|
The Innocent Mistress
''The Innocent Mistress'' is a comedy written by Mary Pix, first performed in 1697. Plot Sir Charles, a younger son with no estate, is unhappily married to the wealthier, older and "ill-bred" Lady Beauclair. Lady Beauclair is supposedly a widow, and like her daughter Peggy, is “an ill-bred woman”. Their marriage has not been consummated. He instead falls in love with his niece's friend 'Bellinda', whose real name is in fact Marianne. She is in hiding after escaping a forced marriage, and although she loves Sir Charles, she refuses to become his mistress. At the end of the play it is revealed that Lady Beauclair's first husband, Mr Flywife, is alive and back to London after several years in Jamaica. Sir Charles' marriage to Lady Beauclair is legally invalid, so he and 'Bellinda' are free to marry. Sir Charles' niece Mrs. Beauclair, 'an independent woman', attempts to reform Sir Francis Wildlove from his initial rakishness. Wildlove finally changes his attitude and re ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mary Pix
Mary Pix (1666 – 17 May 1709) was an English novelist and playwright. As an admirer of Aphra Behn and colleague of Susanna Centlivre, Pix has been called "a link between women writers of the Restoration and Augustan periods". Early years Mary Griffith Pix was born in 1666, the daughter of a rector, musician and Headmaster of the Royal Latin School, Buckingham, Buckinghamshire; her father, Roger Griffith, died when she was very young, but Mary and her mother continued to live in the schoolhouse after his death. She was courted by her father's successor Thomas Dalby, but he left with the outbreak of smallpox in town, just one year after the mysterious fire that burned the schoolhouse. Rumour had it that Mary and Dalby had been making love rather energetically and overturned a candle which set fire to the bedroom. In 1684, at the age of 18, Mary Griffith married George Pix (a merchant tailor from Hawkhurst, Kent). The couple moved to his country estate in Kent. Her first son, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Joseph Harris (stage Actor)
Joseph Harris (c.1650–1715) was an English stage actor and playwright. His earliest known performance was in the United Company's '' The Bloody Brother'' in 1685. Earlier mentions an actor named Harris are likely to refer to an earlier lesser-known actor William Harris or even the celebrated Restoration performer Henry Harris. He remained with the United Company until 1695 when he joined Thomas Betterton's breakaway company at the Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre. He acted there until around 1705, although some reports have him still acting as late as 1715.Highfill, Burnim & Langhans p.132-33 He wrote three plays '' The Mistakes'' (1690), ''The City Bride'' (1696) and '' Love's a Lottery'' (1699). Selected roles * Bourcher in ''A Commonwealth of Women'' by Thomas D'Urfey (1685) * Downright in ''The Widow Ranter'' by Aphra Behn (1689) * Alberto Gondi in ''The Massacre of Paris'' by Nathaniel Lee (1689) * Guillamar in '' King Arthur'' by John Dryden (1691) * Lanoo in '' Bussy D' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1697 Plays
Events January–March * January 8 – Thomas Aikenhead is hanged outside Edinburgh, becoming the last person in Great Britain to be executed for blasphemy. * January 11 – French writer Charles Perrault releases the book ''Histoires ou contes du temps passé'' (literally "Tales of Past Times", known in England as "Mother Goose tales") in Paris, a collection of popular fairy tales, including ''Cinderella'', ''Puss in Boots'', ''Red Riding Hood'', ''The Sleeping Beauty'' and ''Bluebeard''. * February 8 – The English infantry regiment of Arthur Chichester, 3rd Earl of Donegall is disbanded four years after it was first raised. * February 22 – Gerrit de Heere becomes the new Governor of Dutch Ceylon, succeeding Thomas van Rhee and administering the colony for almost six years until his death. * February 26 – Conquistador Martín de Ursúa y Arizmendi and 114 soldiers arrive at Lake Petén Itzá in what is now Guatemala and begin the Spanish conquest of Guatemala with a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Augustan Drama
