Elizabeth Farren was an Irish actress of the late 18th century. Born in Cork in 1759, her father, George Farren was a surgeon. His drinking habits brought on early death and his widow returned to Liverpool. Her mother went on the stage to support herself and her children. Elizabeth first appeared on the London stage in 1777 as Miss Hardcastle in She Stoops to Conquer and the following year appeared at Drury Lane which, along with the Haymarket Theatre became her primary venues for the rest of her acting career. She had over 100 characters in her repertoire including Shakespeare and various contemporary comedies and dramas. She was often compared to Frances Abington, who was her only real rival. Her last appearance was in April 1797, two months before her marriage to Edward Smith-Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby. They had a son and two daughters.
The Old American Company was an American theatre company. It was the first fully professional theatre company to perform in North America. It also played a vital role in the theatre history of Jamaica. It was founded in 1752 and disbanded in 1805. It was known as the Hallam Company (1752–1758), the American Company (1758–1785) and the Old American Company (1785–1805). With a few temporary exceptions, the Company enjoyed a de facto monopoly of professional theatre in the United States until 1790.
Mariana Starke (1762–1838) was an influential English travel writer, though she also worked in other genres. She is best known for her travel guides to France and Italy, popular with British travellers to the Continent in the early nineteenth century. She wrote plays early in her career, before embarking on her first trip abroad in 1791. She worked as a translator over most of her working life, and latterly, also wrote poetry.
John Bell (1745–1831) was an English publisher. Originally a bookseller and printer, he also innovated in typography, commissioning an influential font that omitted the long s. He drew the reading public to better literature by ordering attractive art to accompany the printed work.
John Bannister, , English actor and theatre manager. The principal source for his life are his own Memoirs, and as a leading performer his career is well documented.
Don Pedro is a tragic play by the British writer Richard Cumberland. It was first staged at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket in London on 23 July 1796. The original cast included James Aickin as Count Valdesoto, Charles Kemble as Henrique, John Palmer as Pedro De Rascifiria, John Bannister as Basco de Robeldondo, Richard Suett as Nicolas Sassenigo, Thomas Caulfield as Tayo, George Wathen as Roca, Robert Palmer as Cerbero and Elizabeth Kemble as Celestina, Sarah Harlowe as Mariguita, Maria Kemble as Cattania and Elizabeth Hopkins as Benedicta. The epilogue was written by George Colman the Younger.
The Country Attorney is a 1787 comedy play by the British writer Richard Cumberland. It was first performed at the Haymarket Theatre on 7 July 1787. The Haymarket cast included Robert Bensley as Sterling, James Aickin as Wordly, Stephen Kemble as Sir Wilful Wayward, Robert Palmer as Lord Millamourm, John Bannister as Jack Volatile and Mary Bulkley as Mrs Worldly, Margaret Cuyler as Mrs Gayless and Elizabeth Farren as Lady Rustic. It was not published during Cumberland's lifetime. The play was reworked and much of it used again by Cumberland for the 1789 play The School for Widows.
The Land We Live In is an 1804 comedy play by the British writer Francis Ludlow Holt. It appeared at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London on 29 December 1804. The cast included Dorothea Jordan as Lady Lovelace, Richard Wroughton as Sir Rowland English, William Powell as Sir Edward Melville, Robert William Elliston as Young Melville, William Barrymore as Sir Harry Lovelace, Vincent De Camp as Harcourt, John Bannister as Dexter, Ralph Wewitzer as Peter, Charles Mathews as Robert, John Henry Johnstone as Larry MacBoof, William Chatterley as Waiter, Maria Kemble as Miss Betty, Sarah Sparks as Mrs Doublecharge, Harriet Mellon as Polly, Charlotte Tidswell as Susan.
Ways and Means; Or, a Trip to Dover is a 1788 comedy play by the British writer and theatre manager George Colman the Younger. It premiered at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket in London with a cast that included John Bannister as Sir David Dunder, John Palmer as Random, James Brown Williamson as Scruple, James Aickin as Old Random, Howard Usher as Paul Peery, Lydia Webb as Lady Dunder and Elizabeth Kemble as Harriet. Its Irish premiere was at the Crow Street Theatre in Dublin on 24 April 1793.
The Double Deception is a 1779 comedy play by the British writer Elizabeth Richardson. It premiered at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on 28 April 1779, and was her only play. The original cast included James William Dodd as Flippant, William Parsons as Welford, James Aickin as Fairgrove, Robert Baddeley as Rudely, Francis Godolphin Waldron as Robin, John Palmer as Sir Henry Varnish, Elizabeth Farren as Louisa Freemore, Elizabeth Hopkins as Lady Varnish, Priscilla Brereton as Sophia Welford, Jane Pope as Kitty.
The Iron Chest is a 1796 play by the British writer George Colman the Younger, with music by the composer Stephen Storace. Inspired by the novel Things as They Are by William Godwin, it premiered at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London on 12 March 1796. The original cast included John Philip Kemble as Sir Edward Mortimer, Richard Wroughton as Fitzharding, John Bannister as Wilford, James William Dodd as Adam Winterton, William Barrymore as Rawbold, Richard Suett as Samson Rawbold, Robert Palmer as Orson, Charles Bannister as Third Robert, Elizabeth Farren as Lady Helen, Maria Gibbs as Blanch, Charlotte Tidswell as Dame Rawbold, Nancy Storace as Barbara and Maria Theresa Kemble as Judith. The Irish premiere took place at the Crow Street Theatre in Dublin on 6 March 1797.
