Event Comment: The United Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but according to the Gentleman's Journal, May 1694, it followed Have at All: the other call'd The married Beau, or the Curious Impertinent, by Mr Crown, already acted many times (p. 134). The manuscript of a song composed by John Eccles and sung by Doggett is in Bodleian, School of Music Collection, c. 95, f 102. One by Henry Purcell, See, where repenting Celia lyes, sung by Mrs Ayliff, is in Thesaurus Musicus, 1695. See also Purcell's Works, Purcell Society, XX (1916), xvii-xviii

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of the first performance is not certain, but the fact that the play was advertised in the London Gazette, 6-11 May 1696, suggests that it was first acted not later than April 1696. A song, Come, Hodge, come, Robin, set by John Eccles and sung by Wiltshire and Mrs Hudson, was printed in Deliciae Musicae, The Second Book of the Second Volume, 1696. Dedication, Edition of 1696: Which I wrote three Years ago....nor the Displeasure of the Judicious, who I hope will not condemn this Play from the appearance it had upon the Stage, where it suffer'd in the Acting....Tho. Dogget. A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702), pp. 16-17: Ramble: Oh that's Dogget's: The Players have all got the itching Leprosie of Scribling as Ben. Johnson calls it; twill in time descend to the Scene-keepers and Candle-snuffers: Come, what came on't? Sullen: Not then directly Damn'd, because he had a part in't himself, but it's now dead and buried

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of the premiere is not known, but the fact that the play was advertised in the Post Man, 8-10 June 1697, suggests a first performance in late May or the beginning of June. Preface: I [Motteux] write the Masque of Hercules, and Mr Eccles, having set it with his usual Success, and yet more masterly than my Mars and Venus, if possible, I prevail'd with the ingenious Mr J. Oldmixon to give me a short Pastoral, while I scribbled over a Farce after the Italian Manner, and an Imitation of part of a diverting French Comedy of one Act (for such Plays are very common in Foreign Parts). Then I wanted nothing but a Tragedy....At last I bethought myself of one already studied, called The Unnatural Brother, written by an ingenious Gentleman and acted 6 Months ago, tho not with the success it deserv'd. Yet the latter Part was extremely applauded: So I was persuaded to make bold with it, as I do....I could easily contract the most moving Part of the Story into the Compass of one Act, with some Additions....All this was done in a very short time, the warm Season threatening me with your Absence....The foregoing Lines were published as a Preface to that Masque, some few copies of which were printed for the use of the Audience, the first day of the Novelty's being Acted. A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702), p. 20: Every Word stolen, and then Damn'd

Event Comment: Benefit Mills. With the proper Scenes belonging to the Music. It being the last time of Acting till after May Fair

Event Comment: At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. Being the last time of Acting till after May-Fair

Event Comment: Admission and time as 3 May

Event Comment: Admission and time as 17 May

Event Comment: Admission and time as 3 May

Event Comment: Whereas Wm Penkethman having formerly diverted the Quality and Gentry in Bartholomew-Fair and May-Fair, with Drolls, Musick, and other delightful Entertainments, he [will] entertain the Town and during the Time of Southwark-Fair, with that most celebrated Droll

Event Comment: Benefit Aston. Being the last Time of his performing here. Receipts: money #17 1s.; tickets #37 6s. [In Daily Post, 7 May, Aston has an appeal to the twofold learned and judicious Body of the Law, in behalf of his Benefit Play."

Event Comment: Benefit Penkethman. At the particular Desire of several Persons ofe. Les Deux Arlequins. As 7 May. At the particular Desire of several Persons of Quality. Being the last Time of performing by Subscription

Event Comment: Benefit Rochetti. At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. N.B. The breaking his Leg having render'd him incapable of attending his Friends and Benefactors as he ought to do, he hopes, the so justly celebrated English Good Nature will regard him at this time. [This performance may have been dismissed.]