Augustan drama can refer to the dramas of Ancient Rome during the reign of Caesar Augustus, but it most commonly refers to the plays of Great Britain in the early 18th century, a subset of 18th-century Augustan literature. King George I referred to himself as "Augustus," and the poets of the era took this reference as apropos, as the literature of Rome during Augustus moved from historical and didactic poetry to the poetry of highly finished and sophisticated epics and satire. In poetry, the early 18th century was an age of satire and public verse, and in prose, it was an age of the developing novel. In drama, by contrast, it was an age in transition between the highly witty and sexually playful Restoration comedy, the pathetic she-tragedy of the turn of the 18th century, and any later plots of middle-class anxiety. The Augustan stage retreated from the Restoration's focus on cuckoldry, marriage for fortune, and a life of leisure. Instead, Augustan drama reflected questions ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Carolean Era
In the English speaking world, Carolean era refers to the reign of Charles II (1660–1685) and usually refers to the arts. It is better known as The Restoration. It followed the Interregnum when there was no king. The period was noted for the flourishing of the arts following the demise of The Protectorate. It ended with the Glorious Revolution of 1688 when James II of England & VII of Scotland went into exile. The Carolean era should not be confused with the Caroline era which refers to the reign of Charles II's father, Charles I (1625–1649). The phrase has come into use again recently relating to the accession of King Charles III. See also * Restoration (England) The Restoration of the Stuart monarchy in the kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland took place in 1660 when King Charles II returned from exile in continental Europe. The preceding period of the Protectorate and the civil wars came to be ... References {{Reflist Further reading * Hayden, Judy A. "F ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Abigail Lawson
Abigail Lawson was an English stage actor of the seventeenth and early eighteenth century. She was a member of the United Company, making her first known appearance in ''The Marriage-Hater Matched'' by Thomas D'Urfey in 1692. From 1695 she was part of Thomas Betterton's breakaway company at the Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre.Highfill, Burnim & Langhans p.173 Selected roles * Margery in ''The Marriage-Hater Matched'' by Thomas D'Urfey (1692) * Mrs Dazie in ''The Canterbury Guests'' by Edward Ravenscroft (1694) * Jenny in ''Love for Love'' by William Congreve (1695) * Doll in ''She Ventures and He Wins'' by Ariadne (1695) * Sprightly in '' The Lover's Luck'' by Thomas Dilke (1695) * Nurse in ''The City Bride'' by Joseph Harris (1696) * Beatrice in '' The Anatomist'' by Edward Ravenscroft (1696) * Fidget in ''The City Lady'' by Thomas Dilke (1696) * Euginia in ''The Innocent Mistress'' by Mary Pix (1697) * Las Busque in ''The Intrigues at Versailles'' by Thomas D'Urfey (1697) * Nibs in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Elinor Leigh
Elinor Leigh was a British stage actor of the seventeenth century. Born Elinor Dixon, she was billed as Mrs Leigh or Mrs Lee after she married the actor Anthony Leigh in 1671. This has led to some difficulty distinguishing on playbills between her and the actress Mary Slingsby who also acted under her married name of Lee at the time. In addition another actress with the name Elizabeth Leigh was also active during the period. She was a member of the Duke's Company in the 1670s which was then merged into the United Company from 1682, acting mainly at Drury Lane. Her husband died in 1692, and in 1695 she joined those who left to form a new company under Thomas Betterton at the Lincoln's Inn Fields TheatreThe Routledge Anthology of Restoration and Eighteenth-Century Drama p.lvi Selected roles * Melvissa in ''The Women's Conquest'' by Edward Howard (1670) * Petilla in ''The Six Days' Adventure'' by Edward Howard (1671) * Orinda in ''Cambyses, King Of Persia'' by Elkanah Settle (1 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Anne Bracegirdle
Anne Bracegirdle (possibly 167112 September 1748) was an English actress. Biography Bracegirdle was born to Justinian and Martha (born Furniss) Bracegirdle in Northamptonshire. She was baptised in Northampton on 15 November 1671, although her tombstone says that she died at the age of 85 (suggesting that she was born around 1663)."Anne was baptized, probably as an infant, at St Giles, Northampton, on 15 November 1671 and was about seventy-seven when she died in 1748, rather than eighty-five, as recorded on her tombstone in Westminster Abbey." J. Milling, "Bracegirdle, Anne (bap. 1671, d. 1748)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Sept 201accessed 1 June 2012/ref> She was probably raised by actors Thomas and Mary Betterton from an early age,J. Milling, "Bracegirdle, Anne (bap. 1671, d. 1748)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Sept 201accessed 1 June 2012/ref> and it is speculated tha ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Elizabeth Barry