The Dependent is a 1795 comedy play by the British writer Richard Cumberland. It premiered at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London on 20 October 1795. The original cast included Thomas King as Lord Leverington, Richard Suett as Sir Clement Canteser, John Philip Kemble as Edmund D'Alincourt, James Aickin as Carrington, John Bannister as Gabriel Wrinkle, George Wathen as Isaac, John Phillimore as Thomas, Walter Maddocks as Harry, Jane Pope as Mrs Margaret and Elizabeth Farren as Jane.
The Blind Bargain is an 1804 comedy play by the British writer Frederick Reynolds. It premiered at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden in London on 24 October 1804. The original cast included John Fawcett as Sir Andrew Analyse, Charles Farley as Jack Analyse, William Thomas Lewis as Tourly, Charles Kemble as Villars, William Blanchard as Doctor Pliable, John Emery as Giles Woodbine, Maria Gibbs as Mrs Villars and Mary Ann Davenport as Miss Gurnet. Its Irish premiere was at the Crow Street Theatre in Dublin on 1 December 1804.
Cheap Living is a 1797 comedy play by the English writer Frederick Reynolds. It premiered at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London on 21 October 1797. The original cast included Richard Suett as Old Woodland, Charles Kemble as Young Woodland, Robert Palmer as Scatter, Charles Bannister as Spunge, Dorothea Jordan as Sir Edward Bloomly, Jane Pope as Mrs. Scatter, Maria Theresa Kemble as Elinor Bloomly. The Irish premiere occurred on the 2 January 1799 at the Crow Street Theatre in Dublin.
Cross Partners is a 1792 comedy play by the British writer Elizabeth Inchbald. It premiered at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket in London on 25 July 1792. The original Haymarket cast included Richard Wilson as Sir Charles Cullender, Thomas King as General Touchwood, James Brown Williamson as George Cleveland, John Palmer as Captain Herbert, Ralph Wewitzer as Corporal Smack, Charles Farley as Pompey, John Henry Johnstone as Thomas, Lydia Webb as Lady Diana Dupely, Charlotte Goodall as Maria Sydney, Louisa Fontenelle as Mrs Mutter and Elizabeth Heard as Louisa Fairfax. It enjoyed a solid run of nine performances.
The Marriage Promise is an 1803 comedy play by the British writer John Till Allingham. It premiered at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London on 16 April 1803. The original cast included Charles Kemble as Charles Merton, John Dwyer as Sidney, William Dowton as Consols, John Bannister as Tandem, Robert Palmer as Woodland, Alexander Pope as George Howard, William Powell as Jeffries, Walter Maddocks as Bailiff, Jane Powell as Mrs Howard, Harriet Mellon as Mary Woodland, Sarah Sparks as Mrs Harvey and Dorothea Jordan as Emma The Irish premiere took place at the Crow Street Theatre in Dublin on 8 June 1803.
The Regent is a 1788 tragedy by the British author Bertie Greatheed. It premiered at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London on 29 March 1788. The original cast included Sarah Siddons as Dianora, John Philip Kemble as Manuel, Richard Wroughton as Gomez, James Aickin as Solerno, John Hayman Packer as Gerbin, Robert Benson as Pedro, William Bates as Diego, Richard Wilson as Servant, John Phillimore as Banditti and Sarah Ward as Paula. The Irish premiere took place at the Crow Street Theatre in Dublin on 5 July 1788. Although it was not a great success, it was nonetheless published and a German translation was issued in 1790.
The Widow of Malabar is a 1790 tragedy by the British writer Mariana Starke. It premiered at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden on 5 May 1790. The original cast included William Farren as Raymond, George Davies Harley as Chief Bramin, William Powell as Second Bramin, Joseph George Holman as Young Bramin, James Thompson as Narrain, Ann Brunton Merry as Indamora and Mrs Rock as Fatima.
The Prisoner at Large is a 1788 comedy play by the Irish John O'Keeffe. A farce, it premiered as an afterpiece at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket in London on 2 July 1788. The original cast included James Brown Williamson as Lord Esmond, William Henry Moss as Old Dowdle, Ralph Wewitzer as Count Fripon, Robert Palmer as Jack Connor, John Phillimore as Frill, John Edwin as Muns and Elizabeth Kemble as Adelaide. The Irish premiere took place at the Crow Street Theatre in Dublin on 7 August 1789.
False Appearances is a 1789 comedy play by the British politician and general Henry Seymour Conway, inspired by the 1740 French play Trompeurs Dehors by Louis de Boissy. It appeared at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London on 20 April 1789. The Irish premiere took place at the Crow Street Theatre in Dublin on 13 July 1789 The original Drury Lane cast included John Philip Kemble as Marquis, Richard Wroughton as Baron, William Parsons as Governor, John Bannister as Abbé, Robert Palmer as Robert, Elizabeth Farren as Countess, Anna Maria Crouch as Lucile, Priscilla Kemble as Caelia and Jane Pope as Lisette. The epilogue was written by John Burgoyne.
