Brutus of Alba (play)

Last updated
Brutus of Alba
Written by Nahum Tate
Date premieredJune 1678
Place premiered Dorset Garden Theatre, London
Original languageEnglish
GenreTragedy

Brutus of Alba; Or, The Enchanted Lovers is a 1678 tragedy by the Irish writer Nahum Tate. It was first performed by the Duke's Company at the Dorset Garden Theatre in London. The name's of the original cast are unknown. [1] The published version was dedicated to the Duke of Dorset.

It was based on the fourth book of the Aeneid by Virgil, and was produced in the context of the Exclusion Crisis. Tate was at the time a supporter of James, Duke of York and the play is strongly propagandistic about the Stuart monarchy. Tate later took elements of the play for the libretto of Dido and Aeneas , scored by Henry Purcell. [2]

Related Research Articles

The Royalist is a 1682 comedy play by the English writer Thomas D'Urfey. It was staged at the Dorset Garden Theatre by the Duke's Company, shortly before the merger that created the United Company. It is set during the Commonwealth Era following the English Civil War.

<i>Epsom Wells</i> 1672 play

Epsom Wells is a 1672 restoration comedy by the English writer Thomas Shadwell. It was the first in a line of plays set in spa towns. The incidental music was composed by Nicholas Staggins. In the 1690s Henry Purcell scored a new staging of the play. It was performed at the Dorset Garden Theatre by the Duke's Company. The cast included Henry Harris as Rains, Thomas Betterton as Bevil, William Smith as Woodly, Cave Underhill as Justice Clodpate, Anne Gibbs as Lucia, Mary Betterton as Mrs Jilt, James Nokes as Bisket and Edward Angel as Fribble.

Squire Oldsapp is a 1678 comedy play by the English writer Thomas D'Urfey. Staged by the Duke's Company at the Dorset Garden Theatre in London, the original cast included Thomas Betterton as Welfore, William Smith as Henry, John Crosby as Lovell, James Nokes as Squire Oldsapp, Anthony Leigh as Sir Frederick Banter, Samuel Sandford as Colonel Buff, Cave Underhill as Pimpo, Emily Price as Christina and Elizabeth Currer as Madame Tricklove.

The Country Wit is a 1676 comedy play by the English writer John Crowne, part of the tradition of Restoration Comedy. It was first staged at the Dorset Garden Theatre in London by the Duke's Company. The cast included Samuel Sandford as Sir Thomas Rash, Thomas Betterton as Ramble, James Nokes as Sir Mannerly Shallow, Henry Harris as Merry, Cave Underhill as Booby, Matthew Medbourne as Lord Drybone, Anthony Leigh as Rash, Mary Betterton as Lady Faddle, Mary Lee as Christina, Elizabeth Currer as Betty Frisque and Elinor Leigh as Isabella.

The London Cuckolds is a 1681 comedy play by the English writer Edward Ravenscroft.

<i>A Fond Husband</i> 1677 play

A Fond Husband; Or, The Plotting Sisters also known as The Fond Husband is a 1677 comedy play by the English writer Thomas D'Urfey. It was first staged by the Duke's Company at London's Dorset Garden Theatre with a cast that included William Smith as Rashley, Henry Harris as Ranger, James Nokes as Peregrine Bubble, Anthony Leigh as Old Fumble, Samuel Sandford as Sir Roger Petulant, Thomas Jevon as Sneak, John Richards as Spatterdash, Thomas Percival as Apothecary, Elizabeth Barry as Emillia, Rebecca Marshall as Maria and Margaret Hughes as Cordelia. The published version was dedicated to the Irish statesman James Butler, Duke of Ormonde.

Friendship in Fashion is a 1678 comedy play by the English writer Thomas Otway. It was first staged by the Duke's Company at the Dorset Garden Theatre in London. It was part of the trend of Restoration Comedy that flourished during the era.

