Event Comment: Flying Post, 21-23 Feb. 1699: The famous Italian, Seignor Fideli, is to Sing next Tuesday at the Theatre Royal in Drury-Lane; both in Italian and English; which he never yet performed

Event Comment: Rich's Company. Post Boy, 27-29 April 1699: Her Royal Highness is this day pleased to see the Opera, call'd The Island Princess, Performed at the Theatre Royal by her own Command

Event Comment: Tom Brown, writing to George Moult, 30 Aug. 1699: As I have observ'd to you, this noble Fair is quite another thing than what it was in the last Age; it not only deals in the humble stories of Crispin and Crispianus, Whittington's Cat, Bateman's Ghost, with the merry Conceits of the Little Pickle-herring; but it produces Opera's of its own Growth, and is become a formidable Rival to both the Theatres. It beholds Gods descending from Machines, who express themselves in a language suitable to their dignity; it trafficks in Heroes; it raises Ghosts and Apparitions; it has represented the Trojan Horse, the Workmanship of the divine Epeus; it has seen St. George encounter the Dragon, and overcome him; In short, for Thunder and Lightning, for Songs and Dances, for sublime Fustian and magnificent Nonsense, it comes not short of Drury-Lane or Lincolns-Inn-Fields (in Thomas Brown, Works, 4th edition, 1715, I, 212-13). [For a colorful account of Bartholomew Fair at the turn of the century, see The London Spy Compleat, 1703, Parts X and XI, particularly pages 228-58.]

Event Comment: Rich's Company. Lady Morley attended this performance: Lady Morley and two in the Box at Constant Couple. See Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, p. 378. There is no certainty that this is the first performance, but the fact that the play was advertised in the Post Man, 7-9 Dec. 1699, suggests that the first production may have occurred in mid-November. The Prologue also refers to the abandonment of Dorset Garden to "That strong Dog Sampson" (see 15 and 25 Nov. 1699). A song, Thus Damon knock'd at Celia's door, set by Daniel Purcell, was published separately about this time. Preface, Edition of 1700: All will join with me in Commendation of the Actors, and allow, without detracting from the Merit of others, that the Theatre Royal affords an excellent and compleat Set of Comedians. Mr Wilks's Performance has set him so far above Competition in the Part of Wildair, that none can pretend to envy the Praise due to his Merit. Preface to The Inconstant (1702): I remember, that about two Years ago, I had a Gentleman from France [The Constant Couple] that brought the Play-house some fifty Audiences in five months. A Comparison between the Two Stages (1702), p. 32: Critick: But above all, commend me to the ingenious Author of the Trip to the Jubilee. Ramble: Oh Lord, Sir! you won't quarrel with that Play; never any thing did such wonders. Critick: Oh 'twas admirable! admirable! I wonder the Town did not just then bespeak the Bays for him. Sullen: Nay, for ought you and I know, he may live to enjoy 'em; I assure you all the run of the Town is on his side. The Owl was never more esteem'd at Athens than the Trip to the Jubilee was here. Critick: Indeed I have known a Footman have a great stroak with his Lord at begging a Favour; if all the Footmen in Town that admire him were to club for his Preferment, I don't know what might be done. Ramble: The Footmen? Ay, and the middle Gallery too, I assure you are of his side, and that's a strong Party. Critick: Why, I believe it, 'tis about the pitch of their Understanding; but if ever it diverted one Man of tolerable Sense I'll be hang'd. Sullen: I don't know who are your People of tolerable Sense, Mr Critick, but at the play I have seen the Pit, Box and Stage so crowded--and if that is not a sign

Event Comment: London Post, 24-27 Nov. 1699: [William Joy] being oblig'd to leave Town in order to pursue some other Method, can shew but twice, which will be God-willing on Wednesday and Friday next at the Theatre in Dorset Garden, beginning Precisely at 11 a Clock, being resolved to shew no more before he leaves the Town

