Event Comment: The
United Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but
Lord Granville, writing on 5 May 1688, refers to
the King's presence on the third day,
and since
The Squire of Alsatia may have begun its run about 2 May 1688,
Crowne's play must have been produced by the end of April.
Lord Granville to
Sir William Leveson, 5 May 1688: The town is as empty of news as the
Court; we have had a new play called
The Fall of Darius (written by
Crown), by which the poet, though he could get no fame, yet had a most extraordinary third day by reason the King's presence at it; the first day of its acting
Mrs Bower [
Barry] was taken so violently ill in the midst of her part that she was forced to be carried off,
and instead of dying in jest was in danger of doing it in earnest.
Mrs Cook is dead
and Mrs Boute...is again come upon the stage, where she appears with great applause. We are promised this week another new play of
Shadwell's called
the Alsatia Bully, which is very much commended by those who have had the private perusal of it (
HMC, 5th Report, Part II, pP. 197-98).
Dedication, Edition of 1688: A misfortune fell upon this Play, that might very well dizzy the Judgments of the Audience. Just before the Play began,
Mrs Barry was struck with a very violent Fever, that took all Spirit from her, by consequence from the Play; the Scenes She acted fell dead from her;
and in the 4th Act her distemper grew so much upon her, She cou'd go on no further, but all her part in that Act was wholly cut out
and neither Spoke nor Read; that the People went away without Knowning the contexture of the Play, yet thought they knew all....[My] Thanks to
His Majesty for the Honor of his Presence, on the Day which was to be for my Advantage; which He was pleased to Grant me. [See
L. C. 5@148, p. 195--in
Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 356--for a grant of #20 as a gift from the King to
Crowne for this play.