''The Father; or, American Shandyism'' is a 1789 play by
William Dunlap
William Dunlap (February 19, 1766 – September 28, 1839) was a pioneer of American theater. He was a producer, playwright, and actor, as well as a historian. He managed two of New York City's earliest and most prominent theaters, the John Str ...
, his first published play, and according to Dunlap's later report, the second American comedy ever produced.
Dunlap's second play (the first was lost and never produced), it was first performed at the
John Street Theatre
John Street Theatre, situated at 15–21 John Street, sometimes called "The Birthplace of American Theatre", was the first permanent theatre in the Financial District of Manhattan, New York.''The Oxford Companion to the Theatre'' (Fourth Editio ...
in New York on September 7, 1789. It played four times before being produced in
Philadelphia
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...
and
Baltimore
Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...
(once in each). It was published in the ''
Massachusetts Magazine
The ''Massachusetts Magazine'' was published in Boston, Massachusetts, from 1789 through 1796. Also called the ''Monthly Museum of Knowledge and Rational Entertainment,'' it specialized in "poetry, music, biography, history, physics, geography, mo ...
'' in the October and November 1789 issues.
[Dunlap, William]
The Father: Or, American Shandyism
introduction, cast (1887, with introduction by Thomas J. McKee) It was also performed in Philadelphia during the 1790–91 season.
As the play's alternate title suggests, Dunlap borrowed from the popular novel ''
Tristram Shandy Tristram may refer to:
Literature
* the title character of ''The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman'', a novel by Laurence Sterne
* the title character of '' Tristram of Lyonesse'', an epic poem by Algernon Charles Swinburne
*"Tristr ...
'' in creating the work.
[Fisher, James]
Historical Dictionary of American Theater: Beginnings
p. 165-66 (2015)
A second edition of the play titled ''Father of an Only Child'' was published in 1807.
Original New York cast
*Colonel Duncan by
John Henry
*Mr. Racket by
Lewis Hallam Jr.
*Ranter by Charles Biddle
*Captain Haller by
Joseph Harper
*Lieutenant Campley by
Stephen Woolls
*Doctor Quiescent by
Thomas Wignell
Thomas Wignell (1753 – 21 February 1803) was an English-born actor and theatre manager in the colonial United States.
Early years
Thomas Wignell was born into a working theatre family. He was born in England to his parents John and Henrietta ...
*Cartridge by Mr. Ryan
*Jacob by Mr. Lake
*Mrs. Racket by Elizabeth Morris (Mrs. Owen Morris)
*Miss Felton by Maria Storer Henry (Mrs. Henry)
*Mrs. Grenade by Mrs. Harper
*Susannah by Eliza Tuke (Miss Tuke)
[Seilhamer, George O]
History of the American Theatre: During the Revolution and After
pp. 279-82, 331 (Charles Biddle) (1889)
References
External links
''The Father''(1887 ed., via Google Books)
*
1789 plays
Plays by William Dunlap
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