SELECT * FROM london_stages WHERE MATCH('(@(authnameclean,perftitleclean,commentcclean,commentpclean) "Widow of the late Dr Arne"/1) | (@(roleclean,performerclean) "Widow of the late Dr Arne")') GROUP BY eventid ORDER BY weight() desc, eventdate asc OPTION field_weights=(perftitleclean=100, commentpclean=75, commentcclean=75, roleclean=100, performerclean=100, authnameclean=100), ranker=sph04

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We found 2524 matches on Event Comments, 1134 matches on Performance Comments, 913 matches on Performance Title, 819 matches on Author, and 0 matches on Roles/Actors.
Event Comment: The Duke's Company. This date of the premiere is not known, but the presence of Cademan (who was injured in August 1673) in the cast suggests a late spring or early summer production. In addition, two songs, in the play, Beauty no more shall suffer eclipse, and Full round the health good natured and free, both set by Robert Smith, are in Choice Ayres and Songs, 1673 (which was entered in the Stationers' Register, June 1673). It is possible, then, that the play was first given early as May 1673. Downes, Roscius Anglicanus, p. 33: A Comedy call'd The Reformation, Written by a Master of Arts in Cambridge; the Reformation in the Play, being the Reverse to the Laws of Morality and Virtue; it quickly made its Exit, to make way for a Moral one

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Reformation

Event Comment: The King's Company. It is difficult to assign a date to this burlesque, but it is obviously a satiric thrust at Elkanah Settle's The Empress of Morocco, which had been acted on 3 July 1673, and on Macbeth, which had been most recently acted (probably) on 9 Aug. 1673. As the title page of Duffett's burlesque does not name a theatre, it is not known whether it was acted before the King's Company left Lincoln's Inn Fields for the new theatre in Drury Lane. But the fact that Settle's Empress of Morocco was acted again at Dorset Garden on 6 Dec. 1673 makes December 1673 a likely month (or the King's Company to play its burlesque, although it may have been given in the late summer or early autumn, as many lesser actors are in the cast

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Empress Of Morocco

Performance Comment: . Edition of 1674: Prologue-Ghost of Labas, Morena; Muly Labas-Coysh; Muly Hamet-Kew [Cue?]; Grimalhaz-Watson; Hamet Alhaz-Powel; Abdrahaman-Bird; Abdelcador-Carlton; Messenger-Kempton; Eunch-Venner; Laula-Griffin; Mariamne-Goodman; Morena-Harris; Epilogue [being a new Fancy after the old, and most surprising way of Macbeth, perform'd with new and costly Machines...invented and managed by Henry Wright.-Hecate, Three Witches; Hecate-Powel; 1 Witch-Harris; 2 Witch-Adams; 3 Witch-Lyddal; Thunder-Goodman; Lightning-Kew; An Epilogue [an additional one]-.
Event Comment: The King's Company. The date of the first production is not known, but, as the play was entered in the Term Catalogues, May 1674, it was probably first presented not later than the early months of 1674

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Mall; Or, The Modish Lovers

Performance Comment: Edition of 1674: The Prologue- An Epilogue is in Duffett's New Poems, 1675.
Event Comment: The King's Company. The date of the premiere is not known, but, as the play was entered in the Term Catalogues, May 1674, a first production not later than March 1674 is likely. In addition, the relatively large number of minor actors suggests that it might be a Lenten performance by the young players of the company. As to the authorship, the title page states: Written by a Person of Honour. On the other hand, Langbaine (English Dramatick Poets, p. 526) reports that he had heard that it was written by Duffett. The second Prologue is in Covent Garden Drollery, 1673, but the fact that it was intended but not spoken does not assist in dating the first performance

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Amorous Old Woman; Or, 'tis Well If It Take

