tual virginity-Amyntas addresses Ceres-she answers him by Echo-Amyntas perceives that the Dowry which he is to give for Urania is himself as a husband -Amyntas, Damon, and Alexis marry Urania, Amaryllis, and Laurinda-this is on the whole a very good Pastoral-there are some comic characters. D. L. 1703-1704. As Queen Anne was at Bath, the Company did not leave that city till October, on the 6th day of which they opened with Love makes a Man. 7. Tunbridge Walks- -8. Pilgrim. 11. Silent Woman- -12. Virtue Betrayed. 20. Love's Contrivance -22. Relapse. 23. For bt. of Wilks-Hamlet. 26. For bt. of Mrs. Moor-Love's last Shift. 27. Mills acted King Lear for his bt. 28. For the bt. of Will. Bullock, the Young Jubilee Beau, and his man Dicky-Constant Couple. 30. Cibber acted Sir Courtly Nice for his bt. Nov. 2. Unhappy Favourite-4. Spanish Fryar. 6. Not acted 20 Years, Love and Danger. This seems to be the second title of some play, or, more probably, an old play with a new name. 10. Esop 12. Plain Dealer. = 18. Old Batchelor. Heartwell - Capt. Griffin. 20. Venice Preserved-26. Fair Example. 27. Macbeth-29. Rule a Wife. In several of these bills the names of the Singers and Dancers are mentioned, but those of the performers are omitted. = = Dec. 2. Never acted, Lying Lover, or the Ladies Friendship. Young Bookwit = Wilks: Old Bookwit Capt. Griffin: Lovemore Mills: Latine Cibber: Frederick Toms: Storm - Pinkethman: Charcoal = Bullock : Penelope Mrs. Rogers: Victoria Mrs. Oldfield :---acted 6 times-see Lyar C. G. Jan. 12 1762. = = N.B. At this time it was not customary to mention in the bills even the names of the performers in a new play-the casts of the new pieces are given from the plays as printed. 11. Timon of Athens15. Funeral. 22. Don John, or the Libertine. 29. Not acted 12 years, Squire of Alsatia-all the parts to be performed to the best advantage. Jan. 8. Ibrahim Emperor of the Turks. 24. From the Daily Courant. (B. M.) Her Majesty having been pleased to issue her royal commands for the better regulation of the Theatres, a copy thereof is as follows. Anne R. Whereas we have already given orders to the Master of our Revels, and also to both the Companies of Comedians acting in D. L. and L. I. F. to take special care, that nothing be acted in either of the Theatres, contrary to religion or good manners, upon pain of our high displeasure, and of being silenced from further acting and being further desirous to reform all other indecencies and abuses of the stage, which have occasioned great disorders and justly give offenceour will and pleasure therefore is, and we do hereby strictly command, that no person of what quality soever presume to go behind the scenes, or come upon the stage, either before or during the acting of any play-that no woman be allowed, or presume to wear a vizard mask in either of the Theatres-and that no persons come into either house without paying the price established, for their respective places-all which orders we strictly command all the Managers, Sharers and Actors of the said companies to see exactly observed and obeyed-and we require and command all our Constables and others appointed to attend the Theatres, to be aiding and assisting to them therein and if any persons whatsoever shall disobey this our known pleasure and command, we shall proceed against them as contemners of our royal authority, and disturbers of the public peace. Given at our Court of St. James' the 17th day of Jan. in the 2d year of our reign. Jan. 26. Never acted, Love the Leveller, or the Pretty Purchase. Andramont Wilks: Algernoon (Constantia's uncle) = Griffin: Dewcraft = Williams: Semorin Mills: Sallamack = Bickerstaff: Dormantle=Thoms: Sordico Johnson: Festolin Pinkethman High Priest Bullock: Priest Norris : Princess Constantia Mrs. Rogers: Princess Dowager Mrs. Knight: Dutchess Semorin Mrs. Cox: = Sordico's Wife Mrs. Moore :-Andramont had killed Count Raymond in a duel, which he had fought in vindication of the Princess Constantia's honour-she is desirous to see him—when they meet, she gives him a valuable family jewel-Sallamack and Dormantle, the sons of the Princess Dowager, demand the jewel -Andramont refuses to resign it-a challenge ensues -the Princess Dowager, whose pride is excessive, does every thing in her power to break off Constantia's regard for Andramont--she carries her off to her own house, and attempts to poison her by forceSemorin, Algernoon and Andramont enter with the King's guards-Andramont and Constantia are united with the King's consent-there is a comic underplot -Sordico consents to prostitute his wife to Dewcraft for a sum of money, and is angry with her for not agreeing to the proposal-Dewcraft next bribes the High Priest to assist him in his amour-he persuades the Lady that the God Senphan is in love with her, and means to introduce Dewcraft to her in the dark as Senphan-this is taken from the story of Mundas in Josephus book 18 ch. 3-this play was written by G. B.-the serious part of it is indifferent-the comic part is tolerably good-Sordico is an excellent character-the scene lies in Crete, and the characters are Pagans, yet many modern expressions are introduced-in the 5th act, we have a Chocolate house, and the Maid talks of Sir Thomas, Major Mettleman and Lord Pickerup-such gross inconsistencies prove an author to be destitute, not only of judgment, but of common sense. Feb. 8. For bt. of Wilks--not acted 12 years, Maid's Tragedy. Amintor Wilks. = 5. Chances24. Caius Marius. March 6. Never acted, Albion Queens-on account of the extraordinary charge in the decoration-Boxes 5s.-Pit 3s. First Gallery 28.-Upper Gallery 1s. -this T. was acted March 21st for the 7th time at common prices-it had been prohibited by the caprice of the Licenser (see Island Queens T. R. 1684)— the author had at last the good fortune to prevail with a Nobleman to second his petition to Queen Anne, for permission to have it acted-the Queen had the good sense to refer the merit of the play to the opinion of that noble person, although he was not her Lord Chamberlain, and upon his favourable report it was soon after performed. (Cibber) = The Editor of B. D. says that this play was reprinted in 1704 with the names of Booth and Mrs. Porter to the D. P.-the two assertions are incompatible—an edition of the play was printed with the following cast, but without a date-Norfolk - Wilks: Cecil Powell, Keen &c.: Morton Mills: Davison =Booth: Gifford = Bickerstaffe: Queen Mary= Mrs. Oldfield Queen Elizabeth Mrs. Knight: Dowglass (the Page) Mrs. Porter :-as the names of Powell and Keen stand to the part of Cecil, it is highly probable that this was the first edition, and it could not have been printed in 1704-the Editor of the B. D. probably knew that the play was acted in 1704, and might conclude, that tho' it had no date, it was printed in that year he was not aware that Booth and Mrs. Porter never acted at D. L. till the re-union of the two Companies in Jan. 1707-8-the expression of "et cæteri " seems to have been added with propriety to the part of Cecil, as it is certain |