Mary Elmy born Mary Morse (1712 – 1792) was a British actress who appeared in roles at leading theatres in Dublin and London. She led a long life and she was noted for her role of Gertrude appearing with

Spranger Barry Spranger Barry (23 November 1719 – 10 January 1777) was an Irish actor. Life He was born in Skinner's Row, Dublin, the son of a silversmith, to whose business he was brought up. He took over the business but was not successful. His fir ...

Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depicts ...

Life

Elmy was born in 1712 and came to notice in maybe 1732 but almost definitely by 18 October 1733 when "Miss Morse" was at Drury Lane playing Charlotte in Oroonoko, adapted from

Aphra Behn Aphra Behn (; bapt. 14 December 1640 – 16 April 1689) was an English playwright, poet, prose writer and translator from the Restoration era. As one of the first English women to earn her living by her writing, she broke cultural barrie ...

's novel story of Surinam. In January 1734 she became Mary Elmy although details of her husband are not known and his name may have been James Elmy or even Mr Williams. left, Elmy in The Old Bachelor at Covent Garden in 1756 In 1737 Elmy appeared in another Aphra Behn story. The play " The Rover" had been originally written by Behn herself. Her debut as one of the main characters Florinda was on 11 April 1737. The following year she moved to Dublin where she appeared at the

Aungier Street Theatre Since the 17th century, there have been numerous theatres in Dublin with the name Smock Alley. The current Smock Alley Theatre () is a 21st-century theatre in Dublin, converted from a 19th-century church building, incorporating structural mat ...

before joining the company of the Smock Alley Theatre. Her debut there was on 11 December 1739 and she was there for several years before returning to London in 1744. In 1745 she had to take over

Fanny Furnival Elizabeth "Fanny" Furnival or "Mrs Kemble" (fl. 1731–1752) was a British actress and singer who appeared in theatres in London and Dublin. She notably took the role of Hamlet in 1741. She lost a vendetta with George Anne Bellamy. She appeared ...

's part in Dublin after the audience turned against Furnival as a result of her rivalry with George Anne Bellamy. In 1747 she was in

The Provok'd Husband ''The Provoked Husband'' is a 1728 comedy play by the British writer and actor Colley Cibber, based on a fragment of play written by John Vanbrugh. It is also known by the longer title ''The Provok'd Husband: or, a Journey to London''. Vanbrugh ...

at Drury Lane and she remained at that theatre throughout the 1740s. with Spranger Barry in Hamlet, III-4 In 1750 it was claimed that Elmy was making "a debut" in

John Vanbrugh Sir John Vanbrugh (; 24 January 1664 (baptised) – 26 March 1726) was an English architect, dramatist and herald, perhaps best known as the designer of Blenheim Palace and Castle Howard. He wrote two argumentative and outspoken Restora ...

's The Provok'd Wife when she appeared as Belinda at Covent Garden. Actually this was the start of her steady work as she remained at Covent Garden but was never in the top rank of actresses. She appeared in

King Lear ''King Lear'' is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare. It is based on the mythological Leir of Britain. King Lear, in preparation for his old age, divides his power and land between two of his daughters. He becomes destitute and insane an ...

and with Barry in

which was well received.

Charles Jennens Charles Jennens (1700 – 20 November 1773) was an English landowner and patron of the arts. As a friend of Handel, he helped author the libretti of several of his oratorios, most notably ''Messiah''. Life Jennens was brought up at Gopsall H ...

' new edition of Shakespeare's play 'Hamlet, Prince of Denmark; a Tragedy' in 1773 included a picture of the final scene with Mary Elmy playing a leading role.Charles Jennens, 1773, "Hamlet, Prince of Denmark; a Tragedy", frontispiece Elmy died in Knightsbridge on 1 April 1792 and her will gave £20 to a cousin in London and £100 each to four of her cousins in Norwich and £10 each to the children of one of them. The remaining estate was left to a cousin, also in Norwich. A final amendment (a codicil) to the will directed that £50 be given to the actress Ann Crawford.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Elmy, Mary 1712 births 1792 deaths 18th-century British actresses