Performance Comment: [The author is not known, but the play has been attributed to ThomasDuffett.] Edition of 1764: Prologue-Major Mohun; [A second Prologue intended but not spoken Honorio-Lydal; Amante-Beeston; Garbato-Eastland; Cicco-Perin; Riccamare-Coysh; Buggio-Chapman; Furfante-Powel; Sanco@panco-Shirly; Constantia-Mrs Cox; Arabella-Mrs James; Clara-Mrs Boutel; Strega-Mrs Corey; Epilogue-.
Event Comment: The Duke's Company. The date of the premiere is uncertain. This play is on the L. C. list, 5@142, p. 81: King and Queene at Alcibiades and a box for the Mayds of Honor. See also Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 348. The item on the L. C. list is ambiguously dated; it follows an entry for 28 Sept. 1675 and bears only the figure "22." It is possible that the play was given on 22 Sept. 1675, but the order of the L. C. listing, the sequence of known performance on 24, 25, and 28 Sept., and the fact that most of the cast are principals in the company suggest a late September or early October production rather than an early September one

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Alcibiades

Performance Comment: Edition of 1675: Prologue-Mr Harris; Epilogue-Mrs Mary Lee; Agis-Medbourn; Alcibiades-Batterton; Tissaphernes-Sanford; Patroclus-Crosby; Theramnes-Harris; Polyndus-Gillow; Deidamia-Mrs Mary Lee; Timandra-Mrs Batterton; Draxilla-Mrs Barry; Ardella-Mrs Gillow.
Cast
Role: Theramnes Actor: Harris
Event Comment: The King's Company. This performance is on the L. C. list, 5@141, p. 359. See also Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 345. There is no certainty that this performance is the premiere, but an additional performance on 20 Nov. 1675 and the entry of the play into the Stationers' Register, 29 Nov. 1675, suggest that the first production probably occurred in early or mid-November 1675. Downes (Roscius Anglicanus, pp. 10-11), gives a cast which is identical except for omissions. For Kynaston's acting of Morat (especially in the later years of the century), see Cibber, Apology, ed. Lowe, I, 124-26

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Aureng-zebe

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. The date of the premiere is not known, but the date of licensing, 4 May 1676, suggests a production not later than March or April 1676. The Dedication indicates that the play was also acted privately at the residence of the Duchess of Albemarle, New-Hall

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Ibrahim The Illustrious Bassa

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. The date of the premiere is not known, but the large proportion of minor actors and the licensing for printing on 4 Nov. 1676 suggest a production in the late summer or early autumn

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Tom Essence; Or, The Modish Wife

Performance Comment: Edition of 1677: Prologue-; Old Monylove-Percival; Courtly-Crosby; Loveall-Norris; Stanly-Gillow; Tom Essence-Lee; Laurence-Richards; Mrs Monylove-Mrs Hughes; Theodocia-Mrs Barry; Luce-Mrs Osburn; Mrs Essence-Mrs Gibbs; Betty-Mrs Napper; Epilogue-Mrs Gibbs.
Cast
Role: Theodocia Actor: Mrs Barry
Event Comment: The King's Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but the fact that the play was entered in the Term Catalogues, 22 Nov. 1676, suggests that it was first acted not much later than September 1676. The Dedication: I know it is a triffle that by the meaness of the stile, the want of good design, and the ill representation at the Theatre, being play'd to the worst advantage, has got little credit with the World

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Siege Of Memphis; Or, The Ambitious Queen

Event Comment: The King's Company. This performance is on the L. C. list, 5@141, p. 359: The Rivall Queene. See also Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 346. That this is the premiere is indicated by a letter from the Marquis of Worcester to the Marchioness, 17 March 1676@7: Sir Charles Sedley's Cleopatra has been acted often, and to-day a new play of the death of Alexander, but I have not been to see either, living a mighty drudging life (HMC, 12th Report, Appendix, Beaufort MSS., IX, 66). Downes (Roscius Anglicanus, p. 11), has a cast which agrees (except for omissions) with that in the edition of 1677. Downes adds (p. 16): [Hart in] Alexander, towards the latter End of his Acting; if he Acted in any one of these but once in a Fortnight, the House was fill'd as at a New Play, especially Alexander, he Acting that with such Grandeur and Agreeable Majesty, That one of the Court was pleas'd to Honour him with this Commendation; That Hart might Teach any King on Earth how to Comport himself

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Rival Queens; Or, The Death Of Alexander The Great

