SELECT * FROM london_stages WHERE MATCH('(@(authnameclean,perftitleclean,commentcclean,commentpclean) "William Betterton"/1) | (@(roleclean,performerclean) "William Betterton")') 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

Result Options

Download:
JSON XML CSV

Search Filters

Event

Date Range
Start
End

Performance

?
Filter by Performance Type










Cast

?

Keyword

?
We found 11378 matches on Author, 1915 matches on Performance Comments, 602 matches on Event Comments, 53 matches on Performance Title, and 0 matches on Roles/Actors.

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Purse; Or, Benevolent Tar

Performance Comment: William-Wathen; Baron-Caulfield; Theodore-Palmer Jun.; Edward-Trueman; Page-Master Menage; Sally-Mrs Bland.
Cast
Role: William Actor: Wathen
Related Works
Related Work: The Purse; or, Benevolent Tar Author(s): William Reeve

Afterpiece Title: The Spanish Barber

Afterpiece Title: The Irish Legacy

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Purse; Or, Benevolent Tar

Performance Comment: William-Wathen; Baron-Caulfield; Theodore-Palmer Jun.; Edward-Trueman; Page-Master Chatterley; Sally-Mrs Bland.
Cast
Role: William Actor: Wathen
Related Works
Related Work: The Purse; or, Benevolent Tar Author(s): William Reeve

Afterpiece Title: The London Hermit; or, Rambles in Dorsetshire

Afterpiece Title: Peeping Tom

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. Pepys, Diary: With my wife and Mercer to the Duke's house, and there saw The Rivalls, which I had seen before; but the play not good, nor anything but the good acting of Betterton and his wife and Harris

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Rivals

Performance Comment: See16640910, but Philander?-Betterton; Theocles?-Harris; Heraclia?-Mrs Betterton.
Cast
Role: Philander? Actor: Betterton
Role: Heraclia? Actor: Mrs Betterton.
Related Works
Related Work: The Rivals Author(s): Sir William Davenant
Event Comment: The Duke's Company. Pepys, Diary: Against my judgment and conscience (which God forgive, for my very heart knows that I offend God in breaking my vows therein) to the Opera, which is now newly begun to act again, after some alteracion of their scene, which do make it very much worse; but the play, Love and Honour, being the first time of their acting it, is a very good plot, and well done. Downes (pp. 21-22): This Play was Richly Cloath'd; The King giving Mr Betterton his Coronation Suit;...The Duke of York giving Mr Harris his...and my Lord of Oxford gave Mr Joseph Price his...and all the other Parts being very well done: The Play having a great run, Produc'd to the Company great Gain and Estimation from the Town

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Love And Honour

Performance Comment: Downes (Roscius Anglicanus, pp.21-22): Prince Alvaro-Betterton; Prince Prospero-Harris; Lionel-Joseph Price; Duke-Lilliston; Evandra-Mrs Hester? Davenport. [Possibly Peg Fryer acted the Old Widow; when she appeared at lif on 11 Jan. 1720, she was announced as having appeared in Love and Honour when she was young. As she was 85 in 1720, she was about 26 at this time.]Possibly Peg Fryer acted the Old Widow; when she appeared at lif on 11 Jan. 1720, she was announced as having appeared in Love and Honour when she was young. As she was 85 in 1720, she was about 26 at this time.]
Cast
Role: Prince Alvaro Actor: Betterton
Related Works
Related Work: Love and Honour Author(s): Sir William Davenant
Event Comment: The date of the first performance is not certainly known, but Pepys, on 2 July, saw Part II, stating that 2 July was the premiere of Part I and the opening of the Duke's Company's new theatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields. Downes (Roscius Anglicanus, pp. 20-21): His [Davenant's] Company Rehears'd the First and Second Part of the Siege of Rhodes...at Pothecaries-Hall: And in Spring 1662 [1661], Open'd his House with the said Plays, having new Scenes and Decorations, being the first that e're were Introduc'd in England....All Parts being Justly and Excellently Perform'd; it continu'd Acting 12 Days without Interruption with great Applause. Downes, p. 34: I must not forget my self, being Listed for an Acotr in Sir William Davenant's Company in Lincolns-Inn-Fields: The very first Day of opening the House there, with the Siege of Rhodes, being to Act Haly; (The King, Duke of York, and all the Nobility in the House, and the first time the King was in a Publick Theatre). The sight of that August presence, spoil'd me for an Actor too. HMC, 10th Report, Appendix, Part IV, p. 21: @For the Siege of Rhodes all say@It is an everlasting play@Though they wonder now Roxalana is gon@What shift it makes to hold out so long@For when the second part took, butt for Bully@The first did not satisfie so fully.@ [Presumably this verse was written after Mrs Davenport left the stage, in 1662(?).