The Cheats of Scapin is a 1676 comedy play by the English writer Thomas Otway. It was an adaptation of the French play Scapin the Schemer by Molière. It premiered at the Dorset Garden Theatre performed by the Duke's Company as an afterpiece to Otway's new tragedy Titus and Berenice.

<i>The Loyal General</i> 1679 play

The Loyal General is a 1679 tragedy by the Irish writer Nahum Tate. It was first performed at the Dorset Garden Theatre by the Duke's Company. The prologue was written by John Dryden.

The Woman Captain; Or, The Usurer Turned Soldier is a 1679 comedy by the English writer Thomas Shadwell. It was originally staged by the Duke's Company at Dorset Garden Theatre in London. The original cast is unknown except for Elizabeth Barry who played the title role, and also read the epilogue. It is part of the tradition of Restoration Comedy that flourished during the era.

<i>A True Widow</i> 1678 play

A True Widow is a 1678 comedy play by the English writer Thomas Shadwell. It was first staged by the Duke's Company at the Dorset Garden Theatre in London. The names of the original cast are unknown. The prologue was written by Shadwell's colleague John Dryden. It was published the following year and dedicated to Charles Sedley.

Cuckold's Haven; Or, An Alderman No Conjurer is a 1685 comedy play by the Irish writer Nahum Tate. It was first staged at the Dorset Garden Theatre in London by the United Company. It was a reworking of George Chapman, Ben Jonson and John Marston's Eastward Ho.

Emily Price was an English stage actress of the seventeenth century. She was a member of the Duke's Company between 1676 and 1682, acting at the Dorset Garden Theatre in London and then joined the merged United Company. She was a friend of the playwright Aphra Behn and appeared in several of her plays. She was billed as Mrs Price.

<i>Madam Fickle</i> 1676 play

Madam Fickle; Or, The Witty False One is a 1676 comedy play by the English writer Thomas D'Urfey. It was first staged at the Dorset Garden Theatre by the Duke's Company.

<i>Brutus of Alba</i> (opera) 1696 opera

Brutus of Alba; Or, Augusta's Triumph is a 1696 semi-opera composed by Daniel Purcell to a libretto by the playwright George Powell. It was first performed at the Dorset Garden Theatre by Christopher Rich's Company. The names of the original cast members are unknown.

<i>Circe</i> (play) 1677 play

Circe is a 1677 tragedy by the English writer Charles Davenant. It was first staged by the Duke's Company at the Dorset Garden Theatre in London. The play's music was composed by John Banister.

<i>Tom Essence</i> 1676 play

Tom Essence; Or, The Modish Wife is a 1676 comedy play by Thomas Rawlins, sometimes also attributed to Edward Ravenscroft. It was first performed at the Dorset Garden Theatre in London by the Duke's Company. Along with Thomas Otway's The Soldier's Fortune it incorporated scenes from Moliere's The Imaginary Cuckold in an otherwise unrelated plot.

<i>Tunbridge Wells</i> (play) 1678 play

Tunbridge Wells; Or, A Day's Courtship is a 1678 comedy play generally attributed to the English writer Thomas Rawlins. It was originally staged at the Dorset Garden Theatre in London by the Duke's Company. The names of the original actors are not known. It did not enjoy the same success as Rawlins' earlier work Tom Essence.

Lewis Maidwell (1650–1716) was an English writer and educator.

<i>Troilus and Cressida</i> (Dryden play) 1679 play

Troilus And Cressida; Or, Truth Found Too Late is a 1679 tragedy by the English writer John Dryden. It was first staged by the Duke's Company at the Dorset Garden Theatre in London. It was a reworking of William Shakespeare's 1602 play Troilus and Cressida, set during the Trojan Wars. In acknowledgement of this Dryden has the prologue spoken by Shakespeare's ghost, defending the alterations made to the play.

References

  1. Van Lennep p.270
  2. Welch p.184

Bibliography