Performance Comment: Edition of 1677: Prologue to Alexander by Sir Char. Scroop, Baronet-; Epilogue-; Alexander-Hart; Clytus-Mohun; Lysimachus-Griffin; Hephestion-Clarke; Cassander-Kenaston; Polyperchon-Goodman; Philip-Powell; Thessalus-Wiltshire; Perdiccas-Lydall; Eumenes-Watson; Meleager-Perin; Aristander-Coysh; Sysigambis-Mrs Corey; Statira-Mrs Boutell; Roxana-Mrs Marshall; Parisatis-Mrs Baker.
Cast
Role: Thessalus Actor: Wiltshire
Event Comment: The Duke's Company. There is considerable uncertainty as to the date of production of this play. Because it was licensed for printing on 2 Aug. 1677, it was probably first acted not later than July 1677. Because some of the names in the cast represent younger actors, it has been thought to be a Lenten production (see Gray, Lenten Casts, pp. 789-90). It seems, however, that the play, because of its reference to performances by the French comedians (the Epilogue refers to "de French Troop at toder end o'Town ") and the offering of Rare en Tout on29 May 1677, probably was acted in June 1677. The Prologue also refers to the comedy as The Women's Play," suggesting that it was produced for the actresses' annual benefit

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The French Conjuror

Performance Comment: Edition of 1678: Prologue-; Avarito-Jevon; Claudio-Crosby; Dorido-Gillo; Horatio-Norris; Truro-Percival; Monsieur-Anthony Leigh; Audacio-Richards; Pedro-John Lee; Clorinia-Mrs Barry; Leonora-Mrs Hughes; Sabina-Mrs Norris; Scintilla-Mrs Leigh; The Epilogue-.
Cast
Role: The Epilogue Actor: .
Event Comment: The Duke's Company. The date of the first production is not known, but the licensing of the play on 13 Aug. 1677 suggests a production not later than July 1677. Dedication to edition of 1678: But having...suffer'd so much through the defects of setting off, when it came on the Stage, it dares not now reject any Accomdation the Press cane give it. For (with the Theatres good leave to speak Truth,) it cannot receive greater Disadvantage in the Reading, than it met in the Presenting, The chief Parts Acted by Women; and, for their Ease, and somewhat of decorum, as was pretended, whole scenes left out, and scarcely any one Speech unmangled and entire. As for Adornments, in Habit, Musick, and Scene-Work it was Vacation-time, and the Company would not venture the Charge

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Constant Nymph; Or, The Rambling Shepheard

Event Comment: The King's Company. The date of the first production is not known, but as the play was entered in the Stationers' Register, 16 Jan. 1677@8, it was probably first acted not later than December 1677

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The English Lawyer

Event Comment: Henry Savile to the Earl of Rochester, 17 Dec. 1677: I had allmost forgott for another argument to bring you to towne that a French troop of comaedians bound for Nimeguen were by adverse winds cast into this hospitable port and doe act at Whitehall soe very well that it is a thousand pittyes they should not stay, especially a young wench of fifteen, who has more beauty and sweetnesse than ever was seen upon the stage since a friend of our left it (HMC, Bath MSS., 1907, II, 161). W. J. Lawrence (Early French Players in England, pp. 148-49) identifies the French actress as Francoise Pitel, later Mlle Raisin

Performances

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. The date of the premiere is not known, but a licensing date of 18 Feb. 1677@8 suggests a premiere not later than January 1677@8. It is possible, however, that this play followed Sir Patient Fancy (17 Jan. 1677@8), as the licensing date of Timon follows that for Sir Patient Fancy. Part of the music for Timon was composed by Louis Grabu and was published, without the singers' names, in Choice Ayres and Songs, 1679. Downes (Roscius Anglicanus, p. 37): Timon of Athens, alter'd by Mr Shadwell; 'twas very well Acted, and the Musick in't well Perform'd; it wonderfully pleas'd the Court and City; being an Excellent Moral

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The History Of Timon Of Athens, The Man-hater