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Siege Of Rhodes, Part I

Performance Comment: . Downes (Roscius Anglicanus, pp. 20-21, 34): Solyman-Betterton; Alphonso-Harris; Villerius-Lilliston; Admiral-Blagden; Roxolana-Mrs Davenport; Ianthe-Mrs Sanderson; Haly-Downes.
Cast
Role: Solyman Actor: Betterton
Related Works
Related Work: The Siege of Rhodes, Part I Author(s): Sir William Davenant
Related Work: The Siege of Rhodes, Part II Author(s): Sir William Davenant
Event Comment: The Duke's Company. This apparently was not the first performance, but the time of premiere is not known. Pepys, Diary: My wife and I and Mercer to the Duke's house, and there saw The Rivalls, which is no excellent play, but good acting in it; especially Gosnell comes and sings and dances finely, but, for all that, fell out of the key, so that the musique could not play to her afterwards, and so did Harris also go out of the tune to agree with her. Downes (p. 23): The Rivals, A Play, Wrote by Sir William Davenant; having a very Fine Interlude in it, of Vocal and Instrumental Musick, mixt with very Diverting Dances: M Price introducing the Dancing, by a short Comical Prologue, gain'd him an Universal Applause of the Town....And all the Womens Parts admirably Acted; chiefly Celia, a Shepherdess being Mad for Love; especially in Singing several Wild and Mad Songs

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Rivals

Performance Comment: Downes (Roscius Anglicanus, p.23): Theocles-Harris; Philander-Betterton; Cunopes the Jailor-Underhill; Pepys: Celania?-Mrs Gosnell; Edition of 1668 adds: Arcon-$Young; Polynices-$Smith; Provost-$Sandford; Heraclia-$Mrs Shadwell; Leucippe-$Mrs Long; Prologue-Price.
Cast
Role: Philander Actor: Betterton
Related Works
Related Work: The Rivals Author(s): Sir William Davenant
Event Comment: The Duke's Company. The date of the first performance is not known. Luttrell, however, dated the copy he purchased 6 July 1680 (VanLennep, Two Restoration Comedies, pp. 57-58) and attributed it to Mrs Aphra Behn. If copies were available in early July, the play was most probably performed in June 1680. Langbaine (English Dramatick Poets, p. 547) had heard that Mrs Behn was the author, but A Comparison between the Two Stages (p. 11) attributed it to Thomas Betterton. For a discussion of the authorship, see also Ten English Farces, ed. Leo Hughes and A. H. Scouten (Austin, Texas, 1948), pp. 203-4

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Revenge; Or, A Match In Newgate

Performance Comment: Edition of 1680: Wellman-Smith; Friendly-Williams; Mr Shatter-Bowman; Trickwell-Jevorn; Mr Dashit-Lee; Glisten-Bright; Jock-Mumford; Corina-Mrs Barry; Marinda-Mrs Butler; Diana-Mrs Price; Ample-Anybody; Mrs Dashit-Mrs A. Lee [Elinor Leigh]; Mrs Dunwell-Mrs Norice.
Cast
Role: Friendly Actor: Williams
Related Works
Related Work: Wits Led by the Nose; or, A Poet's Revenge Author(s): William Chamberlayne
Related Work: The Revenge; or, A Match in Newgate Author(s): Thomas Betterton
Related Work: The Lady’s Revenge; or, The Rover Reclaim'd Author(s): William Popple
Event Comment: The Duke's Company. Langbaine, English Dramatick Poets, p. 509: [It] was alter'd (as I have heard by Mr Carthwright) by Mr Betterton. Downes, p. 30: [Done] by the same Author [Betterton]...and all the other Parts Exactly perform'd, it lasted Successively 8 Days, and very frequently Acted afterwards. Pepys, Diary: To the Duke of York's playhouse, and there, in the side balcony, over against the musick, did hear, but not see, a new play, the first day acted, The Roman Virgin, and old play, and but ordinary, I thought; but the trouble of my eyes with the light of the candles did almost kill me

