Hibernia Freed

Last updated
Hibernia Freed
Written byWilliam Phillips
Date premiered13 February 1722 [1]
Place premiered Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre
Original languageEnglish
GenreTragedy

Hibernia Freed is a 1722 tragedy by the writer William Phillips. It is set during the ninth century during the Viking Invasion of Ireland. It was part of a growing Anglo-Irish interest in traditional Irish history, and part of a tendency to switch tragedy from Ancient Rome or Greece to more native settings. [2]

Contents

It has similarities with Charles Shadwell's Rotherick O'Connor, King of Connaught (1719) but whereas that was a Whig-supporting play, Phillips was a Tory with Jacobite leanings. [3] Shadwell portrayed the Norman Invasion of Ireland in a positive light, drawing parallels to William III's more recent victory there while Phillips portrays the Irish justly defending their country against Viking tyranny. [4] He dedicated the play to Henry O'Brien, Earl of Thomond an Irish aristocrat of Gaelic background. [5]

The original Lincoln Inn's Field cast consisted of Anthony Boheme as O'Brien, Lacy Ryan as O'Neill, Charles Hulet as Herimon, John Egleton as O'Connor, Thomas Rogers as Eugenius, James Quin as Tergesius, Thomas Walker as Erric, Anna Maria Seymour as Sabina, Jane Rogers as Agnes.

Plot

Besieged on the Hill of Tara by the invading Viking king Tergesius, the King of Ireland O'Brien waits for help from the Ulster leader O'Neill.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monarchy of Ireland</span> Historical method of government in Ireland

Monarchical systems of government have existed in Ireland from ancient times. In most of Ireland, this continued until 1949, when it transitioned to being the Republic of Ireland. Northern Ireland, as part of the United Kingdom, remains under a monarchical system of government.

Charles Shadwell was an English playwright of the 18th century, date of birth unknown, dead in 1726. He was the son of Thomas Shadwell, the playwright and Poet Laureate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomond</span> Gaelic kingdom in north Munster, Ireland

Thomond, also known as the kingdom of Limerick, was a kingdom of Gaelic Ireland, associated geographically with present-day County Clare and County Limerick, as well as parts of County Tipperary around Nenagh and its hinterland. The kingdom represented the core homeland of the Dál gCais people, although there were other Gaels in the area such as the Éile and Eóganachta, and even the Norse of Limerick. It existed from the collapse of the Kingdom of Munster in the 12th century as competition between the Ó Briain and the Mac Cárthaigh led to the schism between Thomond and Desmond. It continued to exist outside of the Anglo-Norman-controlled Lordship of Ireland until the 16th century.

Sir Harry Wildair is a 1701 comic play by the Irish writer George Farquhar. It is a sequel to the 1699 hit The Constant Couple, portraying the further adventures of the most popular character from the earlier play.

The Generous Conqueror is a 1701 tragedy by the English writer Bevil Higgons. It was published in January the following year, and is sometimes dated 1702 by this. Higgons was a well-known Jacobite who had been implicated in the 1696 Jacobite assassination plot against William III. In this play he effectively called for the peaceful succession of the pretender to the throne as James III.

The Traitor is a tragedy published anonymously in 1718 and commonly attributed to the British writer and actor Christopher Bullock. It is a revised version of the 1631 play of the same title by James Shirley. It was Bullock's only effort to write tragedy, as his other works were all farces.

The Fall of Saguntum is a 1727 tragedy by the British writer Philip Frowde. The plot revolves around the Siege of Saguntum in the Second Punic War, and is fall the forces of the Carthaginian general Hannibal. Influenced by the style of John Addison's play Cato it was dedicated to Prime Minister Sir Robert Walpole.

Busiris, King of Egypt is a 1719 tragedy by the British writer Edward Young. It is set in Ancient Egypt during the reign of Busiris. It was considered a success, enjoying a good run and was subsequently published by Jacob Tonson. The work was dedicated to the Duke of Newcastle who as Lord Chamberlain oversaw the theatres.

The Fair Quaker of Deal or, The Humours of the Navy is a 1710 comedy play by the British writer Charles Shadwell. A popular hit running for thirteen nights, it was revived a number of times.

Hob's Wedding is a 1720 farce by the Irish writer John Leigh.

