and Gainful Play to the Company: The Court; especially the Ladies, by their daily charming presence, gave it great Encouragement. Dedication, Edition of 1680: The Reputation that this Play received on the Stage, some few Errors excepted, was more than I could well hope from so Censorious an Age....You [the Duchess of Richmond] brought her Royal Highness just at the exigent Time, whose single Presence on the Poet's day is a Subsistence for him all the Years after. A song, Hail to the myrtle shade, is in Choice Ayres and Songs, The Third Book (dated 2 Nov. 1680)