Samuel Pepys’ profile

I having now seen a play every day this week till I have neglected my business, and that I am ashamed of, being found so much absent

Troubled in mind that I cannot bring myself to mind my business, but to be so much in love of plays.

Seen, or going to see

Aglaura, Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London, King’s Company, 1668
All Mistaken, or The mad couple, Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London, King’s Company, 1667
Le Cid, Cockpit Theatre, London, 1662

Personal website.
Joined 16th January 2011.
Last logged in on 16th January 2011.

Last five observations

To production of The Wild Goose Chase, by John Fletcher, Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London, 1668: “From dinner with Mercer, who dined with us, and wife and Deb. to the King’s house, there to see “The Wild-goose Chase,” which I never saw, but have long longed to see it, being a famous play, but as it was yesterday I do find that where I expect most I find least satisfaction, for in this play I met with nothing extraordinary at all, but very dull inventions and designs.”
To King's Company production of Aglaura, by Sir John Suckling, Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London, 1668: “So home to dinner, and then with my wife and Deb. to the King’s house, to see “Aglaura,” which hath been always mightily cried up; and so I went with mighty expectation, but do find nothing extraordinary in it at all, and but hardly good in any degree.”
To King's Company production of All Mistaken, or The mad couple, by James Howard, Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London, 1667: “I rose soon from dinner, and with my wife and girle to the King’s house, and there saw “The Mad Couple,” which is but an ordinary play; but only Nell’s and Hart’s mad parts are most excellently done, but especially hers: which makes it a miracle to me to think how ill she do any serious part, as, the other day, just like a fool or changeling; and, in a mad part, do beyond all imitation almost. [It pleased us mightily to see the natural affection of a poor woman, the mother of one of the children brought on the stage: the child crying, she by force got upon the stage, and took up her child and carried it away off of the stage from Hart.] Many fine faces here to-day. ”
To production of The Surprisal, by Sir Robert Howard, Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London, 1667: “With my wife to the King’s playhouse, and there saw “The Surprizall;” which did not please me to-day, the actors not pleasing me; and especially Nell’s acting of a serious part, which she spoils. ”
To production of The Tempest, by William Shakespeare, The Opera, Lincoln's Inn Fields, 1667: “As soon as dinner done I and my wife and Willet to the Duke of York’s house, and there saw the Tempest again, which is very pleasant, and full of so good variety that I cannot be more pleased almost in a comedy, only the seamen’s part a little too tedious. ”

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