Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the first performance is not precisely known, but the opera was in preparation on 15 June 1697. In addition, it was advertised in the Post Boy, 22-24 June 1697, that it would be published on 25 June 1697. As it was occasionally the custom of the theatres to have copies of operatic pieces available at the theatre for a performance, it is possible that the premiere occurred at the end of the week of 21-26 June 1697. Furthermore, a certain performance on 1 July 1697, a benefit for the "Undertaker" of it, probably the third performance, similarly suggests a premiere a few days earlier

Event Comment: The United Company. The date of the first performance is not known. The January issue of the Gentleman's Journal, wnich did not appear until some time in February, stated: Mr Congreve...hath written a Comedy, which will be acted in a little time, and is to be call'd, The Old Batchelor (p. 28). The Gentleman's Journal, February 1692@3 (issued in March 1693): The success of Mr Congreve's Old Batchelor has been so extraordinary, that I can tell you nothing new of that Comedy; you have doubtless read it before this, since it has been already printed thrice. And indeed the Wit which is diffus'd through it, makes it lose but few of those Charms in the Perusal, which yield such pleasure in the Representation. Mr Congreve will in some time give us another play; you may judge by this how acceptable it will be (p. 61). In addition, a reference in the Epilogue indicates that it was produced during Lent, ano since the third edition was advertized in the London Gazette, No. 2856, 23-27 March 1693, early March seems the most likely date for the premiere. According to The Female Wits (ca. 1696), The Old Batchelor was acted fourteen days successively. John Barnard of Yale University states that Narcissus Luttrell's copy of The Old Batchelor in the Newberry Library bears the notation: "10d Mar. 16 1692@3." BM Add. Mss. 4221 (341) Memoirs Relating to Mr Congreve Written by Mr Thomas Southern (in Macdonald, Bibliography of Dryden, p. 54n): When he began his Play the Old Batchelor haveing little Acquaintance with the traders in that way, his Cozens recommended him to a friend of theirs, who was very usefull to him in the whole course of his play, he engag'd Mr Dryden in its favour, who upon reading it sayd he never saw such a first play in his life, but the Author not being acquainted with the stage or the town, it woud be pity to have it miscarry for want of a little Assistance: the stuff was rich indeed, it wanted only the fashionable cutt of the town. To help that Mr Dryden, Mr Arthur Manwayring, and Mr Southern red it with great care, and Mr Dryden putt it in the order it was playd, Mr Southerne obtained of Mr Thos. Davenant who then governd the Playhouse, that Mr Congreve should have the privilege of the Playhouse half a year before his play was playd, wh. I never knew allowd any one before. The music for the play was composed by Henry Purcell. See Purcell's Works, Purcell Society, XXI (1917), iii-v

Event Comment: 1st piece: In 3 Scenes of Dialogue. 2nd piece: The Music compiled by Pepusch. [The playbill assigns Filch to Mrs Wilson and Mat o' th' Mint to Miss Morris, but "Miss Morris was merely a temporary substitute for Mrs Wilson who, it seems, is too far advanced in her pregnancy to dress en bomme" (Miming Chronicle, 4 June). But beginning with 7 June Mrs Wilson acted regularly until 3 Aug. Who acted Mat o' th' Mint on this present night has not come to light; the part was perhaps omitted.] 3rd piece: Ballet Tragi-comique. Composed by Signior Novestris [i.e. George Colman, the elder]. The Music by Gluck. With new Scenes, Dresses and Decorations. Machinist and Painter-Sg Rookereschi. Tailor-Sg Walkerino. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Rice at the Theatre. The Doors to be opened at 6:00. To begin at 7:00 [same throughout season]. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s

Event Comment: DDaily Advertiser, 30 May: We hear that Mr Cibber, Jun. one of the present Directors of his Majesty's Company of Comedians together with Mr Mills, Sen Mr Johnson, Mr Miller, Mr Harper, Mr Griffin, Mr Mills, jun. Mr Shepard, Mr Hallam, jun. Mrs Horton, Mrs Heron, Mrs Butler, and others of the Company, waited Yesterday on his Grace the Duke of Grafton...to deliver...an humble Petition, and they met with gracious Reception