Performance Comment: Edition of 1678: Prologue to Timon-; Timon of Athens-Betterton; Alcibiades-Smith; Apemantus-Harris; Nicias-Sandford; Phaeax-Underhill; Aelius-Leigh; Cleon-Norris; Isander-Percival; Isidore-Gillo; Demetrius-Medburne; Dephilus-Bowman; Old Man-Richards; Poet-Jevon; Evandra-Mrs Betterton; Melissa-Mrs Shadwell; Chloe-Mrs Gibbs; Thais-Mrs Seymour; Phinias-Mrs Le-Grand; Epilogue-.
Cast
Role: Timon of Athens Actor: Betterton
Event Comment: The King's Company. The date of the premiere is not known, but a licensing date of 28 March 1678 suggests a first performance not later than February 1678. One song, One night while all the village slept, with music by Louis Grabu and words by Sir Car Scroop, is in Choice Ayres and Songs, The Third Book, 1681. Downes (Roscius Anglicanus, p. 17): Major Mohun...[in] Mithridates, &c. An Eminent Poet seeing him Act this last, vented suddenly this Saying: Oh Mohun, Mohun! Thou little Man of Mettle, if I should write a 100 Plays, I'd Write a Part for thy Mouth; in short, in all his Parts, he was most Accurate and Correct. [Downes, p. 12, gives an identical cast except for omissions.] Princess Anne apparently played Ziphares and Frances Apsley played Semandra in a production of this drama, probably at St James's Palace or at Sir Allen Apsley's house in St James's Square, between January 1677@8 and August 1679. See Benjamin Bathurst, Letters of Two Queens (London, 1924), p. 61

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Mithridates, King Of Pontus

Performance Comment: Edition of 1678: Prologue-; Mithridates-Mohun; Ziphares-Hart; Pharnaces-Goodman; Archelaus-Griffin; Pelopidas-Wintershul; Andravar-Powell; Aquilius-Clark; Another Roman Officer-Wiltshire; Monima-Mrs Corbett; Semandra-Mrs Boutel; Epilogue by Mr Dryden-.
Event Comment: The King's Company. The date of the first production is not known, but the licensing date of 13 March 1677@8 suggests a late February premiere. In addition, the many names of minor performers point to a Lenten performance. The Prologue also speaks of it as a 'Lenten Play.

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Rambling Justice; Or, The Jealous Husbands; With The Humours Of Sir John Twiford

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. The date of the first production is not known, but as the play was licensed for printing on 27 March 1679, the premiere must have been no later than March 1679. It is possible that Midnight's Intrigue--see introductory note to the 1676-77 season-is an earlier version of this play. The Epilogue suggests that the players faced thin audiences during the spring and that Drury Lane had been closed for some time: So hard the Times are, and so thin the Town, @Though but one Playhouse, that must too lie down. It is possible that Mrs Behn's The Young King may have been acted at this time. See September 1679

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Feign'd Curtizans; Or, A Night's Intrigue

Performance Comment: Edition of 1679: The Prologue-Mrs Currer; Morisini-Norris; Julio-Crosby; Octavio-Gilloe; Petro-Leigh; Sir Harry Fillamour-Smith; Galliard-Betterton; Sig Signall Buffoon-Nokes; Tickletext-Underhill; Laura Lucretia-Mrs Lee; Marcella-Mrs Currer; Cornelia-Mrs Barry; Phillipa-Mrs Norris; Sabina-Mrs Seymour; Epilogue-Mr Smith.
Cast
Role: The Prologue Actor: Mrs Currer
Event Comment: The Duke's Company. The date of the first production is uncertain. The fact that the Epilogue suggests that it followed Settle's The Female Prelate is not a factor in the dating, as the Newdigate newsletters--see Wilson, Theatre Notes from the Newdigate Newsletters, p. 80--show that Settle's play was first acted on 31 May 1680, whereas Caesar Borgia was entered in the Term Catalogues, November 1679. Although the reference in the Epilogue to burning the Pope's Effigies" has been argued as referring to the Pope-burning procession of 17 Nov. 1679, the references in the Epilogue to Father Lewis, who was tried and convicted at York, 28 March 1679, suggest that it was written before his execution, 27 Aug. 1679. Hence the play may have been acted first some time in the late spring or the summer. A song, Blush not redder than the Morning, with music by Thomas Farmer, is in Choice Ayres and Songs, The Third Book, 1681

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Caesar Borgia, Son Of Pope Alexander The Sixth

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. The date of the premiere is not known, but the fact that the play the play was entered in the Term Catalogues in November 1679 suggests that it was first acted not much later than September 1679

