Event Comment: The United Company. The date of the first performance is not certain, but the play was acted soon after Shadwell's death in November 1692. Gentleman's Journal, November 1692: We have lately lost Thomas Shadwell Esquire....The Comedy which, as I told you, he design'd for the Stage, was acted since his decease: 'Tis call'd the Volunteers; and though that Orphan wanted its Parent to support it, yet it came off with reasonable success. [When this play was revived at Drury Lane 27 July 1711, the bill bore the heading: Not acted these Twenty Years.

Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the first production is not known, but the fact that it was advertised in the London Gazette, No. 3122, 10-14 Oct. 1695, indicates that it was probably acted not later than September 1695. Three songs were published separately: O how you protest, possibly set by Henry Purcell and sung by Mrs Knight; 'Twas within a Furlong, the words by Thomas D'Urfey, set by Henry Purcell, and sung by the Girl [Miss Cross]; and Man is for the woman made, the words by Pierre Motteux and set by Henry Purcell, are in Deliciae Musicae, The Third Book, 1696. See also Purcell's Works, Purcell Society, XX (1916), xix-xx. Preface, Edition of 1696: Notwithstanding the many Accidents that concurr'd to the Ruin of this Play, it succeeded above my Expectations: And I must own my self infinitely oblig'd to the Town, in receiving so favourably, what I at first never design'd for the Stage. Gildon, English Dramatick Poets, p. 121: This particular Play met with pretty good Success, for the Season of the Year, considering it the first Essay by a Young Writer, unacquainted with the Town. A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702), p. 18: Sullen: Mock-Marriage, a young Fellows of the Town, a Retainer, and kind of Pensioner to the Stage. Ramble: What was it's Fate? Sullen: Damn'd, Damn'd

Event Comment: [By Thomas Baker. Premiere.

Event Comment: [By Thomas D'Urfey. Premiere.] Preface: The stopping of it from Acting by Superiour command, doing me no manner of Injury, (tho it might the Play-house) but only for two or three days disappointing my friends; the Cause is so trivial...for taking the Poetical Licence of making Mad man in my Scene Satyrically drink a Health, altering it into a modest phrase, (tho somewhat too familiar)

Event Comment: [By Thomas Baker. Date of premiere uncertain, but this day has generally been accepted by Nicoll, Genest, Winston, and Latreille. Published 29 Jan.

Event Comment: Benefit Fieldhouse. [Afterpiece: By Thomas Walker. Premiere.

Event Comment: [Text by Joseph Addison. Music by Thomas Clayton.] A new Opera never yet perform'd. By Subscription. None to be admitted into the Boxes or Pit but by the Subscribers' Tickets. [Both A Critical Discourse upon Operas (1709) and Jacobs (I, 3) refer to the unsatisfactory nature of the music; as a result, according to Jacobs, "It had not the Success due to its Merit."

Event Comment: [By Thomas D'Urfey.] Never Acted before

Event Comment: [Music by Dominico Scarlatti, with additional numbers by Thomas Roseingrave. Text by P. A. Rolli.] A new Opera. Pit and Boxes together at half a guinea. Gallery 5s. Stage one Guinea. N.B. When the Tickets are disposed of, no Person will be admitted for Money; places will be kept in the Boxes only

Event Comment: Mainpiece: [By Thomas Odell.] A new Farce of one Act. Benefit J. and Ch. Rich. Receipts: money #112 5s.; tickets #14 5s

Event Comment: [By Thomas Southerne.] Receipts: #93 10s. 6d. Victor, History of the Theatres, II, 152: I happened to be behind the Scenes the first Night of this Comedy, and was very sorry to find that the Audience did not take the Age, as well as the great Merit of this Author, into their Consideration, and quietly dismiss this last weak Effort to please them. When they were hissing dreadfully in fifth Act, Mr Rich, who was standing by Mr Southern, asked him, if he heard what the Audience were doifg? His Answer was, No, Sir, I am very deaf.

Event Comment: Benefit the Author. Mainpiece: a New Play of Three Acts. [By Thomas Cooke.] At the particular Desire of several Persons of Quality

Event Comment: A New English Opera. [Text by Thomas Lediard.] Set to Musick after the Italian Manner by Mr John Frederick Lampe. The Scenes and Cloaths are entirely New. With the Representation of a Transparent Theatre. Curiously Illuminated, and adorn'd with a great Number of Emblems, Mottos, Devices, and Inscriptions; and embellish'd with Machines, in a Manner entirely new. N.B. The Illuminations and other Preparations for this Opera are such, that no Person whatever can be admitted to the Stage. Pit and Boxes put together at 6s. Gallery 3s. 6 p.m. [For a discussion of Lediard and this work, see a series of articles by Ifan Kyrle Fletcher, Sybil Rosenfeld, and Richard Southern in Theatre Notebook, II (1948), 42-54.

Event Comment: Benefit Daniel Boyes and Thomas Lascells, who have been for many Years under Confinement for Debt

Event Comment: Benefit the Author of the Farce. Mainpiece: The Sixtieth Day. Afterpiece: Written by the Author of Bacchus one Day Gaily Striding: When Fanny, Blooming Fair [Thomas Phillips.]

Event Comment: Acted but Once these Twenty Years. [As lif acted on Tuesdays and Fridays, possibly these plays were given earlier on 22 June.] By a Company of Comedians, acting under Letters-Patent. Mainpiece: Written by Thomas Shadwell, Esq; Poet-Laureat

Event Comment: As 10 Dec. 1740. [For a discussion of recent Shakespearean performances, see Thomas Edwards to Richard Owen Cambridge, 31 January 1740@41 in Bodleian MS. 1009, pp. 140-41.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: never acted [a tragedy by Thomas Cooke]. Macklin's Reply to Garrick published

Event Comment: Prices 5s., 3s., 2s. Never acted before, a new Comedy. [By Thomas Odell. From Shadwell's The Woman Captain (preface to 1st ed.).

Event Comment: YYeates senior and Bennet's Booth, facing the Hospital Gate, West Smithfield. Wrote by Thomas Sheridan, The Player. Noon to 10 p.m. [Notice repeated 26, 27 Aug.

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr Giffard and Mrs Giffard. Mainpiece [by Thomas Baker]: Not acted these 15 years. [See 11 July 1738.] At the Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Afterpiece: A Farce of Two Acts never performed before, taken from a Comedy of the Celebrated Mr Otway. Tickets to be had of Giffard at No. 11 in Craven's Buildings, Drury Lane, and at the stage door

Event Comment: Benefit for Sowdon. Ladies send servant by three. Tickets at Will's Coffee House in Cornhill; at Mr Thomas Sowdon's in Blackman St., Southwark, and of Hobson at the stage door. Receipts: #230 (Cross)

Event Comment: Receipts: #103 18s. [The following Renters came in at 1 share each: Antony Henry Bousing, Mrs Antony Henry Bousing, Robert Jennings Esq, Thomas Repley (Account Book).

Event Comment: Benefit for Scrase, Mozeen, Ackman, Harrison. Afterpiece: A new farce written by Mr Mozeen (Indiff) (Cross). Ellis Ackman, Henry Scrase, Harrison, Thomas Mozeen advertised the above new piece for their benefit performance being founded on fact (Winston MS 8). Receipts: #170 Cross)