Event Comment: The
United Company. This performance is on the
L. C. list, 5@151, p. 369:
ye Q</a> a Box & a Box for ye Maids of Honr double dealer. [See also Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 352.] Cibber relates an incident which may pertain to this performance,
Apology, I, 185-86:
Queen Mary having commanded the
Double Dealer to be acted,
Kynaston happen'd to be so ill that he could not hope to be able next Day to perform his Part of the
Lord Touchwood. In this Exigence, the Author,
Mr Congreve, advis'd that it might be given to me, if at so short a Warning I would undertake it. The Flattery of being thus distinguish'd by so celebrated an Author, and the Honour to act before a
Queen, you may be sure made me blind to whatever Difficulties might attend it. I accepted the Part, and was ready in it before I slept; next Day the Queen was presented at the Play, and was received with a new
Prologue from the Author, spoken by
Mrs Barry, humbly acknowledging the great Honour done to the Stage....After the Play, Mr Congreve made me the Compliment of saying, That I had not only answer'd, but had exceeded his Expectations, and that he would shew me he was sincere in his saying more of me to the Masters.--He was as good as his Word, and the next Pay-day I found my Sallary of fifteen was then advanced to twenty Shillings a Week
Performances
Mainpiece Title: The Double Dealer