Event Comment: [Duke of York-$Miss Besford in Public Advertiser.] Afterpiece: By Particular Desire

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time in London; T 3, by William Hayley, 1st acted at Chichester, late in May 1784. Text in his Plays . . . for a Private Theatre (T. Cadell, 1784). Prologue by George Colman, the elder (European Magazine, Aug. 1784, p. 165). Contrary to the usual custom on the 1st night of a new play, the parts on this occasion are assigned]. "Palmer had done with Lord Russel as he did with many other characters, that is, totally neglected to study the words of the part . . . Whenever he felt himself at a loss he dexterously introduced some passages from The Earl of Essex, which he contrived to fit into the cues received by Lord Russel." His brother, R. Palmer, who told this anecdote to Boaden, said that the audience suspected nothing amiss (Boaden, Kemble, I, 193)

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. On Thursday 10 Dec. 1663, Pepys reported that this play was to be acted the following week, but the date of the first performance is uncertain. But--except for the holidays--it was probably acted on consecutive days until 1 Jan. 1663@4, when Pepys saw it. The play is also in Herbert, Dramatic Records, p. 138, as a "Revived Play." Pepys, Diary: I perceive the King and Duke and the Court was going to the Duke's playhouse to see Henry VIII. acted, which is said to be an admirable play. But, Lord! to see now near I was to have broken my oathe, or run the hazard of 20s. losse, so much my nature was hot to have gone thither; but I did not go. Downes (p.24): King Henry the 8th, This Play, by Order of Sir William Davenant, was all new Cloath'd in proper Habits: The King's was new, all the Lords, the Cardinals, the Bishops, the Doctors, Proctors, Lawyers, Tip-staves, new Scenes: The part of the King was so right and justly done by Mr Betterton, he being Instructed in it by Sir William, who had it from Old Mr Lowen, that had his Instructions from Mr Shakespear himself, that I dare and will aver, none can, or will come near him in this Age, in the performance of that part: Mr Harris's performance of Cardinal Wolsey, was little Inferior to that, he doing it with such just State, Port, and Mein, that I dare affirm, none hitherto has Equall'd him:...Every part by the great Care of Sir William, being exactly perform'd; it being all new Scenes; it continu'd Acting 15 Days together with general Applause

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. Pepys does not indicate that this performance is the premiere, and Summers, The Playhouse of Pepys, p. 137, states, without offering his evidence, that the play first appeared on 11 Aug. 1664. The play also appears in Herbert, Dramatic Records, p. 138. If Pepys saw the premiere, the play was possibly given on 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24 Aug. Pepys, Diary: Mr Creed dining with me I got him to give my wife and me a play this afternoon, lending him money to do it, which is a fallacy that I have found now once, to avoyde my vowe with, but never to be more practised I swear, and to the new play, at the Duke's house, of Henry the Fifth; a most noule play, writ by my Lord Orrery; wherein Betterton, Harris, and Ianthe's parts are most incomparably wrote and done, and the whole play the most full of height and raptures of wit and sense, that ever I heard; having but one incongruity, or what did not please me in it, that is, that King Harry promises to plead for Tudor to their Mistresse, Princesse Katherine of France, more than when it comes to it he seems to do; and Tudor refused by her with some kind of indignity, not with a difficulty and honour that it ought to have been done in to him. Downes, Roscius Anglicanus, pp. 27-28: This Play was Splendidly Cloath'd: The King, in the Duke of York's Coronation Suit; Owen Tudor, in King Charle's: Duke of Burgundy, in the Lord of Oxford's, and the rest all New. It was Excellently Perform'd, and Acted 10 Days Successively

Event Comment: [Extra night] Benefit for Palmer. The Proprietors having liberally granted to Palmer (for One Night) the Use of the Theatre, and his Brethren having kindly consented to perform for him, the Public is most respectfully informed that this Evening will be presented...[as above]. Receipts: #131 11s. 6d. (104.15.0; 25.16.0; 1.0.6; tickets: none listed) (charge: #45 15s. 2d. [Account-Book: House charge given him]). Account-Book, July-Sept.: Paid Renters #20 14s. apiece; 5 Sept.: Paid Duke of Bedford One Yrs. Rent #343 5s. 1d

Event Comment: Benefit for Hull and Macready. 1st piece: In Act I a Grand Banquet. With the Procession [in Act IV] from the Abbey at the Coronation of Anne Bullen . To conclude with the Ceremonial of a Royal Christening. [In 2nd piece the scenes, as listed on 10 May, are indicated.] Morning Herald, 20 May: Tickets to be had of Hull, No. 7, Duke's-court, Westminster; Diary, 21 May: of Macready, No. 3, Mary-street, Charles-street, Tottenham-Court-Road. Receipts: #282 14s

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.

Event Comment: By Command of their Royal Highnesses the Duke, and the Princesses Amelia, Caroline, and Louisa. Rylands MS.: Garrick Play'd, Duke Attended. Died 31 July, aged 77, Ben Johnson (Winston MS. from Burney's Actors MSS). [See benefit for his daughter 15 Dec.] Receipts: #171

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. Pepys, Diary: Away to my wife at the Duke of York's house, in the pit, and so left her; and to Mrs Pierce, and took her and her cozen Corbet, Knepp and little James, and brought them to the Duke's house; and, the house being full, was forced to carry them to a box, which did cost me 20s., besides oranges, which troubled me, though their company did please me. Thence, after the play, stayed till Harris was undressed, there being acted The Tempest, and so he withall, all by coach, home

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Positively the last night of performing. Benefit for Mrs Williams and Mrs Weston

Event Comment: Benefit for Arne. Mainpiece: By Desire. Afterpiece: A Grand Musical Masque, written by Congreve, set to music by Arne. By Particular Desire. Tickets to be had of Arne at Mr West's, a Frame Maker in Duke St., near Lincoln's Inn Fields. Receipts: #140 (Cross); house charges, #63 (Powel); cash, #80 4s. 6d.; tickets, #75 10s. (Clay MS)

Event Comment: Benefit for Barry. By Command of his Majesty. Duke and Amelia [present] (Cross). Pit and Boxes laid together, and servants will be allowed to keep places there and on the stage, which will be formed into front and side boxes. Ladies desired to send their servants by three o'clock. Tickets and places to be had of Barry, the corner of Bow St., Covent Garden; and of Hobson at the stage door. Receipts: #280 (Cross); #252 (Treasurer's Book). @Rec'd: Cash Front #84 14s. 6d.@Stage #45 16s. 6d.@Tickets Front #119 10s.@Stage-@ Paid salary List 4 days, #203 7s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Blakes. The Performance will not be interrupted by any building on the stage. Neither piece acted this season. Mainpiece: By particular desire for the first and only time of performing it this season. Tickets of Blakes at his house in Duke's Court, Bow St., Covent Garden. Receipts: #170 (Cross)

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill retains Aickin as Duke Senior but on the Kemble playbill a MS annotation substitutes Staunton.] Receipts: #233 14s. (214/0/0; 18/19/6; 0/14/6)