Elizabeth Barry (1658 – 7 November 1713) was an English actress of the Restoration period. Elizabeth Barry's biggest influence on Restoration drama was her presentation of performing as the tragic actress. She worked in large, prestigious London theatre companies throughout her successful career: from 1675 in the Duke's Company, 1682 – 1695 in the monopoly United Company, and from 1695 onwards as a member of the actors' cooperative usually known as Betterton's Company, of which she was one of the original shareholders. Her stage career began 15 years after the first-ever professional actresses had replaced Shakespeare's boy heroines on the London stage. The actor Thomas Betterton said that her acting gave "success to plays that would disgust the most patient reader", and the critic and playwright John Dennis described her as "that incomparable Actress changing like Nature which she represents, from Passion to Passion, from Extream to Extream, with piercing Force and w ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cave Underhill
Cave Underhill (1634–1710?) was an English actor in comedy roles. Underhill entertained three generations of London theatre-goers. For over 40 years, as a member of the Duke's Company, Underhill played the first Gravedigger in ''Hamlet''. He was also successful in playing Gregory in ''Romeo and Juliet'', the clown in ''Twelfth Night'', and Trinculo in '' The Tempest''. Early life The son of Nicholas Underhill, a clothworker, he was born in St. Andrew's parish, Holborn, London, on 17 March 1634, and was admitted to Merchant Taylors' School in January 1645. He became first a member of the acting company which was gathered by John Rhodes. around Thomas Betterton. He was then recruited for Sir William D'Avenant and the Duke of York's company at the theatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields. In 1663 he was fined in an assault case, with Betterton and James Noke. Stage career The first character to which Underhill's name appears is Sir Morglay Thwack in D'Avenant's comedy ''The Wits'', re ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
William Bowen (actor)
William Bowen (1666–1718) was a British stage actor. He was part of the United Company from 1689. For a time, he became known for his comic roles. He was fatally wounded in a duel with fellow actor James Quin in 1718.''The Routledge Anthology of Restoration and Eighteenth-Century Drama'' p.XXXIX Selected roles * Valet in ''Bury Fair'' by Thomas Shadwell (1689) * Whiff in ''The Widow Ranter'' by Aphra Behn (1689) * Lignoreles in ''The Massacre of Paris'' by Nathaniel Lee (1689) * Sancho in ''The Successful Strangers'' by William Mountfort (1690) * Sir Gentle Golding in ''Sir Anthony Love'' by Thomas Southerne (1690) * Coachman in '' The English Friar'' by John Crowne (1690) * Tranio in ''Amphitryon'' by John Dryden (1690) * Lopez in ''The Mistakes'' by Joseph Harris (1690) * Fabion in ''Alphonso, King of Naples'' by George Powell (1690) * Albanact in ''King Arthur'' by John Dryden (1691) * Monsieur Le Prate in '' Love for Money'' by Thomas D'Urfey (1691) * Monsieur Lassoil in ' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1697
Events January–March * January 8 – Thomas Aikenhead is hanged outside Edinburgh, becoming the last person in Great Britain to be executed for blasphemy. * January 11 – French writer Charles Perrault releases the book ''Histoires ou contes du temps passé'' (literally "Tales of Past Times", known in England as "Mother Goose tales") in Paris, a collection of popular fairy tales, including ''Cinderella'', ''Puss in Boots'', ''Red Riding Hood'', ''The Sleeping Beauty'' and ''Bluebeard''. * February 8 – The English infantry regiment of Arthur Chichester, 3rd Earl of Donegall is disbanded four years after it was first raised. * February 22 – Gerrit de Heere becomes the new Governor of Dutch Ceylon, succeeding Thomas van Rhee and administering the colony for almost six years until his death. * February 26 – Conquistador Martín de Ursúa y Arizmendi and 114 soldiers arrive at Lake Petén Itzá in what is now Guatemala and begin the Spanish conquest of Guatemala with a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
.JPG "Click for more on -> 1697 Plays")
.png "Click for more on -> Augustan Drama")
