Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the premiere is not known,
but Dryden, writing on 14 Dec. 1699, indicates that this play had had its first performance by that date. The Dedication is dated 10 Jan. 1699@1700, and the play was advertised in the
Post Boy, 20-23 Jan. 1699@1700. Preface, Edition of 1700: Another difficulty this Play labour'd under, was its being acted at a time when the whole Town was so much, and so justly diverted by the
Trip to the Jubilee. When the play was revised and reprinted in 1714, the new edition--
The Victim; or Achilles and Iphigenia in Aulis--indicates that
The Invocation to Diana in the last act was set by
Gottfreid Finger, the first verse being sung by
Freeman, the second verse by
Mrs Erwin, and the third verse by
W. Pate. Advertisement, Edition of 1714: The following Tragedy...having been translated into English [from
Racine], with considerable Additions, by
Mr Boyer, and pass'd the Correction and Approbation of the late famous Mr Dryden, and several other Persons distinguish'd as well by their Wit and Learning, as by their Taste and Discernment, was acted with general Applause, towards the End of the Year 1699, and Beginning of 1700. The Reasons why this Excellent Play stopt, on a sudden, in a full Career, are, in some Measure, accounted for in Mr Boyer's Preface: To which he might have added, That the
Dutchess of Marlborough, who at that Time bore an irresistable Sway, bespoke the Comedy then in Vogue [
The Constant Couple], during the Ruin of
Iphigenia in Aulis; And that this Tragedy receiv'd no small Prejudice, from the Person that acted
Eriphyle [
Mrs Wilkins], who sunk under the Weight of so great a Part.
A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702), pp. 24-25:
Sullen: Then comes the second
Iphigenia in all her Charms, and like a superious Mistress was resolv'd to eclipse her Rival: No cast was spar'd by the Masters, nor toil by the Actors; the Town was bespoke in its favour, and all the Friends of this new
Fletcher and
Beaumont were ingaged to clap it. She appear'd,
but what pity 'twas (as the Prefacer says) that a Play which had such a glorious run shou'd in four Days disappear, never to rise again. Oh! says
Mr D@@, mine was acted six Days; and I'll hold you a hundred Pound--just what I got by't--How's that?, says Boyer--I say, Sir, that I'll hold you, or any Man, a hundred Pound, 'twill be acted again ten times this Winter. With that
B@@ fell a laughing, and replies, Sir, says he, I'll stake my
French Dictionary against your
Criticisms on Blackmore, and that I think is odds enough--I say,"I'll hold you that Bet, that you did not get fifty Shillings by't, and that the House lost a hundred Pound. This had like to ha' made sad work;
but all was well, for neither of 'em have been acted since, for they both sleep in everlasting Tranquillity. [See also pp. 23-25 for other remarks about the two Iphigenia plays.