Event Comment: London Post, 4-6 Dec. 1699: At the Request of several Persons of Quality, on Thursday next, being the 7th Inst. at the Theatre in Dorset Garden, the Famous Kentishmen, Wm. and Rich. Joy, design to show to the Town before they leave it, the same Tryals of Strength both of them, that Wm. had the Honour of showing before His Majesty, and their Royal Highnesses, with several other Persons of Quality; for which, he receiv'd a considerable Gratuity....Beginning exactly at 2, and Ending at 4. The Boxes 4s. the Pit 2s. 6d. 1st Gallery 2s. Upper Gall. 1s

Event Comment: On this day James Brydges attended an unnamed play at this theatre (Huntington MS St 26)

Event Comment: London Post, No. 30, 1-3 Jan. 1700: This day at the Theatre-Royal in Dorset-garden, the Famous Kentish-man Mr Joy, designs to show the same Tryals of Strength, he had the honour of showing before his Majesty, the Prince and Princess of Denmark, and several Persons of Quality, viz. The lifting a weight of 2240 l. Holding an extraordinary large Cart-Horse; and afterwards breaking a Rope that will bear 3500 weight. There will likewise be shewn the Sister, carrying 5 Bushels of Wheat, or any other grain; She being but 15 Years of Age. They will also show on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, beginning at 3 of the Clock, and ending at 4 in the Afternoon. Boxes 3s. Pit 2s. 1st Gallery 1s. Upper gallery 6d

Event Comment: Rich's Company. London Post, 5-8 July 1700: This day at the Theatre Royal in Drury-lane, will be presented a Play called, Sophonisba, or Hannibals Overthrow, not performed by the publick Actors but all by young Gentlemen and Ladies for their own Diversion. The Benefit for the young People of the House

Event Comment: Post Boy, 5-7 Dec.: The Actors of the Theatre Royal, finding the Inconveniency to the Gentry of Playing so late at night, are resolved to continue, beginning their Plays at the Hour of Five every Day, as exprest in their Bills

Event Comment: Benefit the Widow of Thomas Williams, who perform'd in the Theatre Royal. At 8 p.m

Event Comment: Benefit for Pinkethman, [but] no plays being Allow'd to be Acted at either Theatre the Friday or Saturday before Whitsunday next,...Love makes a Man...is deferr'd till Friday the 13th of June

Event Comment: [By Charles Johnson. Date of premiere unknown. Published 15 Jan. 1702.] Preface: It stole into the Theatre in the very Heat of last Summer (as if it would cunningly avoid the Critics, who instead of carping here were at Tunbridge, Bath, etc) was study'd in a Hurry, and play'd by what they call the Young Company

Event Comment: Benefit Will Bowen. Whereas Will Bowen has deliver'd several Tickets to his Friends, in order to see the Committee...and the Gentlemen that have the Directions of Affairs relating to the Theatre Royal, have thought it adviseable to change that Play for the Funeral...which is a Comedy equally receiv'd by the Town

Event Comment: And whereas the Audiences have been incommoded by the Plays usually beginning too late, the Company of the said Theatre do therefore give notice, that they will constantly begin at Five a clock without fail, and continue the same Hour all the Winter

Event Comment: Note, That the Theatre in Dorset-Garden being now repair'd from the Damage done by the late great Winds, the same will be ready by the latter end of this Week to Act in, or for Entertainments of Musick and Danceing

Event Comment: At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. And on Wednesday next a Play will be Acted at the Theatre in Dorset-Garden

Event Comment: [The theatres, closed during Passion Week, did not act again until Monday, 9 April.

Event Comment: [This play was advertised on 1 May, not later, as "Not Acted these Four Years," but the performance may have been deferred by the apparent closing of the theatres until after May Fair.

Event Comment: [In Daily Courant, 22 and 23 Sept., the advertisements bore the heading: "By the deserted Company of Comedians of the Theatre Royal."

Event Comment: Being the last time of performing at this Theatre till after Lady-day next

Event Comment: The theatres remained closed until 14 Dec

Event Comment: Benefit Bowen, who will be (in a most particular Manner) Honour'd that Night with the Presence of L'Madam Signiora Fount, Native de Barselona Di Cala Qualificatta, being the first time of her appearance in the English Theatre; and by reason the Queen's Box will be taken up by the Foreign Ministers, The Spanish Lady will be in one of the Stage-Boxes in the Habit of of her Country