Event Comment: The Duke's Company. See also 15 and 23 Dec. 1662. Pepys, Diary: There being the famous new play acted the first time to-day, which is called The Adventures of Five Hours, at the Duke's house, being, they say, made or translated by Colonel Tuke, I did long to see it; and so made my wife to get her ready, though we were forced to send for a smith, to break open her trunk...and though early, were forced to sit almost out of sight, at the end of one of the lower forms, so full was the house. And the play, in one word, is the best, for the variety and the most excellent continuance of the plot to the very end, that ever I saw, or think ever shall, and all possible, not only to be done in the time, but in most other respects very admittable, and without one word of ribaldry; and the house, by its frequent plaudits, did show their sufficient approbation. Evelyn, Diary: I went to see Sir S: Tuke (my kinsmans) Comedy acted at the Dukes Theater, which so universaly tooke as it was acted for some weekes every day, & was belived would be worth the Comedians 4 or 5000 pounds: Indeede the plot was incomparable but the language stiffe & formall. Downes (pp 22-23): Wrote by the Earl of Bristol, and Sir Samuel Tuke: This Play being Cloath'd so Excellently Fine in proper Habits, and Acted so justly well....It took Successively 13 Days together, no other Play Intervening. Lady Anglesey to her husband, 10 Jan. 1663: Lord Bristol has made a play which is much commended (CSPD 1663-64, p. 8)

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. This apparently was not the first performance, but the time of premiere is not known. Pepys, Diary: My wife and I and Mercer to the Duke's house, and there saw The Rivalls, which is no excellent play, but good acting in it; especially Gosnell comes and sings and dances finely, but, for all that, fell out of the key, so that the musique could not play to her afterwards, and so did Harris also go out of the tune to agree with her. Downes (p. 23): The Rivals, A Play, Wrote by Sir William Davenant; having a very Fine Interlude in it, of Vocal and Instrumental Musick, mixt with very Diverting Dances: M Price introducing the Dancing, by a short Comical Prologue, gain'd him an Universal Applause of the Town....And all the Womens Parts admirably Acted; chiefly Celia, a Shepherdess being Mad for Love; especially in Singing several Wild and Mad Songs

Event Comment: The King's Company. Pepys, Diary: I walked to the King's playhouse, there to meet Sir W. Pen, and saw The Surprizall, a very mean play, I thought; or else it was because I was out of humour, and but very little company in the house. But there Sir W. Pen had a good deal of discourse with Moll Meggs?; who tells us that Nell Gwyn? is already left by my Lord Buckhurst, and that he makes sport of her, and swears she hath had all she could get of him; and Hart, her great admirer, now hates ner; and that she is very poor, and hath lost my Lady Castlemayne, who was her great friend also: but she is come to the House, but is neglected by them all

Event Comment: At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. Written by Sir George Etheridge

Event Comment: Written by Sir George Etheridge

Event Comment: At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. Written by Sir George Etheridge

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Rogers. At the Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Written by Sir George Etheridge

Event Comment: Benefit the Widow of the late famous Tragedian Mr Betterton. At the particular Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Written by Sir George Etheridge

Event Comment: At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. Written by Sir George Etheridge

Event Comment: Written by Sir George Etheridge

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Knight. Written by Sir George Etheridge

Event Comment: At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. Written by Sir George Etheridge

Event Comment: Written by Sir George Etherege

Event Comment: Written by Sir George Etherege

Event Comment: Written by Sir George Etheridge

Event Comment: Benefit Miller. At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. Written by Sir George Etheridge