Event Comment: Beneift for Mr and Mrs Iliff

Event Comment: [Mainpiece in place of The Secret, advertised on playbill of 31 Dec. 1799.] In IV a Masquerade Scenev. Afterpiece: Not acted these 3 years. The Scenery, Dresses and Decorations entirely New. The Music composed, and selected from Cherubini, Kreutzer, and Andreozzi, by the late Mr Storace. [In mainpiece the playbill retains Barrymore as Doricourt, but "On account of the illness of Barrymore, the part of Doricourt was sustained, at a short notice, by Archer." In afterpiece Barrymore is assigned to Kera Khan, but "C. Kemble, in consequence of Barrymore's indisposition, undertook the part of Kera Khan, at a few hours' notice. Suett displayed his wonted humour in his old character of Varbel, His drollery forms a pleasing contrast to the apathy of Kelly" (Dramatic Censor, I, 32).] Receipts: #205 11s. 6d. (105.12.6; 98.15.0; 1.4.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Trevor [who had 1st appeared at this theatre, as a chorus singer, on 16 Jan. 1800]. "A settled, preconcerted plan was evidently laid to injure the lady who came forward in double capacity, not merely as a candidate for public favour, but in the responsible situation of a performer taking a benefit...The moment the lady made her appearance on the boards, before she even opened her mouth, before a single note furnished an opportunished an opportunity of appreciating her abilities, opposition began to manifest itself in all the various forms which malice on such occcsions is wont to resort to. The Hisses grew louder and louder,...the theatre absolutely assumed the appearance of a riot, rather than that of a civilized company, assembled for the purpose of amusement" (Dramatic Censor, II, 212-13). Morning Chronicle, 19 May: Tickets to be had of Mrs Trevor, sister to Mr Kelly of Drury-lane Theatre, No. 31, Bedford-street, Covent Garden. Receipts: #268 12s. (124.13; 4.8; tickets: 139.11)

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. This performance is on the L. C. list, 5@141, p. 2. See also Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 347. This performance may well be the premiere. In the Preface the author states that the play was asked for on Shrove Tuesday and he wrote it within a week; a premiere, then, before this date would allow very little time for rehearsal. This play is certainly a "Lenten" performance, for it was acted on a Wednesday in Lent and was referred to in the Prologue as a "Lenten Play." See the discussion under The Spanish Rogue (March 1673) and Gray, pp. 785-86. See also J. G. McManaway, The Copy for The Careless Lovers," MLN, XLVI (1931), 406-9. Preface to the edition of 1673: [This play] was written at the Desire of the Young Men of the Stage, and given them for a Lenten-Play, they ask't it not above a Week before Shrove-Tuesday

Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the premiere is not known, but the fact that the play was advertised in the Post Man, 29 Feb.-2 March 1695@6, and the London Gazette, No. 3165, 9-12 March 1695@6, suggests that its first appearance was not later than early February. One song, The town rakes, set by Daniel Purcell and sung by Mr Edward, was separately printed ca. 1696. Epistle Dedicatory, Edition of 1696: The unjust Sentence this Play met with before very partial Judges in the Acting....So that I may reasonable impute its miscarriage to some Faction that was made against it, which indeed was very Evident on the First day, and more on the endeavours employ'd, to render the Profits of the Third, as small as could be...Ch. Gildon

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but a copy in the British Museum (161 d 20) has a MS date, 27 Jan. 1681@2, and the play was advertised in True Protestant Mercury, 4-8 Feb. 1681@2; hence it was probably first presented in early January, perhaps late in 1681

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. This performance is known by the separately printed Prologue and Epilogue: Prologue. By Mr Otway to his Play call'd Venice preserv'd or the Plot discover'd. Acted at His Royal Highness the Duke of Yorks Theatre, the 9th of February, 1681. [These have been reprinted in Wiley, Rare Prologues and Epilogues, pp. 61-66.] Luttrell dated his copy of the Prologue and Epilogue 11 Feb. 1681@2 (Huntington Library). It is not certain that 9 Feb. 1681@2 represents the first performance, but it may well be. For a comment by Downes, Roscius Anglicanus, on Mrs Barry, see The Orphan, February 1679@80

Event Comment: Post Boy, No. 477, 24-26 May 1698: On Saturday next, being the [28th] of May, will be perform'd in York-Buildings, an Entertainment of Vocal and Instrumental Musick, Set by the late Mr Hen. Purcell, and perform'd by Mr Pate, and Mr Bowen, for Mr Leveridge his Benefit

Event Comment: A new Entertainment of Vocal and Instrumental Musick (after the manner of an Opera...the vocal part being compos'd by Mr Weldon, and the Instrumental by Mr Dieuport. [Text by Pierre Motteux.

Event Comment: A New English Opera. The Music Compos'd by Mr Rush. Signora Cremonini, Clementini, made her first appearance on this Stage in the Character of Eliza. Sings very well, very Graceful Deportm[en]t & is a great Support to the Opera. many of the Songs were Encor'd. Some few Hisses. but upon the whole, was pretty well receiv'd (Hopkins). Books of the Opera to be sold at the Theatre. A new English Opera, the Royal Shepherd-the Musick composed by Mr Rush.-Siga Cremonini made her first appearance,--sings ver fine,--very graceful deportment, and is a great support to the Opera.--Some hisses--Many of the songs encored. Upon the whole was well liked...On this occasion the Stage was cut near two feet and a half to enlarge the orchestra, to make it contain the additional performers who belong to the Opera House, on whose account the Opera cannot be performed Tuesdays and Saturdays (Hopkins Diary-MacMillan)

Event Comment: Paid Mr Jefferson per Mr Johnston, per Mr G. G's order #10 (Treasurer's Book). Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Receipts: #131 9s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A New Italian Piece by Mons Sorin and Mr Baxter. At the Desire of several Persons of Quality