<i>King Charles I</i> (play) 1737 play

King Charles I is a 1737 tragedy by the British writer William Havard. Written as an imitation of the style of Shakespeare's history plays, it focuses on the imprisonment of Charles I following his defeat in the Civil War and execution by the English Republic. It was a major success and anticipated later works by portraying Charles as a devoted family man who is undone by the scheming of Oliver Cromwell and his allies.

Belisarius is a 1724 tragedy by the British writer William Phillips. It is based on the life of the Byzantine general Belisarius, sometimes dubbed the "Last of the Romans".

The Unhappy Penitent is a 1701 tragedy by the English writer Catherine Trotter. It is set at the French court of the late fifteenth century where Charles VIII plans to break his marriage agreement with Margaret of Austria so that he can make a dynastic union with Anne of Brittany acquiring the Duchy of Brittany for France.

The Fatal Legacy is a 1723 tragedy by the British writer Jane Robe. It was inspired by Jean Racine's 1664 play La Thébaïde. It concerns the children of Oedipus in Ancient Thebes.

Henry IV of France is a 1719 tragedy by the British writer Charles Beckingham. It portrays the reign of Henry IV of France, who was assassinated in 1610.

Tamerlane is a 1701 history play by the English writer Nicholas Rowe. A tragedy, it portrays the life of the Timur, the fourteenth century conqueror and founder of the Timurid Empire. Rowe, a staunch Whig, used the historical story as an allegory for the life of William III who resembles his portrayal of Tamerlane while his opponent the Ottoman leader Bayezid I was equivalent to William's longstanding opponent Louis XIV of France. An earlier version of the story Tamburlaine was written by Christopher Marlowe during the Elizabethan era with a very different focus in the context of the English Renaissance.

<i>Evadne</i> (play) 1819 play

Evadne is an 1819 historical tragedy by the Irish writer Richard Lalor Sheil. It premiered at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden in London on 10 February 1819. The original cast included Elizabeth O'Neill as Evadne,William Macready as Ludovico, William Abbot as the King of Naples, Charles Mayne Young as Colonna, Charles Kemble as Vicentio, Charles Connor as Spalatro and Harriet Faucit as Olivia. Sheil dedicated the published play to his fellow Irish writer Thomas Moore.

<i>The Apostate</i> (play) 1817 play

The Apostate is an 1817 tragedy by the Irish writer Richard Lalor Sheil. It premiered at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden on 3 May 1817. The original cast included William Macready as Pescara, Charles Kemble as Hemeya, Charles Mayne Young as Malec, Thomas Comer as Hamy, Charles Murray as Alvarez, Daniel Egerton as Gomez and Elizabeth O'Neill as Florinda. The prologue was spoken by Charles Connor. It was loosely inspired by a 17th century work by the Spanish playwright Pedro Calderón de la Barca. The play was a success, but reviewers generally attributed this to O'Neill's acting rather than Sheil's writing.

Bellamira is an 1818 historical tragedy by the Irish writer Richard Lalor Sheil. It premiered at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden in London on 22 April 1818. The original cast included Elizabeth O'Neill as Bellamira, William Macready as Amurath, Charles Kemble as Manfredi, Charles Mayne Young as Montalto, Daniel Terry as Salerno, Charles Connor as Kaled, and Thomas Comer as Gonzaga. Sheil dedicated the play to the Whig politician Lord Holland.

Adelaide is an 1814 tragedy by the Irish writer Richard Lalor Sheil. It premiered at the Crow Street Theatre in Dublin on 19 February 1814. The Dublin cast included Elizabeth O'Neill in the title role and Charles Connor as Count Luneburg. On 23 May 1816 it appeared for the first time in London's West End at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden. The first London cast featured Elizabeth O'Neill reprising her Dublin role as Adelaide, Charles Mayne Young as Count St. Evermont, Charles Kemble as Count Lunenburg, William Abbot as Albert, Charles Murray as Godfrey, Daniel Egerton as Colbert, Sarah Egerton as Madame St. Evermont and Maria Foote as Julia. It takes place in Germany amidst emigres who have fled from the French Revolution.

References

  1. Burling p.97
  2. Morash p.38-39
  3. Morash p.39
  4. Morash p.39
  5. Morash p.39

Bibliography