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Roman Virgin; Or, The Unjust Judge

Performance Comment: [Altered from John Webster, Appius and Virginia, probably by ThomasBetterton.] Downes (Roscius Anglicanus, p. 30): Virginius-Betterton; Appius-Harris; Virginia-Mrs Betterton. [An edition of 1679, with the name of John Webster on the title page, has no prologue, no epilogue, no actors' names.An edition of 1679, with the name of John Webster on the title page, has no prologue, no epilogue, no actors' names.
Cast
Role: Virginius Actor: Betterton
Role: Virginia Actor: Mrs Betterton.
Related Works
Related Work: The Roman Virgin; or, The Unjust Judge Author(s): Thomas Betterton
Event Comment: Benefit Ridout and Miss Williams. At the particular Desire of several Persons of Quality

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Amorous Widow

Performance Comment: Lovemore-Wilks; Wanton Wife-Mrs Heron; Sir Peter-Johnson; Cunningham-Mills; Barnaby-Griffin; Merryman-Harper; Clodpole-Cibber Jr; Lady Pride-Mrs Willis; Lady Laycock-Mrs Shireburn; Philadelphia-Miss Williams; Damaris-Mrs Mills; Prudence-Mrs Butler.
Cast
Role: Philadelphia Actor: Miss Williams
Related Works
Related Work: The Amorous Widow; or, The Wanton Wife Author(s): Thomas Betterton

Afterpiece Title: The Devil to Pay

Dance: Miss Robinson; The Masques-; Myrtillo-Mrs Booth

Song: Singing in Italian-E. Roberts

Event Comment: As alter'd by Mr Dryden and Sir William Davenant from Shakespeare

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Tempest; Or, The Enchanted Island

Performance Comment: Prospero-Furnival; Sycorax-Hallam Sen; Ferdinand-Goodfellow; Alonzo-Wignell; Antonio-Dove; Gonsalo-Lee; Hippolito-Mrs Hallam; Stephano-Hallam; Mustacho-Shuter; Trinclo-L. Hallam; Ventoso-Cushing; Miranda-Mrs Wignell; Dorinda-Miss Budgell; Ariel-Miss Moreau; Caliban-Paget; Dances-Williams, Baker, Janno, Scott; Setebos-Miles; Pluto-Brett; Demons-Williams, Janno, Baker, Tool, Fulwell; Neptune-Brett; Amphytrite-Mrs Cushing.
Cast
Role: Dances Actor: Williams, Baker, Janno, Scott
Role: Demons Actor: Williams, Janno, Baker, Tool, Fulwell
Related Works
Related Work: The Tempest Author(s): William Shakespeare
Event Comment: [By John Williams] At Mr Penkethman's Theatre. Benefit Author. At 6:30 p.m

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Richmond Wells; Or, Good Luck At Last

Performance Comment: Actors only listed, but edition of 1723 lists: Randome-Shephard; Loveworth-Char. Williams; Gaylove-Wilks Jr; Cheatly-Oates; Tony Souscrown-Miller; Robin-Harper; Belinda-Mrs Morgan; Mrs Fainal-Mrs Wetherilt; Prologue-W. Wilks; Epilogue-Penkethman.
Cast
Role: Loveworth Actor: Char. Williams
Related Works
Related Work: Richmond Wells; or, Good Luck at Last Author(s): John Williams

Song: Drunken Man-Harper

Dance: Drunken Man-Harper

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Troilus And Cressida; Or, Truth Found Too Late

Performance Comment: Edition of 1679: The Prologue-Mr Betterton Representing the Ghost of Shakespear; Hector-Smith; Troilus-Betterton; Priam-Percivall; Aeneas-Joseph Williams; Pandarus-Leigh; Calchas-Percivall; Agamemnon-Gillo; Ulysses-Harris; Achilles-David Williams; Ajax-Bright; Nestor-Norris; Diomedes-Crosby; Patroclus-Bowman; Anthenor-Richards; Thersites-Underhill; Cressida-Mrs Mary Lee; Andromache-Mrs Betterton; The Epilogue-Thersites.
Related Works
Related Work: Troilus and Cressida Author(s): William Shakespeare

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The History And Fall Of Caius Marius

