Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but the fact that the play was advertised in the
London Gazette, No. 3140, 12-16 Dec. 1695, to be published 17 Dec. 1695, suggests that its first appearance was not later than November 1695. According to the Edition of 1695, the music was set by the late
Henry Purcell,
Courteville,
Samuel? Aykerod, and other composers. For Purcell's music, see
Purcell's Works,
Purcell Society, XVI (1906), xxix-xxxi. The songs were sung by
Miss Cross and
Mrs Verbruggen. Preface, Edition of 1696: I must inform the Reader, that this Third Part before it came upon the Stage was acknowledg'd and believ'd by all that saw it, and were concern'd (as well those that heard it read, as those that were Actors, who certainly, every one must own, are in their Affairs skilful enough to know the value of things of this Nature) to be much the best of all the Three Parts;...tho prepar'd by my indefatigable Diligence, Care, Pains, nay, the variety which I thought could not possibly miss the expected Success, yet by some Accidents happening in the Presentment, was disliked and explored; The Songish part which I used to succeed so well in, by the indifferent performance the first day, and the hurrying it on so soon, being streightned in time through ill management--(tho extreamly well set to Musick, and I'm sure the just Critick
will say not ill Writ) yet being imperfectly performed, was consequently not pleasing; and the Dances too, for want of some good Performers, also disliked; all which, tho impossible for me to avoid, and not reasonably to be attributed any way to a fault in me, yet the noisy Party endeavour'd to use me as ill as if it were, till the generous Opposition of my Friends gave me as much reason to thank them for their Justice, as to despise the others Malice.... As to the Poppet Shew in the Fourth Act, the Accident of its being plac'd so far from the Audience, which hindred them from hearing what either they or the Prolocutor said, was the main and only reason of its diverting no better.
A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702) p. 17:
Sullen: The third Part of
Don Quixote.
Ramble: Oh the ever-running Streams of
Helicon! by all that's Poetical, my Friend
Durfey; good lack! I thought I shou'd meet with him before we got half way: Well, in the name of Impudence, what luck?
Sullen: Damn'd, Damn'd to all intents and purposes. Ramble: His first and second Part did well