Event Comment: On this date the Queen granted permission for the company to act at Oxford from 10 July 1691 for twelve days. See CSPD, 1690-91, p. 430; Sybil Rosenfeld, Some Notes on the Players in Oxford, 1661-1713, pp. 370-71; and A Long Prologue to a Short Play, Spoken by a Woman at Oxford Drest like a Sea Officer, in Poems on the Affairs of State, Part III, 1698, p. 581

Event Comment: The United Company. This play was probably revived in May or June 1693. Two songs for it-one sung by Mrs Ayliff, the composer not named; another, the music by Ackroyde, but no singer named-are in Gentleman's Journal, June 1693 (advertised in London Gazette, 13 July 1693). These songs presumably were a part of a revived version not long preceding their publication

Event Comment: As a result of litigation in 1704, we know that the regular company at Drury Lane and Dorset Garden resumed acting (after the younger performers had had possession of the theatres) on 9 Oct. 1695, and acted 214 days to 13 July 1696, after which the young actors played until 12 Oct. 1696, acting 57 times in the long vacation. See Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, p. 308

Event Comment: In spite of decrees concerning the transfer of a player from one house to another, Dogget entered into an agreement with Rich's Company. See Nicoll, Restoration Drama, pp. 338-39. Cibber, Apology, I, 229: And the late Reputation which Dogget had acquired from acting his Ben in Love for Love, made him a more declared Male-content on such Occasions; he over-valued Comedy for its being nearer to Nature than Tragedy, which is allow'd to say many fine things that Nature never spoke in the same Words; and supposing his Opinion were just, yet he should have consider'd that the Publick had a Taste as well as himself, which in Policy he ought to have complied with. Dogget, however, could not with Patience look upon the costly Trains and Plumes of Tragedy, in which knowing himself to be useless, he thought were all a vain Extravagance: And when he found his Singularity could no longer oppose that Expence, he so obstinately adhered to his own Opinion, that he left the Society of his old Friends, and came over to us at the Theatre-Royal: This happened in the Winter following the first Division of the (only) Company

Event Comment: Rich's Company. Lady Morley attended this performance. Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, p. 377: Lady Morley and one in the Box at Plott and noe Plott 8s. [There is no certainty that this performance is the premiere; since the play was advertised in the Post Man, 25-27 May 1697, the first performance may have been late April or very early May.] Preface, Edition of 1697: As for the Spectators, tho, by reason of the advanc'd Season, and the extremity of the heat, which when the Play was first acted was intolerable, we have not had such numerous assemblies as might have been expected in Winter; yet as long as I have known the Play-house I never saw the Company there in better humour. A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702), pp. 18-19: Ramble: Oh, that's Dennis's; and a very regular Farce, tho' he calls it a Comedy. Sullen: I think it did pretty well; 'tis laboriously Writ, as everything of his is: There's an Air of Formality in the Play agreeable to the slovenly Air in his Behaviour

Event Comment: John Dryden to his sons, 3 Sept. 1697: After my return to Town, I intend to alter a play of Sir Robert Howards, written long since, & lately put by him into my hands: tis calld The Conquest of China by the Tartars. It will cost me six weeks study, with the probable benefit of an hunderd pounds. In the meane time I am writeing a Song for St Cecilia's feast, who you know is the Patroness of Musique. This is troublesome, & no way beneficiall: but I coud not deny the Stewards of the feast, who came in a body to me, to desire that kindness (Letters of John Dryden, p. 93)

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

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. This performance is known from a playbill apparently no longer extant: W. R. At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. At the New Theatre in Little Lincoln's-Inn Fields, this present Tuesday, being the 27th of February, will be presented, a Tragedy call'd The Mourning Bride. The Moorish? Entry perform'd by The Little? Boy. Vivant Rex. (W. J. Lawrence, The Elizabethan Playhouse and Other Studies (Stratford, 1913). See also R. W. Lowe, Thomas Betterton (London, 1891), and Fitzgerald, A New History, I, 389

Event Comment: [By Elkanah Settle.] Never Acted before. Preface: I was reduced to the Necessity of bringing it in in the long Vacation, and consequently with a very narrow Expectation of Profit from the Product of so barren a Season. And as the then Emptiness of the Town cou'd give it but a few, though those all friendly Auditors, I sit down contented with the general Reception it has met

Event Comment: Boxes 8s. Pit 5s. Gallery 2s. 6d. Stage Boxes half a Guinea. At 5:30 p.m. Notices as 23 Oct. It having been the Common Practice of several Persons to come into the Opera and stay a whole Act, and sometimes longer, without paying, to the great Prejudice of the Opera, therefore it is humbly desired for the future, that no Person will take it ill that tney are not admitted without Tickets. [The King present.

Event Comment: By His Royal Highness's Command. According to the Original Weekly Journal 26 April the Prince was present, but Edward Harley Jr writing to Abigail Harley on 6 May stated: The P..., not long ago, bespoke at the Old Playhouse, a play called the Indian Emperor. The K...hearing of it, sent to the players to tell them that if the P...came, and they acted that play, he would turn them out of his service, which message they sent to the P..., who had the good sense not to come, so the Indian Emperor was acted.-Portland MS, V, 560

Event Comment: The Long Room in the Haymarket is next to the King's Theater and was formerly Boman's Chocolate Room

Event Comment: By His Royal Highness's Command. Written by Shakespear. Receipts: #92. Weekly Journal or Saturday's Post, 29 Oct.: Where was acted...The Merry Wives of Windsor, with universal Applause; that Company having improved themselves so much, during the long Vacation, they now equal, if not exceed their Brethren of Drury-Lane in their Theatrical Performances

Event Comment: For a long critique of the play, see St. James Journal, 15 Nov

Event Comment: For a long critique, see St. James's Journal, 22 Nov. (in a letter dated 18 Nov.)