Performance Comment: Edition of 1680: Prologue-Mr Betterton; Caius Marius-Betterton; Sylla-Williams; Marius Junior-Smith; Granius-Percivale; Metellus-Gillow; Quintus Pompeius-Williams; Cinna-Jevon; Sulpitius-Underhill; Lavinia-Mrs Barry; Nurse-Noakes; Epilogue-Mrs Barry; Lavinia-Mrs Barry.
Cast
Role: Prologue Actor: Mr Betterton
Role: Caius Marius Actor: Betterton
Role: Sylla Actor: Williams
Role: Quintus Pompeius Actor: Williams
Related Works
Related Work: Romeo and Juliet Author(s): William Shakespeare
Event Comment: Benefit for the Voluntary Contribution now open at the Bank, for the Defence of our Country. Boxes 10s. 6d. Pit 5s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Tickets to be had and Places to be taken of Brandon, at the Stage-Door in Hart-street. Tickets also to be had at the Bar of Lloyd's Coffee-House. [Prologue by William Boscawen (Monthly Mirror, Mar. 1798, p. 178. Author of Address unknown.] "A subscription was set on foot behind the scenes," to which most of the performers contributed #10 apiece (Monthly Mirror, ibid). Account-Book, 12 May: Paid into the Bank of England in aid of the Voluntary Contribution #394 15s. Receipts: #518 8s. (280.9; 12.2; tickets: 225.17) [the difference of #123 13s. appears to have been the house charge]

Performances

Mainpiece Title: England Preserv'd

Performance Comment: Earl of Surry-Holman; Earl of Pembroke-Pope; Earl William-Betterton; Robert Fitzwalter-Whitfield; Bishop of Winchester-Hull; Earl of Chester-Davenport; English Squire-Clarke; Earl of Lincoln-Waddy; French Prince-Toms; Viscount de Beaumont-Claremont; French Guard-Powel; Count de Nevers-Thompson; Herald-Farley; John de Warrenne-Miss Standen; Lady Surry-Miss Betterton.
Cast
Role: Earl William Actor: Betterton
Role: Lady Surry Actor: Miss Betterton.

Afterpiece Title: The Poor Sailor; or, Little Bob and Little Ben

Dance: In afterpiece: Triple Hornpipe-Blurton, Mrs Watts, Mlle St.Amand

Song: End: Interlude of Songs, Glees, and Chorusses: With a jolly full Bottle, Great Britain still her Charter boasts, The Wooden Walls, Queen Betty was a famous Queen, To arms to arms-Incledon, Johnstone, Townsend, Linton, Gray, Street, Lee, Curties, Blurton, Wilde

Entertainment: Monologues. Preceding: An Occasional Prologue-Holman; Preceding singing: An Address to the Audience (instead of Epilogue)-Pope

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Macbeth

Performance Comment: [Probably adapted by Sir William Davenant.] among those named in the quarto of 1673 these may have played at this time: Macbeth-Betterton?; Macduff-Harris?; Banquo-Smith?; Malcolm-Norris?; Lennox-Medbourne?; Donalbain-Cademan?; Lady Macbeth-Mrs Betterton?; Heccat-Sandford?.
Cast
Role: Macbeth Actor: Betterton?
Role: Lady Macbeth Actor: Mrs Betterton?
Related Works
Related Work: Macbeth Author(s): William Shakespeare

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Macbeth

Performance Comment: Edition of 1673: King of Scotland-Nath. Lee; Malcolm-Norris; Donalbain-Cademan; Lenox-Medburn; Macbeth-Betterton; Banquo-Smith; Macduff-Harris; Macbeth's Wife-Mrs Betterton; Macduff's Wife-Mrs Long; Hecate?-Sandford. See also 12 Aug. 1668.
Cast
Role: Macbeth Actor: Betterton
Role: Macbeth's Wife Actor: Mrs Betterton
Related Works
Related Work: Macbeth Author(s): William Shakespeare

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
Role: Evandra Actor: Mrs Betterton
Related Works
Related Work: Timon of Athens Author(s): William Shakespeare