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Woman Captain

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. The date of the first production is not known. The play was entered in the Term Catalogues, May 1680, and advertised in the True News, 12-15 May 1680, suggesting a production not later than April 1680. Nevertheless, the fact that the Prologue refers to the attack on John Dryden in Rose Street (18 Dec. 1679) and to the petitions to Parliament--Luttrell, A Brief Relation, I, 31, on 13 Jan. 1679@80, refers to petitions subscribed by several thousands--suggests that the play appeared during January 1679@80

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Loving Enemies

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. The date of the first production is not known, but the fact that Narcissus Luttrell purchased a copy on 22 March 1679@80 suggests that the premiere occurred not later than February. A copy, with Luttrell's date of purchase, is in the Ohio State University Library. (I am indebted to Professor J. H. Wilson for this information.

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Misery Of Civil-war

Performance Comment: Edition of 1680: Prologue-; King Henry the Sixth-Joseph Williams; Richard Plantagenet-David Williams; Edward-Smith; George, Duke of Clarence-Bowman; Richard-Gillow; Earl of Warwick-Batterton; Old Lord Clifford-Percival; Young Clifford-Wiltshire; Queen Margaret-Mrs Leigh [Mrs Mary Lee]; Lady Grey-Mrs Batterton; Lady Eleanor Butler-Mrs Currer; Epilogue-.
Event Comment: The Duke's Company. The date of the premiere is not known. Pepys saw it on 6 March 1679@80, calling it a "New Play," and that may have been the first day. The Prologue alludes also to the Duke of York's triumphant return from Scotland on 24 Feb. 1679@80, and the play was entered in the Term Catalogues, May 1680. For Mrs Bracegirdle as the "little Girl," see Edmund Curll, History of the English Stage (1741), p. 26, and Lucyle Hook, Anne Bracegirdle's First Appearance, Theatre Notebook, XIII (1959), 134. For Betterton as Castalio and Mrs Barry as Monimia, probably as they performed in the next decade, see Cibber, Apology, ed. Lowe, I, 116, 160. Downes (Roscius Anglicanus, p. 37) gives the same cast except for omissions and except for Serina-later. Downes (pp. 37-38) adds: [Monimia, Belvidera in Venice Preserved, and Isabella in The Fatal Marriage] These three Parts, gain'd her the Name of Famous $Mrs Barry">Mrs Mountfort, who acted it later. Downes (pp. 37-38) adds: [Monimia, Belvidera in Venice Preserved, and Isabella in The Fatal Marriage] These three Parts, gain'd her the Name of Famous $Mrs Barry, both at court and City; for when ever She Acted any of these three Parts, she forc'd Tears from the Eyes of her Auditory, especially those who have any Sense of Pity for the Distress't. These 3 Plays, by their Excellent Performances, took above all the Modern Plays that succeeded. A song for this play, Come all the youths whose hearts have bled, the music by Forcer, is in Choice Ayres and Songs, The Third Book, 1681

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Orphan; Or, The Unhappy Marriage

Performance Comment: Edition of 1680: Acasto-Gillow; Castalio-Batterton; Polydore-Jo. Williams; Chamont-Smith; Ernesto-Norris; Paulino-Wiltshire; Cordelio-the little Girl [Anne Bracegirdle]; Chaplain-Percivall; Monimia-Mrs Barry; Serina-Mrs Boteler; Florella-Mrs Osborn; Prologue-; Epilogue-.
Cast
Role: Cordelio Actor: the little Girl
Event Comment: The Newdigate newsletters (Folger Shakespeare Library), 9 Feb. 1679@80: The late disorders at the Playhouse hath soe much incenst his Matye that tis said he hath commanded the persons to be proceeded Agt as Ryotters (Wilson, Theatre Notes, p. 80). [In Domestick Intelligence, 8-10 Feb. 1679@80, is a reference to an information in the King's Bench brought against those who participated in the disorders in the Duke's playhouse.

Performances

Event Comment: The King's Company. The date of the first production is not known. Although the play was not entered in the Term Catalogues until May 1681, Wilson (Six Restoration Play-Dates, p.222) has argued that the reference in the Prologue to the young men (presumably Gray, Goodman, and Clarke; see February 1679@80) who had gone to Scotland and returned empty-handed suggests a performance near March 1680, when these references would have more point than they would have a year later

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Thyestes