Early Eighteenth-Century Newspaper Reports compiled by Rictor Norton

At the Playhouse

28 June-1 July 1700   Yesterday the Play called the Tempest was acted, at the old Play-house; and that called Love for Love at the new, both for the benefit of the poor English Slaves, &c. and I am told, that the sum arrising thereby, amounted to about 250l. . . .
     It being put on the Playhouse Bills on Friday last, That each Company were to Act that day, and the whole Profits to go to’ards the Redemption of the English now in Slavery at Machanisso in Barbary, we are credibly informed, That, pursuant thereunto, the Treasurers of the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, did on Saturday last pay into the hands of the Church-wardens of St. Martins, the sum of 20l. out of the Receipts of the Play acted by that Company, towards the Relief of those our Natives from Slavery, which good example ’tis hoped, may move others to be speedy and generous in their Charity for the same purpose. What the other Company gave I do not yet hear. [The London Post]

ADVERTISEMENT
3 January 1707
An Entertainment by Mr. CLINCH of Barnet, who imitates the Flute, Double Curtell, the Organ with 3 Voices, the Horn, Huntsman and Pack of Hounds, the Sham Doctor, the Old Woman, the Drunken Man, the Bella: All Instruments are perform’d by his natural Voice. To be seen this present Evening at 7 a Clock at the Cross-Keys Tavern in Cornhill near the Royal Exchange. Price 1s. ]The Daily Courant]

ADVERTISEMENT
9 January 1707
At the Desire of several Persons of Quality.
By her Majesty’s Comopany of Comedians.
At the Queen’s Theatre in the Hay-Market, this present Thursday, being the 9th of January, will be presented a Comedy, call’d, She wou’d if she cou’d. Written by Sir George Etheridge. The parts of Sir Oliver Cockwood by Mr. Norris, Sir Joslin Jolly by Mr. Bullock, Mr. Courtal by Mr. Wilks, Mr. Freeman by Mr. Mills, Lady Cockwood by Mrs. Barry, Gatty by Mrs. Bracegirdle, Ariana by Mrs. Porter, Mrs. Sentry by Mrs. Lee. [The Daily Courant]

ADVERTISEMENT
16 January 1707
At the Desire of several Persons of Quality.
At the Theatre Royal in Drury-Lane,
this present Thursday, being the 16th of January, will be presented a Comedy, call’d, The Recruiting Officer. The part of Sergeant Kite to be perform’d by Mr. Estcourt. With several Entertainments of Singing by the famous Signiora Margarita de l’Epine. And Dancing by Monsieur du Ruel, Monsieur du Bargues, and others. And on Saturday next will be perform’d the Opera of Camilla. [The Daily Courant]

ADVERTISEMENT
At the Desire of several Persons of Quality.
By her Majesty’s Company of Comedians.
At the Queen’s Theatre in the Hay-Market, this present Saturday, being the 18th of January, will be presented a Comedy, call’d, The Man of Mode, or, Sir Fopling Flutter. Written by Sir George Etheridge. The parts of Dorimant by Mr. Wilks. Medley by Mr. Mills, Old Bellair by Mr. Norris, Young Bellair by Mr. Booth, Sir Fopling Flutter by Mr. Cibber, Mrs. Loveit by Mrs. Barry, Mrs. Harriet by Mrs. Bracegirdle, Pert by Mrs. Bicknell.
     These Plays are Sold by J. Knapton at the Crown in St. Paul’s Church-yard, and B. Lintott next Nando’s Coffee-House, Temple-Bar. [The Daily Courant]

21 February 1719   On Saturday night there was acted at the Theatre in Drury-Lane, a new comedy, call’d Chit Chat. Written by Mr. Killigrew, a Groom of the Bed-Chamber to the Prince, on which occasion the house was so crowded, that several hundreds could not find admittance: Some disorder happen’d in one of the side boxes, occasion’d by a gentlemans drawing his sword on a footman, who was keeping places; and some blows were exchang’d between the gentleman and the footman, which, however, ended without any bad consequences. (i>Original Weekly Post)

17 September 1730   Mrs. Lavinia Beswick, alias Fenton, who performed the part of Polly Peachum in the Beggars opera, hath taken the house in old Bond-street, that the L. Elizabeth Wentworth liv’d in, and is about to set up a very handsome equpiage. — I advise Polly in forming her equipage, in order to keep up to the humour of the play, which first rais’d her to this elevant, instead of the chariot to content herself with a cart, to which her dear Captain had so just a title. [Grub-street Journal]

(Texts have been modernized with regard to capitalization, italicization, and punctuation, but original spelling has been retained. This edition copyright Rictor Norton. All rights reserved. Reproduction for sale or profit prohibited. These extracts may not be archived, republished or redistributed without the permission of the compiler.)

CITATION: Rictor Norton, Early Eighteenth-Century Newspaper Reports: A Sourcebook, "At the Playhouse", 24 April 2002, updated 10 April 2007 <http://grubstreet.rictornorton.co.uk/plays.htm>

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