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.

Event Comment: The United Company. As 9 Nov. 1692 is known to be the second day, it is assumed that 8 Nov. 1692 represents the first performance. (See entry for 9 Nov. 1692.) The authorship is uncertain; William Mountfort signed tne Dedication, but its authorship is linked with that of Edward III (November 1690), which may have been by Bancroft. Gentleman's Journal, October 1692 (not issued until November): Henry the Second, King of England, A new Play, by the Author of that call'd Edward the Third, which gave such universal satisfaction, hath been acted several times with applause. It is a Tragedy with a mixture of Comedy....Had you seen it acted, you would own that an Evening is pass'd very agreeably, when at a Representation of that pleasing Piece. [Alfred Harbage, Elizabethan-Restoration Palimpsest, Modern Language Review, XXXV (1940), 312-18, argues that this play is the Elizabethan Henry II once in the possession of Moseley. A song, In vain 'gainst Love I strove, composed by Henry Purcell and sung by Mrs Dyer, not in the printed play, is in Comes Amoris, 1693, and Joyful Cuckoldom 1695. See Purcell's Works, Purcell Society, XX (1916), vii

Event Comment: [In afterpiece the playbill assigns Euphrosyne to Mrs Crouch, but "illness prevented, and Mrs Bland...undertook the part" (Thespian Magazine, Nov. 1792, p. 125). Mrs Crouch is also listed as one of the Bacchants.] Receipts: #225 8s. 6d. (167.5.6; 57.7.0; 0.16.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Webb. Morning Chronicle, 17 July: Tickets to be had of Mrs Webb, No. 22, corner of Broad Court, Bow-street, Covent Garden. "Old Jack, instead of appearing with all that easy, flowing, negligent facetiousness which the poet has so inimitably pourtrayed, assumed the part of moral solemnity, and every joke was delivered with a sort of sententious dignity that destroyed its natural impression" (General Advertiser, 22 July)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Kemble. Afterpiece: The [first] and only time of performing it [this season] at this theatre. Morning Herald, 31 July: Tickets to be had of Mrs Kemble, No. 24, corner of Panton-street, Haymarket

Event Comment: [Kemble's 1st appearance as Osman was in Dublin (Genest, VI, 295).] Afterpiece [1st time; P 2 (?), by James Cobb and Thomas King]: Partly formed on the Plan of the Italian Comedy, and embellished with Music and Machinery. The paintings by Greenwood. The Music compiled and composed by Linley [Sen.]. Nothing under Full Price will be taken. Books of the Songs [which assign no parts], Introduction, &c. to be had at the Theatre. [Synopsis of action in Universal Magazine, Dec. 1785, p. 335.] Account-Book, 31 Jan. 1786: Paid King for Hurly-Burly #165. Receipts: #181 2s. (174/17; 6/5)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 7 years [not acted since 21 Apr. 1784. Mrs Bateman is identified in Kemble Mem.]. Receipts: #201 1s. 6d. (156.7.6; 41.11.0; 3.3.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Jordan. Morning Herald, 22 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Jordan, No. 14, Somerset-street, Portman-square. Receipts: #461 8s. (195.17.6; 30.16.0; 5.6.0; tickets: 229.8.6) (charge: #158 13s. 4d.)

Event Comment: [Henderson's 1st recorded appearance as Falstaff was at Bath, 6 Mar. 1777. "In the frolicksome, gay, and humourous situations of Falstaff Henderson is superior to every man...His soliloquy in describing his ragamuffin regiment, and his enjoying the misuse of the king's press-money are so truly excellent that they are not inferior to any comic representation of the stage" (Davies, I, 252-53).] Afterpiece: Never performed here. The Musick composed by Dr Arnold

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Martyr. Morning Herald, 15 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Martyr at her house, No. 35, Devonshire-street, Queen-square. Tickets delivered for Lionel and Clarissa will be admitted. Receipts: #209 10s. 6d. (105/13/6; tickets: 103/17/0) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: A Bold Stroke for a Husband [announced on playbill of 16 Oct.] is obliged to be deferred, on account of Mrs Mattocks's sudden Illness. Receipts: #177 14s. 6d. (171/3/6; 6/11/0)

Event Comment: "The leaving Percy untaken up [by Falstaff, in V.iv of mainpiece] was an improvement. The best acting was that of Mrs Pitt" (World, 6 Nov.). Afterpiece: With new Music, Scenes, Machinepy, Dresses, and Decorations. A few of the Airs compiled from Purcell, Travers, Sacchini, &c. The rest of the Music composed by Shield. The Scenery and Machinery designed by Richards and Carver, and executed by them, Hodgins, and many assistants. To conclude with the Representation of the inside of a Nabob's Palacev. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Receipts: #199 0s. 6d. (193.16.0; 5.4.6)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; P 2 (?), by Thomas King. MS not in Larpent; not published; synopsis of action in Public Advertiser, 27 Dec.]: With Variety of new Scenes, Dresses and Decorations. With a Grand View of the Cumberland Fleet sailing for the Cup, and a Song and Chorus in Honour of the Institution. To conclude with a Pageant Rural and Pantomimical. [These were included in all subsequent performances.] The Music partly new and partly compiled [by Thomas Linley Sen.] from the best Masters. The Paintings by Greenwood and other eminent Artists. Nothing under Full Price will be taken. Account-Book, 17 Feb. 1783: Paid King in full for Harlequin's Wedding #47 1s. Receipts: #231 (225/10; 5/10)

Event Comment: Benefit for Suett and Barrymore. [In mainpiece the playbill assigns Valentine to Barrymore and Scandal to Bensley, but "previous to the play an apology was made for the appearance of Whitfield in Valentine, as Barrymore had undertaken Scandal, in consequence of Bensley's being afflicted with a violent hoarseness" (Thespian Magazine, June 1793, p. 2).] Morning Herald, 25 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Suett, No. 21, King-street, Bloomsbury; of Barrymore, No. 11, Bedford-street, Bedford-row. Receipts: #447 10s. (95.19; 43.16; 6.1; tickets: 301.14). (charge: #159 0s. 4d.)

