The Haymarket Theatre (1796-1803) or Hay-Market Theatre was a theatre in late-18th century

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

Massachusetts Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...

.Don Wilmeth and Christopher Bigsby, eds. The Cambridge history of American theatre, Volume 2. Cambridge University Press, 1998; p.53. Organized by Charles Stuart Powell, it occupied a large, wooden building "opposite the Mall on Common (later Tremont) Street, near Hatch's Tavern."Richard Stoddard. The Haymarket Theatre, Boston. Educational Theatre Journal, Vol.27, No.1, March 1975; p.63. In addition to dramatic plays, the theatre presented some 62 musical entertainments during its first 5 years. The Haymarket "was seldom used after 1800, and on March 3, 1803, it was offered for sale at auction on the condition that it be removed in 60 days."

Works performed

Isaac Bickerstaffe Isaac Bickerstaffe or Bickerstaff (26 September 1733 – after 1808) was an Irish playwright and librettist. Early life Isaac John Bickerstaff was born in Dublin, on 26 September 1733, where his father John Bickerstaff held a government pos ...

's "The Padlock"George Oberkirsh Seilhamer
History of the American Theatre
New foundations. Philadelphia: Globe Printing House, 1891 * Samuel Birch's "The Adopted Child" *

William Hill Brown William Hill Brown (November 12, 1765 – September 2, 1793) was an American novelist, the author of what is usually considered the first American novel, '' The Power of Sympathy'' (1789), and "Harriot, or the Domestic Reconciliation", as well a ...

's "West Point Preserved" * John Daly Burk's "Bunker-Hill; or, the Death of General Warren" *

Susanna Centlivre Susanna Centlivre (c. 1669 (baptised) – 1 December 1723), born Susanna Freeman, and also known professionally as Susanna Carroll, was an English poet, actress, and "the most successful female playwright of the eighteenth century". Centlivre's ...

's "The Ghost" * James Cobb's " The Siege of Belgrade"Massachusetts Mercury; 08-22-1797 * George Colman's "

Inkle and Yarico ''Inkle and Yarico'' is a comic opera first staged in London, England, in August 1787, with music by Samuel Arnold and a libretto by George Colman the Younger. Plot Inkle, an English trader, is shipwrecked in the West Indies, and survives ...

" *

Richard Cumberland Richard Cumberland may refer to: * Richard Cumberland (philosopher) Richard Cumberland (15 July 1631 (or 1632) – 9 October 1718) was an English philosopher, and Bishop of Peterborough from 1691. In 1672, he published his major work, ''De leg ...

's "Note of Hand" *

Charles Dibdin Charles Dibdin (before 4 March 1745 – 25 July 1814) was an English composer, musician, dramatist, novelist, singer and actor. With over 600 songs to his name, for many of which he wrote both the lyrics and the music and performed them himself ...

's "The Quaker"; "The Waterman" * David Everett's "Daranzel; or, the Persian Patriot" *

George Farquhar George Farquhar (1677The explanation for the dual birth year appears in Louis A. Strauss, ed., A Discourse Upon Comedy, The Recruiting Officer, and The Beaux' Stratagem by George Farquhar' (Boston: D.C. Heath & Co., 1914), p. v. Strauss notes t ...

's "

The Recruiting Officer ''The Recruiting Officer'' is a 1706 play by the Irish writer George Farquhar, which follows the social and sexual exploits of two English Army officers, the womanising Plume and the cowardly Brazen, in the town of Shrewsbury (the town where ...

" *

Henry Fielding Henry Fielding (22 April 1707 – 8 October 1754) was an English writer and magistrate known for the use of humour and satire in his works. His 1749 comic novel ''The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling'' was a seminal work in the genre. Along wi ...

's " The Mock Doctor"Columbian Centinel, 10-04-1800 *

David Garrick David Garrick (19 February 1716 – 20 January 1779) was an English actor, playwright, Actor-manager, theatre manager and producer who influenced nearly all aspects of European theatrical practice throughout the 18th century, and was a pupil a ...

's "

The Lying Valet ''The Lying Valet'' is a British play by David Garrick. A farce, it was first performed at the Goodman's Fields Theatre Two 18th century theatres bearing the name Goodman's Fields Theatre were located on Alie Street, Whitechapel, London. T ...

" *

Oliver Goldsmith Oliver Goldsmith (10 November 1728 – 4 April 1774) was an Anglo-Irish people, Anglo-Irish poet, novelist, playwright, and hack writer. A prolific author of various literature, he is regarded among the most versatile writers of the Georgian e ...

's "

She Stoops to Conquer ''She Stoops to Conquer'' is a comedy by Irish writer Oliver Goldsmith, first performed in London in 1773. The play is a favourite for study by English literature and theatre classes in the English-speaking world. It is one of the few plays ...

" * John Hodgkinson's "The Launch, or, Huzza for the Constitution" *

Elizabeth Inchbald Elizabeth Inchbald (née Simpson, 15 October 1753 – 1 August 1821) was an English novelist, actress, dramatist, and translator. Her two novels, '' A Simple Story'' and '' Nature and Art'', have received particular critical attention. Life B ...

's "Married Man"; "

Animal Magnetism Animal magnetism, also known as mesmerism, is a theory invented by German doctor Franz Mesmer in the 18th century. It posits the existence of an invisible natural force (''Lebensmagnetismus'') possessed by all living things, including humans ...

