Event Comment: The
United Company. The date of the first performance is not certain, but
Luttrell acquired his copy of the separately-printed
Prologue and
Epilogue on 18 Aug. 1684. (
Bindley Collection,
William Andrews Clark@Jr@Library), and the play was probably first performed on that day or in the preceding week. The Prologue and Epilogue are reprinted in
Wiley,
Rare Prologues and Epilogues, pp. 221-23. In the broadside the speaker of the Prologue is identified as
Jevon. A sofg,
Ah poor Oliver never boast, the verse by a Lady, and the music by
R. King, is in
A Collection of Twenty-Four Songs, 1685. Another,
Damon if you wilt believe me, the verse by a Person of Quality and the music by
Alexander Damascene, is in
The Banquet of Musick, The Fifth Book, 1691. Two songs,
Tell me no more I am deceived, the verse by
Sir George Etherege and the music by
J. B. Draghi, and
Who can resist my Celia's charms, the music by J. B. Drahgi, and the verse by A Person of Quality, are in the printed play. This cast contains the last new role certainly assigned to
John Wiltshire, who, according to (
Cibber, Apology, ed.
Lowe, I, 84-85), entered the army and was killed in action