Charles M. Barras ( – ) was an American actor and

playwright A playwright or dramatist is a person who writes plays. Etymology The word "play" is from Middle English pleye, from Old English plæġ, pleġa, plæġa ("play, exercise; sport, game; drama, applause"). The word "wright" is an archaic English ...

best known for writing the book inspiring the hit musical play '' The Black Crook''. Early in his life, Barras trained as a carpenter and served for three years in the US Navy. In 1860, he married danseuse and soubrette Sallie St. Clair. In 1861, he was manager of Pike's Opera House in Cincinnati, Ohio, when he earned acclaim for his performance of the title character in an adaptation of Molière's ''

The Imaginary Invalid ''The Imaginary Invalid'', ''The Hypochondriac'', or ''The Would-Be Invalid'' ( French title ''Le Malade imaginaire'', ) is a three- act ''comédie-ballet'' by the French playwright Molière with dance sequences and musical interludes (H.495, H. ...

''. Wilson, J. G.; Fiske, J., eds. (1891). "Barras, Charles M." '' Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography''. New York: D. Appleton. Barras wrote ''The Black Crook'' (1866) as a standard

melodrama A modern melodrama is a dramatic work in which the plot, typically sensationalized and for a strong emotional appeal, takes precedence over detailed characterization. Melodramas typically concentrate on dialogue that is often bombastic or exces ...

, but the piece was transformed by producers Jarrett & Palmer, under an agreement with theatre manager William Wheatley, into a musical extravaganza. The spectacular success of ''The Black Crook'' earned Barras a fortune of some $250,000 (about $5,000,000 today). Barras built a country house on the Mianus River in Cos Cob, Connecticut, near its railroad station and was a weekly train passenger. On March 31, 1873, while the train was stopped on a trestle bridge, Barras jumped from the train, but instead of landing on the bridge, he fell through it to the rocks below and died.

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Barras, Charles M. Created via preloaddraft 1826 births 1873 deaths American male stage actors American dramatists and playwrights Accidental deaths from falls Accidental deaths in Connecticut