;" "Child of Nature" *

Robert Jephson Robert Jephson (1736 – 31 May 1803) was an Irish dramatist and politician. Life He was born in Ireland, a younger son of John Jephson, Archdeacon of Cloyne. He entered Trinity College, Dublin in 1751, but left without a degree. He then jo ...

's "Two Strings to Your Bow" * Hugh Kelly's "Romance of an Hour" *

Kotzebue Kotzebue ( ) or Qikiqtaġruk ( , ) is a city in the Northwest Arctic Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the borough's seat, by far its largest community and the economic and transportation hub of the subregion of Alaska encompassing ...

's "The stranger; or, Misanthropy and repentance" *

Nathaniel Lee Nathaniel Lee (c. 1653 – 6 May 1692) was an English dramatist. He was the son of Dr Richard Lee, a Presbyterian clergyman who was rector of Hatfield and held many preferments under the Commonwealth; Dr Lee was chaplain to George Monck, afterw ...

's "

Alexander the Great Alexander III of Macedon (; 20/21 July 356 BC – 10/11 June 323 BC), most commonly known as Alexander the Great, was a king of the Ancient Greece, ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia (ancient kingdom), Macedon. He succeeded his father Philip ...

" * Thomas Morton's "Way to Get Married" * Arthur Murphy's "Old Maid" * John O'Keeffe's "The Young Quaker"; "Agreeable Surprise;" "Son in Law" *

Walley Chamberlain Oulton Walley Chamberlain Oulton (1770?–1820?) was an Irish playwright, theatre historian and man of letters. Life Born in Dublin, he was educated there in a private school. While a schoolboy he achieved some reputation as a writer of farces and music ...

's "All in Good Humour" * William Preston's "Death of Louis XVI" * Frederick Reynolds' "

Cheap Living ''Cheap Living'' is a 1797 comedy play by the English writer Frederick Reynolds. It premiered at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London on 21 October 1797. The original cast included Richard Suett as Old Woodland, Charles Kemble as Young Woodlan ...

"Columbian Centinel; 05-01-1799 *

Richard Brinsley Sheridan Richard Brinsley Butler Sheridan (30 October 17517 July 1816) was an Anglo-Irish playwright, writer and Whig politician who sat in the British House of Commons from 1780 to 1812, representing the constituencies of Stafford, Westminster and I ...

's "

The School for Scandal ''The School for Scandal'' is a comedy of manners written by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. It was first performed in London at Drury Lane Theatre on 8 May 1777. Plot Act I Scene I: Lady Sneerwell, a wealthy young widow, and her hireling S ...

" *

Royall Tyler Royall Tyler (June 18, 1757 – August 26, 1826) was an American jurist, teacher and playwright. He was born in Boston, graduated from Harvard University in 1776, and then served in the Massachusetts militia during the American Revolution. ...

's "A Georgia Spec; or, Land in the Moon" * "The Boston Balloon; or, a Supposed Flight from the Beacon-Hill" ("localized from the celebrated

farce Farce is a comedy that seeks to entertain an audience through situations that are highly exaggerated, extravagant, ridiculous, absurd, and improbable. Farce is also characterized by heavy use of physical comedy, physical humor; the use of delibe ...

written by Mrs. Inchbald, of Mogul Tale") * "

The Village Lawyer ''The Village Lawyer'' is a 1787 comedy play by the British writer George Colman the Elder, although it has also been mistakenly attributed to William Macready. A farce, it premiered as an afterpiece at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket in London on 28 ...

" * "Washington, or Memorable Era of 1776"Massachusetts Mercury; 07-02-1799

Performers

* Mrs. Allen * Mr. Amean * Mr. Barrett * Mrs. Barrett * Mr. Borier * Mr. Bowen * Mrs. Brett * Miss Broadhurst * Mr. Clough * Mr. Cunnington * Mr. Dickenson * Mr. Dubois * Mr. Fawcett * Mons. Francisqui (or Francisquy) * Mrs. Harper * Miss Harrison * Mr. Hodgkinson * Mrs. Hodgkinson * Mr. Hughes * Mrs. Hughes * Miss Gowen * Mr. Kenny * Mrs. King * Mr. Lege * Madame Lege * Mr. Marriott * Mrs. Pick * Mr. S. Powell * Mrs. S. Powell * Mr. Sevens * Master Shaffer * Mr. Simpson * Mrs. Simpson * Mr. Smith * Mr. Spinacuta * Mr. Sprague * Mr. Taylor * Mr. Turnbull * Mr. Val * Madame Val * Mr. Villiers * Eleanor Westray (later Mrs. Darley) * Elizabeth Westray (later Mrs. Villiers and Mrs. Twaits) * David Williamson * Mr. Wilson

References

External links

* Harvard Theatre Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library
Early American playbills: Guide
includes playbills from the Hay-Market Theatre {{coord, 42, 21, 9.87, N, 71, 3, 51.68, W, type:landmark_region:US-MA, display=title Former theatres in Boston Theatres completed in 1796 Former buildings and structures in Boston 1796 establishments in Massachusetts 1803 disestablishments in Massachusetts 18th century in Boston Boston Theater District

Works performed

Performers

References

Further reading

External links