Event Comment: Daily Advertiser, 20 May: A mad Company of Comedians having lately taken the Hay-market Theatre, propose to convert it into a Mad-house, and humbly hope the Town will be as mad as themselves, and come frequently to see their mad Performances. which will be madly exhibited, two or three Times a Week, during the Summer Season

Event Comment: See Daily Advertiser, 4 Feb., for a letter from Colley Cibber to the Gentlemen of the Inns of Court. Daily Advertiser, 4 Feb.: Whereas it is agreed on between several Gentlemen, to erect a New Theatre for the exhibiting of Plays, Farces, Pantomime, &c. all such Persons as are willing to undertake the said Building, are desir'd to bring their Plans for the same by the 2d of May next ensuing, in order to be laid before the said Gentlemen, the Time and Place of which Meeting will be advertis'd in this Paper on the last of April. Proportions of the Ground: The North Side 120 Feet; the West, square with the North, 130 Feet; the South 110 Feet; and the East on a Bevil, joining the Parallel. Note, There must be a Passage left to go round the Building, and the Stages to be 30 Feet wide at the First Scene; the Distance between Wall and Wall 80 Feet; and the Scene-Rooms, Green and Dressing Rooms, to be on the outside of the last mention'd Measure. The Stage to be either North or South

Event Comment: Founded on Shakespear's Much Ado About Nothing. By the Author of the Man of Taste. Daily Advertiser, 8 March: As the late tumultuous and riotous Behaviour of the Footmen at [dl] is become a Topick of Publick Discourse, a true and exact Account of the Disturbances they have made will be publish'd in this Paper: In the mean time we have the Pleasure to inform the Town, all proper Care being taken, every thing was very quiet last Night, and 'tis believ'd will continue so. The Director of the aforesaid Theatre having receiv'd a threatening Letter last Saturday in the Afternoon from the Footmen, a true Copy of it will be published in Tomorrow's Paper, with a Reward to those who shall discover the Author or Authors, so that he or they may be brought to Justice

Event Comment: Mainpiece: a new Farce of Two Acts. [Author not known. Apparently not printed.]Afterpiece: (by a Company of Singers just imported) A new Musical Burlesque of two Acts, in a Grand Oratorio. [By Henry Carey.] The Musical Connoisseurs are desir'd do take Notice, that the Company keeps up strictly to the Italian Taste, the Notes being full of Grandeur and Harmony, and the Words full of low Nonsense; and as a further Indication of his Attachment, it is so contriv'd, that two powerful Parties are already form'd to support the two beautiful Rivals, Mauxalinda and Margeria; but which of them will carry their Point, Time alone must determine. It will be deem'd a lasting Obligation to any Chronologer, in what University soever presiding, if he will communicate the precise Century Moore of Moore-Hall liv'd in, so that the Hero may be dress'd in Character; but if the Recherche should prove too laborious, it is resolv'd he shall come as near the Figure of the Divine Farinello as possible. N.B. The Dragon was intended to have charm'd the City at Stationer's Hall; but from a Punctilio very common to Singers, he insisted on exerting his Musical Faculty at the Hay-Market. Admission: 5s., 3s., 2s. 7 p.m

Event Comment: By Command of Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales. London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 18 Jan.: Whereas a Bottle was flung out of one of the Galleries into the Pit...on Saturday Night last, during the Time of Performance, which struck a Gentleman on the Head, and very much hurt him, I hereby promise to pay to any one that shall discover the Person who threw the same, so that he may be brought to Justice, the Sum of Twenty Guineas, to be paid on Conviction....John Rich

Event Comment: DDaily Post, 12 Sept.: Yesterday betwixt One and Two in the Morning, some Rogues broke into the Booth of the younger Yeates, in Southwark Fair, and stripp'd his Wardrobe of Cloaths to the Value of near Forty Pounds, so that he was for some time incapacitated from acting yesterday. [From this notice, it appears that Yeates had a booth at the Fair and may have been open during the entire period from 7 to 21 Sept.

Event Comment: With a select Band of Musick. Hippisley and Chapman's Booth in the George Inn-Yard, Smithfield, during the short time of the Fair. [Notice repeated 26 Aug.; from the dramatis personae, this piece may be the droll The Bilker Bilk'd; see University of Texas@Studies@in@English, 1946, pp. 201-8.