Event Comment: Tickets deliver'd out by Miss Copin for the Merchant of Venice will be taken to the Conscious Lovers (General Advertiser). This day is publish'd, Price 1s., A Letter of Complaint to the Ingenious author of a Treatise on the Passions, so far as they regard the stage; with a critical Enquiry into the theatrical merit of Mr G-k, Mr Q-n, and Mr B-y, &c. With some further remarks on Mr M-n. And a few hints on our modern Actresses, particularly Mrs C-r and Mrs P-d. Magna est Veritas, & pravalebit. Printed for C. Corbett, over against St. Dunstan's Church, Fleet St. (General Advertiser). [Illuminating discussion of actors' abilities]: The Stage is much indebted to Mr M- for his incessant successful endeavours; he not only grac'd it with his own personal merits, but rais'd up several Branches who tho' they have not yet quite eclips'd Mr Giffard's Nursery from Goodman's Fields, will certainly in time prove stars of the first magnitude.--(p. 28). Touch Messrs. Giffard and Ryan and give them better voices; there is nothing else wanting. Help Mr Delane to a new manner and judgment to display the best pipe that ever was heard. Polish a little the rough Beauties of Mr L. Sparkes, give the sensible Mr Havard a few more spirits; and mend the Humour of Hippisley, Chapman, Barrington, and Blakes if you can. Poor Yates wants nothing but a front of brass, a necessary self-sufficient Manner of pushing himself upon a Publick.--(p. 31). If Mrs Giffard's Manner was equal to her understanding, she wou'd compell everybody to acknowledge her a surprising Performer. In Lady Macbeth she is excellent; and Hermione was very near eclipsing a much more popular actress; in short in every Part she performs, the severest of her enemies cannot but own she is more than decent.--(pp. 32-33). [Gives two pages each to discussion of Mrs Clive, Mrs Woffington, Mrs Cibber, and Mrs Pritchard.

Event Comment: Receipts: #75 2s. 6d. Probable attendance: boxes, 113 paid and 22 orders; pit, 200 paid and 13 orders; slips, 6 orders; first gallery, 150 paid and 9 orders; second gallery, 27 paid

Event Comment: Receipts: #38 16s. Probable attendance: boxes, 32 paid and 14 orders; pit, 100 paid and 50 orders; slips, 12 orders; first gallery, 105 paid and 55 orders; second gallery, 50 paid and 11 orders

Event Comment: Receipts: #203 19s. Probable attendance: boxes and pit, 514 paid; slips, 55 paid; first gallery, 429 paid; second gallery, 191 paid

Event Comment: Receipts: #205 2s. Benefit J. Rich. Probable attendance: boxes and pit, 524 paid and 4 orders; slips, 44 paid; first gallery, 422 paid and 1 orders; second gallery, 193 paid

Event Comment: Receipts: #210 6s. 6d. Probable attendance: boxes and pit, 531 paid and 5 orders; slips, 61 paid and 2 orders; first gallery, 436 paid; second gallery, 188 paid

Event Comment: Receipts: #208 10s. 6d. Probable attendance: boxes and pit, 526 paid and 3 orders; slips, 49 paid; first gallery, 450 paid; second gallery, 192 paid

Event Comment: Receipts: #200 16s. 6d. Probable attendance: boxes and pit, 510 paid and 16 orders; slips, 48 paid and 2 orders; first gallery, 424 paid; second gallery, 191 paid

Event Comment: Receipts: #204 16s. Probable attendance: boxes and pit, 487 paid and 6 orders; slips, 51 paid; first gallery, 431 paid; second gallery, 194 paid

Event Comment: Mainpiece: [Author unknown. Apparenyly not published.] By Reason of the Length of the Entertainment...the Savage is...to be Acted with it; and, for Brevity, will be presented without Prologue or Epilogue. Receipts: #198 7s. 6d. Benefit J. Rich. Probable attendance: boxes and pit, 516 paid and 6 orders; slips, 47 paid and 1 order; first gallery, 400 paid; second gallery, 180 paid

Event Comment: Receipts: #130 10s. 6d. Probable attendance: boxes and pit, 305 paid and 19 orders; slips, 24 paid and 1 order; first gallery, 315 paid and 4 orders; second gallery, 162 paid and 3 orders

Event Comment: Receipts: #188. Probable attendance: boxes and pit, 472 paid and 20 orders; slips, 36 paid and 2 orders; first gallery, 410 paid and 2 orders; second gallery, 190 paid

Event Comment: Receipts: #176 6s. Probable attendance: boxes and pit, 472 paid and 28 orders; slips, 28 paid and 4 orders; first gallery, 383 paid and 5 orders; second gallery, 179 paid

Event Comment: Receipts: #166 11s. Probable attendance: boxes and pit, 409 paid and 19 orders; slips, 32 paid and 2 orders; first gallery, 375 paid and 3 orders; second gallery, 179 paid

Event Comment: At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. Mainpiece: Written by the late Sir John Vanbrugh. Receipts: #122 6s. Probable attendance: boxes and pit, 277 paid and 24 orders; slips, 19 paid and 2 orders; first gallery, 319 paid and 6 orders; second gallery, 134 paid

Event Comment: Receipts: #96 10s. Probable attendance: boxes and pit, 173 paid and 40 orders; slips, 23 paid and 3 orders; first gallery, 268 paid and 17 orders; second gallery, 225 paid