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill retains Miss Pope as Mrs Larron, but "previous to the play, an apology was made by Palmer for the absence of Miss Pope, who by indisposition was prevented from performing, and requested the audience to accept of Mrs Edwards in the part of Mrs Larron, who, it must be confessed, showed no want of spirit in her performance" (Thespian Magazine, Jan. 1793, p. 169).] Receipts: #195 0s. 6d. (143.16.0; 48.14.0; 2.10.6)

Event Comment: The King's Company. The exact date of this performance is not known, but the Prologue refers to "After a four Months Fast," suggesting that the theatre did not reopen until the end of the Long Vacation (24 Oct. 1681 is the beginning of Michaelmas Term). The Epilogue also seems to refer to events at Bartholomew Fair, and the Prologue to the King's visit to Newmarket, from which the King did not return until 12 Oct. 1681. Furthermore, The Impartial Protestant Mercury, No. 54, 28 Oct. 1681, reports: A Revised Play was some days since Acted on an Eminent Publick Theatre, and the Prologue is extreamly talked of. [The periodical reprints some of the lines (which are essentially those in the printed version).] The Loyal Protestant, No. 70, 29 Oct. 1681, refers to the same performance and reprints part of the Epilogue (which also is essentially that of the separately printed Epilogue). All of these elements point to a performance in mid-October. Both the Prologue and the Epilogue were printed separately, and have been reprinted by Wiley, Rare Prologues and Epilogues, pp. 43-45. Broadside copies of the Prologue and Epilogue in the Huntington Library bear Luttrell's manuscript notations that both were written by Dryden. Luttrell's date of acquisition is 13 Feb. 1681@2, an instance in which Luttrell's date of purchase does not apparently correspond closely to a date of performance

Event Comment: Benefit Woodward. Mainpiece: An Historical Play, never acted there before [see 20 March 1738]. At the Particular Desire of several Persons of Quality. As written by Shakespear. Containing the wars of Cymbeline with the Romansr, in the reign of Augustus Caesar; the various distresses and Adventures of Imogen the King's Daughter; the noble repulse the Romans met with, on their invading Britain; their defeat, and many other historical passages. Ladies are desired to send their servants early to prevent mistakes. To be Lett, and enter'd upon on Monday next, the 7th instant Commodious Places in the Front and Upper Boxes...for the excellent reviv'd play of Shakespear... For further Particulars enquire of Mr Woodward, at his house near the theatre [in advance bills]

Event Comment: [Mainpiece in place of The Pirates, advertised on playbill of 6 Dec. In mainpiece the playbill retains Miss Farren as Miss Herbert, but she was absent, and "Mrs Powell was her substitute" (Thespian Magazine, Jan. 1793, p. 171).] Receipts: #150 4s. 6d. (105.2.6; 41.10.0; 3.12.0)

Event Comment: The King's Company. The date of the premiere is not known, but a licensing date of 28 March 1678 suggests a first performance not later than February 1678. One song, One night while all the village slept, with music by Louis Grabu and words by Sir Car Scroop, is in Choice Ayres and Songs, The Third Book, 1681. Downes (Roscius Anglicanus, p. 17): Major Mohun...[in] Mithridates, &c. An Eminent Poet seeing him Act this last, vented suddenly this Saying: Oh Mohun, Mohun! Thou little Man of Mettle, if I should write a 100 Plays, I'd Write a Part for thy Mouth; in short, in all his Parts, he was most Accurate and Correct. [Downes, p. 12, gives an identical cast except for omissions.] Princess Anne apparently played Ziphares and Frances Apsley played Semandra in a production of this drama, probably at St James's Palace or at Sir Allen Apsley's house in St James's Square, between January 1677@8 and August 1679. See Benjamin Bathurst, Letters of Two Queens (London, 1924), p. 61

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Pritchard. Tickets at Mrs Pritchard's, Craven Buildings, dl

Event Comment: Tickets delivered by Jackson, Prosser, Helme, Lloyd, Real, Rowson, R. Ledger, Mrs Hamilton, Mrs Lampe, and the Performers in the Orchestra will be admitted this Evening. Receipts: #276 12s. 6d. (83/7/0; 2/7/6; tickets: 190/18/0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Bateman. Morning Herald, 20 May: Tickets to be had of Mrs Bateman at her house, the corner of Carlisle-street, Soho-square. Receipts: #397 1s. 6d. (161.18.6; 47.4.0; 1.3.0; tickets: 186.16.0) (charge: #157 8s. 8d.)

Event Comment: Benefit Macklin, Mr and Mrs Furnival. Afterpiece: Written by the Author of the Toy Shop

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Mills. By Command of Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales

Event Comment: Benfit for Taswell, Mayle, Gray, Mrs King, and Mrs Pinny. Tickets deliver'd out for the Relapse will be taken. The Play is oblig'd to be chang'd on account of the Indisposition of a pbincipal performer. Receipts: #100