Event Comment: The King's Company. The date of the first production is not known, but see the discussion of Wits Led by the Nose, mid-June 1677, for the relationship of the two plays. The Rival Kings was entered, and deleted, in the Stationers' Register, 26 July 1678; but because the play was entered in the Term Catalogues, November 1677, it seems likely that its premiere occurred in 1677

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. The date of the first performance is not known. As the play was entered in the Term Catalogues, May 1681, it was probably first acted not later than March 1681. The title page states: Revis'd with Alterations

Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the premiere is not knwon, but the Dedication is dated February 1699@1700, the play was entered in the Term Catalogues in February 1699@1700, and advertised in the Flying Post, 16 March 1699@1700. The latest likely date for the first production is January 1700, but the play may have appeared in late December as a rival to lif's production of I Henry IV early in January 1700. Cibber, Apology, I, 275: But the Master of the Revels, who then licens'd all Plays for the Stage, assisted this Reformation [of the morality of the stage] with a more zealous Severity than ever. He would strike out whole Scenes of a vicious or immoral Character, tho' it were visibly shewn to be reform'd or punish'd; a severe Instance of this kind falling upon my self may be an Excuse for my relating it: When Richard the Third (as I alter'd it from Shakespear) came from his Hands to the Stage, he expung'd the whole first Act without sparing a Line of it. This extraordinary Stroke of a Sic volo occasion'd my applying to him for the small Indulgence of a Speech or two, that the other four Acts might limp on with a little less Absurdity! no! he had no leisure to consider what might be separately inoffensive. [Cibber continues with an explanation of the censor's argument for cutting the act.] Preface to Cibber's Ximena, 1719: Richard the Third, which I alter'd from Shakespear, did not raise me Five Pounds on Third Day

Event Comment: By Subscription. With a new Prologue and Epilogue. Admission as 14 Dec. 1703. [A Folger Library broadside appears to be a program for this concert. It lists in Act I The Druid's Song from Bonduca, two songs by Mrs Tofts, a song from The Fairy Queen, and a dance; in Act II The Frost Music from King Arthur, two dances, and a song by Mrs Tofts; in Act III an Ode on the Glorious Beginning of Her Majesty's Reign, set by Daniel Purcell and performed by Leveridge, Hughes, Mrs Lindsey, and Mrs Campion; a song by Mrs Tofts, The Sacrifice from King Arthur, and a Grand Dance.

Event Comment: Not Acted these Three Years. At the Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Containing the Distresses and Deathv of King Henry the Sixth; the Murther of Young King Edward the Fifth, and his Brother, in the Tower; with the Landingv of the Earl of Richmond, and the Memorable Battle of Bosworth Fieldv, being the last that was fought between the Houses of York and Lancaster

Event Comment: Containing the Distresses and Death of King Henry the Sixth; the Murther of Young King Edward the Fifth, and his Brother, in the Tower; with the Landing of the Earl of Richmond, and the Memorable Battle of Bosworth Fieldv, being the last that was fought between the Houses of York and Lancaster

Event Comment: By Command of their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales [who were present]. Benefit the Author of the King and the Miller of Mansfield [Dodsley]. N.B. The Boxes not being equal to the Demand for Places, for the better Accommodation of the Ladies, Side Boxes will be made on the Stage

Event Comment: Benefit the Author of The King and the Miller of Mansfield. At the particular Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Afterpiece: Written by the Author of the Toy Shop

Event Comment: Benefit Essex. At the Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Mainpiece: Written by Shakespear. [Tickets at Essex's Lodgings in Bow Street, cg]

Event Comment: Benefit Harper. Mainpiece: Written by the late Mr Gay. [Tickets at Harper's House in Bridges Street.

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Mills. By Command of Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales

Event Comment: Benefit Havard, the Author. Mainpiece: Written in Imitation of Shakespear

Event Comment: Benefit Stephens. Mainpiece: At the particular desire of several Ladies of Quality. Tickets deliver'd out for As You Like It will be taken. Tickets to be had of Stephens at the Jar, opposite Red-Lion St., Holborn; of Mr Johnson, at the White Hart in Paternoster Row; and at the stage door next Bow St. where places may be taken. Last Night Shakespear's play of King Henry the Fifth, was performed at Covent Garden, with the many incidents that are applicable to the present Juncture of Affairs with France, occasioned the whole to be receiv'd with an uncommon Applause.--General Advertiser, 21 April

Event Comment: [The Gentleman who played Polydore was probably Bland. See 18 Nov.

Event Comment: Benefit for King. Tickets to be had of Mr King, at his lodgings in Broad Court, Bow Street; and of Mr Varney, at the Stage Door. The New Hippocrates, wrote by Dr Hiffernan--wretched, but went off quietly (Hopkins MS Notes)

Event Comment: Benefit for several: Master Cape, C. Roberts, West, Tomlinson, Mortimer. Tickets deliver'd for This Night will be taken. [Tomlinson's Epilogue in Larpent MS 213.] The mute speaks again, and mimics tragedians and comedians [See 20 May.

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Baker. [Ralph's Ramble (Larpent MS 254) seems patterned on the Farmer's Return from London. Ralph returns to the Mill and gives impressions, not all complimentary, of his trip to London. A Monologue in Couplets with a song.