''Virginia'' is a 1754
tragedy
Tragedy (from the grc-gre, τραγῳδία, ''tragōidia'', ''tragōidia'') is a genre of drama based on human suffering and, mainly, the terrible or sorrowful events that befall a main character. Traditionally, the intention of tragedy ...
by the British writer
Samuel Crisp
Samuel Crisp (1707 – 24 April 1783) was an English dramatist. He is known for the play ''Virginia'', produced at Drury Lane in 1754.
Life
He was baptised on 14 November 1707. His father Samuel Crisp, a London merchant, was a grandson of the the ...
. The play is set in
Ancient Rome
In modern historiography, ancient Rome refers to Roman civilisation from the founding of the city of Rome in the 8th century BC to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century AD. It encompasses the Roman Kingdom (753–509 B ...
, and portrays the story of
Appius and
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
.
It premiered at the
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, commonly known as Drury Lane, is a West End theatre and Grade I listed building in Covent Garden, London, England. The building faces Catherine Street (earlier named Bridges or Brydges Street) and backs onto Dr ...
with a cast that included
David Garrick
David Garrick (19 February 1717 – 20 January 1779) was an English actor, playwright, theatre manager and producer who influenced nearly all aspects of European theatrical practice throughout the 18th century, and was a pupil and friend of Sa ...
as Virginius,
David Ross as Iclius,
Henry Mossop
Henry Mossop (1729 – 18 November 1773) was an Irish actor.
Life
He was born in Dunmore, County Galway, where his father was a clergyman. He made his first stage appearance as Zanga in Young's tragedy ''The Revenge'' at the Smock Alley Theat ...
as Appius,
Thomas Davies as Claudius,
Thomas Mozeen as Rufus,
Susannah Maria Cibber
Susannah Maria Cibber (née Arne; February 1714 – 30 January 1766) was a celebrated English singer and actress. She was the sister of the composer Thomas Arne. Although she began her career as a soprano, her voice lowered in the early part of ...
as Virginia,
Elizabeth Bennett as Plautia and
Mary Ann Yates
Mary Ann Yates (1728–1787) was an English tragic actress. The daughter of William Graham, a ship's steward and his wife, Mary, she married Richard Yates (c. 1706-1796), a well-known comedian of the time.
In 1754, aged 25, she appeared at Drur ...
as Marcia.
[Hogan p.411]
References
Bibliography
* Nicoll, Allardyce. ''A History of English Drama 1660-1900: Volume III''. Cambridge University Press, 2009.
* Hogan, C.B (ed.) ''The London Stage, 1660-1800: Volume V''. Southern Illinois University Press, 1968.
1754 plays
British plays
Tragedy plays
West End plays
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