Event Comment: Admission as 7 Nov. 1722. London Journal, 2 March: The new Opera Tickets are very high, and like to continue so as long as Mrs Cotzoni is so much admired. They are traded in at the other End of the Town, as much as Lottery Tickets are in Exchange-Alley

Event Comment: The Days being long, the Doors will not be open'd till Five, and the Play will begin exactly at half an Hour after Six a Clock, Particular Care being taken to keep the House cool

Event Comment: Benefit a Gentleman in Misfortunes. Written by Aaron Hill, Esq. All the Characters being entirely new Dress'd. N.B. The putting off the Play so long was occasion'd by the Indisposition of one of the principal Performers, and the Tickets deliver'd out for 4th, the 11th, and the 17th Instant will be taken this Day

Event Comment: [By Sandford.] All the Characters being entirely new dress'd. [The Preface gives a long account of the difficulties attendant on the production, particularly the inexperience of the amateur performers.

Event Comment: At the Long Room at Hampstead Wells. At 6 p.m

Event Comment: Benefit John Rich. Receipts: #167 10s. 6d. For a long essay on the stage, see Weekly Journal or Saturday's Post, 23 Jan

Event Comment: UUniversal Mercury, February 1726: Elisa...an Opera of a foreign Growth, and of which they promis'd us Wonders before it was brought over. But when it arriv'd, we soon found to our Cost, that its being far fetch'd and dear bought was the only thing that could recommend it: But even that would not do long, and Audiences grew so thin, that the Royal Academy, for fear of making another Call, was oblig'd to drop it

Event Comment: For a long letter on operatic affairs, see Deutsch, Handel, pp. 207-8

Event Comment: [By Sir John Vanbrugh and Colley Cibber.] All the Characters new drest. Mist's 13 Jan.: On Wednesday last a most horrid, barbarous, and cruel Murder was committed...upon a posthumous Child of the late Sir John Vanbroog, by one who, for some Time past, has gone by the Name of Keyber. It was a fine Child born, and would certainly have lived long, had it not fallen into such cruel Hands. Davies (Dramatic Miscellanies, III, 260-61): In all the tumults and isturbances of the theatre on the first night of a new play, which was formerly a time of more dangerous service, to the actors, than it has been of late, Mrs Oldfield was entirely mistress of herself; she thought it her duty, amidst the most violent opposition and uproar, to exert the utmost of her abilities to serve the author. In the comedy of uproar, to exert the utmost of her abilities to serve the author. In the comedy of the Provoked Husband, Cibber's enemies tried all their power to get the play condemned. The reconciliation scene wrought so effectually upon the sensible and generous part of the audience, that the conclusion was greatly and generously approved. Amidst a thousand applauses, Mrs Oldfield came forward to speak the epilogue; but when she had pronounced the first line,-Methinks I hear some powder'd critic say-a man, of no distinguished appearance, from the seat next to tne orchestra, saluted her with a hiss. She fixed her eye upon him immediately, made a very short pause, and spoke the words poor creature! loud enough to be heard by the audience, with such a look of mingled scorn, pit, and contempt, that the most uncommon applause justified her conduct in this particular, and the poor reptile sunk down with fear and trembling. See also Cibber, Apology, I, 310-11; Victor, History of the Theatres, II, 105

Event Comment: FFlying Post, 1 March: On Thursday Night last, the Village Opera was play'd the Fifth Time, but met with a most unaccountable Reception; however, tis presumed not from any Pique against the Author, but the Resentment of the town upon some later Proceedings. No sooner did poor Colin appear upon the Stage, but his Arrival was usher'd in with a Serenade of Cat Calls, Penny-Trumpets, Clubs, Canes, Hoarse Voices, whistling in Keys, Hells, Fists; and Vollies of whole Oranges; however, the Players went on with uncommon intrepidity, and like the truly great Men, seem'd greater by opposition. The Audience call'd out for any other Play, Farce or Entertainment, but the Peasants seem'd too intent upon what they were about, to give Ear to them. This so exasperated the Spectators, that they mustered up all the Artillery they could possibly lay hold and made such an Uproar, during the whole intended Entertainment, that it was scarce possible to hear a word the Actors said. As every Player came upon the Stage, they call'd upon him by his real, not fictitious Name, and Swore not a Man of them would come to his Benefit. When Mrs T@@@ appeared, they call'd out for a Quartern of Gin, to chear up her Spirits. The Word Constable being first mentioned in the Gallery, it ran round the House like Wild-fire; and immediately the general Cry was, No Constable, no Constable. At the Conclusion of the Play, a Fellow came upon the Stage, to put out the Lights with his long Pole, but a Gentleman broke it in two, and another taking a Candle from one of the Sockets of the Sconces, his Example was immediately followed by several others, who soon clear'd them of their Lights; when a new kind of Shower compos'd of Candles fell think as Hail on the Stage