Event Comment: A New Oratorio. Tickets will be deliver'd to subscribers (on paying their Subscription money), this day, and every day following at Mr Handel's in Brook Street, near Hanover Square. Attendance will be given from 9 o'clock in the Morning till Three in the Afternoon. Pit and Boxes to be put together and no persons to be admitted without tickets, which will be deliver'd that day at the Office in Covent Garden Theatre, at Half a Guinea each, First Gallery 5s. Upper Gallery 3s. 6d. N.B. Each subscriber is to pay Six Guineas upon taking out his subscription ticket, which entitles him to three Box tickets every night of Mr Handel's first six performances in Lent; and if Mr. Handel should have any more performances after his first six nights, each subscriber may continue on the same conditions. The Gallery will be open'd at Four O'Clock. Pit and Boxes at Five. To begin at Six o'clock. [These notices concerning price, subscription, and time of performance recur regularly, but will not be recorded further here.

Event Comment: Benefit Stevens, Waters, Brook, Hussey. As we could not have our Benefit on Saturday Last, the Company are so kind to pay for us at us at the Theatre Royal in Lincoln's Inn Fields; we humbly hope that our friends will excuse the Disappointment (it not being in our power to avoid it) and favour us on Friday, 3 June, when tickets deliver'd out for the 28th of May for Drury-Lane will be taken this night at Lincolns Inn Fields..-London Daily Post and General Advertiser. This was not acted at dl. Fleetwood refused and they acted at lif, Friday 3 June. Yates, Taswell, Mrs Macklin, Mrs Pritchard, Mrs Hale of cg and Havard Played. N.B. there was an execution on dl at the time.-Winston MS. from Dyer MS

Event Comment: In a short time will be perform'd at the Theatre in the Hay-Market, a Concert of Music; and the Tragedy of Othello, Moor of Venice. The character of Othello will be new dress'd agreeable to the Manner and Custom of his own Country. As both these entertainments will be perform'd by a set of Gentlemen for their own Diversion, no Money will be taken, nor any person admitted but by printed Tickets; which (by order of the Gentlemen) will be deliver'd gratis by Mr Machlin, at his House in Bow-Street, Covent Garden; where Ladies, by sending their Servants, may take Places for the Boxes.--Daily Advertiser

Event Comment: MMiddleton and Cushing's Booth. Not acted these Twenty Years. [Announced for the entire time of the Fair.] 12:00 m. to 10:00 p.m. [Notice repeated 2 May.

Event Comment: YYeates's Great Theatrical Booth, the Lower End of Brookfield to begin at noon this Day and the Time of the Fair. [Notice repeated 7, 14, 15 May.

Event Comment: Benefit for Hobson. Tickets and places of Hobson at the stage door of the Theatre. Presentment of the Grand Juryv for the County of Middlesex: We the Grand Jury sworn to enquire for our Sovereign Lord The King, and the body of this county, have observed from most of the presentments delivered to us by the Constables of this County, that they have been, as we apprehend and fear, very remiss in their duty, by returning their several districts to be quiet and in good order. Whereas the contrary does most manifestly appear, in many instances as well from the accounts or advertisements we read in the daily Papers, printed and dispersed within the County (inviting and seducing, not only the inhabitants, but also all other persons, to several places kept apart for the encouragement of Luxury, Extravagance, and Idleness, and we fear other wicked, illegal purposes, which by such means go on with impunity, to the destruction of many families) as otherwise to the great Dishonour of the Kingdom...especially at a time when we are engaged in expensive Wars, and so much overburdened with Taxes of all sorts, both Parliamentary and Parochial, that it is much as a prudent man can do, without a taste to extravagant and illegal pleasure to support himself and family according to his degree and station in life under the most regular economy. [If unchecked this bad example will lead to National destruction]. We do accordingly hereby present as places riotous, of great extravagance, luxury, idleness, and ill fame, the several house &c following: [lists two gambling houses, then the Proprietors of the avenues leading to the several playhouses for not preventing wicked loose and disorderly persons from loitering at the front of their several houses on nights of the play to the prejudice of playgoers.] 4. Saddlers Wells, near Islington; 5. New Wells, Goodman's Fields; 6. New Wells, Clerkenwell; 7. The Proprietors of a Place call'd Hallam's New Theatre at Mayfair. Prays that the court will close all listed. N.B. Many people believed that after this presentment, the places mentioned would be shut up or reformed, but they advertise and continue the same diversions as before.-Gentlemen's Magazine (May, 1744), pp. 278-79