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The History Of King Lear

Performance Comment: Edition of 1681: Prologue-; King Lear-Betterton; Gloster-Gillo; Kent-Wiltshire; Edgar-Smith; Bastard-Jo. Williams; Cornwall-Norris; Albany-Bowman; Gentleman Usher-Jevon; Gonerill-Mrs Shadwell; Regan-Lady Slingsby; Cordelia-Mrs Barry; Epilogue-Mrs Barry.
Cast
Role: King Lear Actor: Betterton
Role: Bastard Actor: Jo. Williams
Related Works
Related Work: King Lear Author(s): William Shakespeare

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Old Batchelor

Performance Comment: Edition of 1693: Prologue intended for the Old Batchelor [sent to the Author, by an unknown Hand-; Prologue-Mrs Bracegirdle; Epilogue-Mrs Barry; Heartwell-Betterton; Bellmour-Powel; Vainlove-Williams; Sharper-Alexander [Verbruggen]; Sir Joseph-Bowen; Bluff-Hains; Fondlewife-Dogget; Servant-Underhill; Araminta-Mrs Bracegirdle; Belinda-Mrs Mountfort; Laetitia-Mrs Barry; Sylvia-Mrs Bowman; Lucy-Mrs Leigh.
Cast
Role: Heartwell Actor: Betterton
Role: Vainlove Actor: Williams
Related Works
Related Work: The Old Batchelor Author(s): William Congreve

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Double Dealer

Performance Comment: Edition of 1693: Prologue-Mrs Bracegirdle; Epilogue-Mrs Mountford; Maskwell-Betterton; Lord Touchwood-Kynaston; Mellefont-Williams; Careless-Alexander [Verbruggen]; Lord Froth-Bowman; Brisk-Powell; Sir Paul Plyant-Dogget; Lady Touchwood-Mrs Barrey; Cynthia-Mrs Bracegirdle; Lady Froth-Mrs Mountfort; Lady Plyant-Mrs Leigh.
Cast
Role: Maskwell Actor: Betterton
Role: Mellefont Actor: Williams
Related Works
Related Work: The Double Dealer Author(s): William Congreve

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Twelfth Night

Performance Comment: Downes (Roscius Anglicanus, p. 23) gives a cast which may represent one at this time: Sir Toby Belch-Betterton?; Sir Andrew Aguecheek-Harris?; Fool-Underhill?; Malvolio-Lovel?; Olivia-Mrs Ann Gibbs?.
Cast
Role: Sir Toby Belch Actor: Betterton?
Related Works
Related Work: Twelfth Night Author(s): William Shakespeare
Related Work: Love Betray'd; or, The Agreable Disapointment Author(s): William Burnaby

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Romeo And Juliet

Performance Comment: Downes (Roscius Anglicanus, p. 22): Romeo-Harris; Mercutio-Betterton; Paris-Price; Fryar-Richards; Sampson-Sandford; Gregory-Underhill; Juliet-Mrs Saunderson; Count Paris' Wife-Mrs Holden. Spencer (Shakespeare Improved, p. 73) thinks that James Nokes acted the Nurse.
Cast
Role: Mercutio Actor: Betterton
Related Works
Related Work: Romeo and Juliet Author(s): William Shakespeare

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Twelfth Night; Or, What You Will

Performance Comment: Downes (Roscius Anglicanus, p. 23): Sir Toby Belch-Betterton; Sir Andrew Ague@Cheek-Harris; Fool-Underhill; Malvolio-Lovel; Olivia-Mrs Ann Gibbs. See also 11 Sept. 1661.
Cast
Role: Sir Toby Belch Actor: Betterton
Related Works
Related Work: Twelfth Night Author(s): William Shakespeare
Related Work: Love Betray'd; or, The Agreable Disapointment Author(s): William Burnaby

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Macbeth

Performance Comment: See16671016, but Macbeth-Betterton?.
Cast
Role: Macbeth Actor: Betterton?.
Related Works
Related Work: Macbeth Author(s): William Shakespeare

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Jew Of Venice

Performance Comment: Edition of 1701 lists: Bassanio-Betterton; Antonio-Verbruggen; Gratiano-Booth; Lorenzo-Baily; Shylock-Dogget; Duke of Venice-Harris; Portia-Mrs Bracegirdle; Nerissa-Mrs Bowman; Jessica-Mrs Porter; Prologue written by Bevil Higgons: The Ghosts of Shakespear and Dryden arise Crown'd with Lawrel-; Epilogue-.
Cast
Role: Bassanio Actor: Betterton
Related Works
Related Work: The Merchant of Venice Author(s): William Shakespeare