The Actors Flashcards
1
Q
Edmund Kean
A
(1787/9 - 1833)
- tragedian, debuted at Drury Ln. Theatre in Merchan of Venice as Shylock
- restored Drury Ln’s repuation, riveted audiences
- small in stature, remarkable dark eyes, natural style
- Dionysian actor, unrestrained fury, dissapated
- drank and died @ 43
2
Q
William Charles Macready
A
(1793-1873)
- major tragedian at Covent Gardne Theatre (rival to Drury Ln.)
- fiery temper when provoked, fascinating acto, demanded nothing short of the best, no compromise (haughty, proud, vain, intellectual cultured)
- 1st American appearance at Park Theatre in NYC 1826 (same year Edwin Forrest Made debut at Park)
3
Q
Edwin Forrest
A
- 1st American stage idol
- dark hair, sardonically handsome, masculine build, displayed arms and legs in roles (a la Sylvester Stallone)
- known for strenouous realism
- would offer money prizes for plays thus advancing course of American playwriting; endorsed plays that suited his acting style
- profound deep rivalry with Macready
- was involved in a few scandals: Astor Place Riot and scandal with Catherine Sinclair
4
Q
Astor Place Riot
A
(1849)
- result of petty quarrell between Forrest and Macready
- Macready was to play Macbeth @ Astor Place Opera House, Forrest decides to do it as well @ Bowry Theatre
- Bowry Boys (supporters of Forrest) howled and booed at Macready
- they came back the next night and a brawl broke out in the theatre and the streets
- the state militia was called in
- 22 killed, 30 seriously injured
- worst riot in history of American theatre
5
Q
Catherine Sinclair and Edwin Forrest scandal
A
- the two were married in 1837
- by 1851 he discovered she was unfaithful and he was simultaneously publicly having an affair with Josephine in the company
- Forrest took Sinclair to court 3x, the Court ruled against Forrest
- 18 years later the final verdict was in Catherine Sinclair’s favor
6
Q
John McCollough
A
- Irish born, emigrated @ 15
- noticed by Edwin Forrest, hired to work for his company
- usually played opposite his mentor (ex. Iago to Othello)
- went west to develop self, came back and took over roles Forrest was known for
- mental/physical breakdown due to congenital syphilis
- universally mourned
7
Q
Charlotte Cushman
A
- born in Boston to Mayflower family
- beautiful singing voice, no training, discovered by gentleman to help her career
- voice was then shot, was left with husky masculine sound
- turned to acting, apprentice at Park
- discovered by MacReady, played Lady M opposite
- later played at Princess Theatre in Lnodon opposite Forrest, overshadowed him (he hated that)
- came back to states as a star
- specialzed in breeches roles, played over 30 male roles; Romeo hailed as greatest,;
- her accurate male impersonation raised questions about gender and sexual identity
- women playing men was erotic due to victorian restrictions
8
Q
Ira Aldridge
A
(1807-1867)
- African American actor (few opportunities)
- African Theatre Company located in NYC, established in 1821
- worked/performed there until 1824, when he expatriated to be a valet for James William Wallard, a white actor
- Aldridge attended U of Scotland
- by 1825 had appeared in Othello, dubbed as “African tragedian”, “African Roscius”
- performed in England for the rest of his life
- played Macbeth, Lear, Shylock, would perform these protagonists in whiteface
- died on tour in Poland at time of death was planning a tour back to US
9
Q
John Howard Payne
A
- actor/dramatist, started as an actor, later turned playwright
- had strongest reputation, most recognized in 1st half of the century
- Influenced by Master William Betty; fashioned himself after him
- @ 14 played Romeo and published a critical journal The Thespian Mirror
- made acting debut at 15
- 1st American to play hamlet, played opposite Elizabeth Poe as Ophelia (later mommy of Edgar Allan)
- wrote Brutus with Edmund Keane
- playwriting years 1816-1832
- wrote Charles II, based on a French play
- was appointed to American council to Tunisia in N. Africa, died in 1851 in N. Africa
10
Q
Laura Keene
A
(1826-1873)
- born in London
- real name, Mary France Moss Taylor
- short apprenticeship with Madame Vestris, 1st female theatre manager of note
- Keene’s Varieties Theatre (1855-1863)
- financial backer/lover: John Lutz
- best known production was Our American Cousin, paid for the rights to the play but that didn’t stop other managers from stealing it and mounting their own productions of the play.
- Her production of Cousin was performed at Ford’s Theatre in Washington DC the night that Lincoln was assassinated; her career never recovered after this
- withdrew from theatre in final years, published Fine Arts (a magazine) until 1872
- died in 1873 of consumption
11
Q
Joseph Jefferson
A
- debuted with TD Rice
- 1856 worked with Laura Keene’s Company
- meet Boucicault and performed some of his works
- 1865 played Rip Van Winkle (in London first, then the US), this was the role he would be known for, for the rest of his career.
- 1890 published Autobiography of Joseph Jefferson
- retired 1884, died 1905
