File:Players and plays of the last quarter century; an historical summary of causes and a critical review of conditions as existing in the American theatre at the close of the nineteenth century (1903) (14580867148).jpg

Identifier: playersplaysofla01strauoft (find matches)
Title: Players and plays of the last quarter century; an historical summary of causes and a critical review of conditions as existing in the American theatre at the close of the nineteenth century
Year: 1903 (1900s)
Authors: Strang, Lewis Clinton, 1869-1935
Subjects: Theater -- History Theater -- United States Acting and actors
Publisher: Boston, L.C. Page
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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aged him. Miss Farren was consideredbeyond compare as a representative of fineladies, and it was that fact which caused thefollowing outburst by Tate Wilkinson : I can-not recall to my minds eye, such fashion, ease,pleasantry, and elegance, in the captivatingcoquette and the lady of fashion all conjoined,as when I view the alluring, the entertaining,the all-accomplished Miss Farren. HENRY PLACIDE The first American-born comedian to gaina prominent place on the theatrical roster wasHenry Placide (i 799-1870), who was born in ;jCharleston, South Carolina. His father wasa French gymnast and rope-dancer, and hismother a dancer and pantomimist. The boyHenry early became one of the family troupe,appeared in various ballets, finally being ele-vated to the position of giving imitations ofactors. His histrionic career began in 1823,when he became a member of the stock com-pany of the Park Theatre, New York, his firstparts being Zekiel Homespun and DoctorDablancoeur, the French physician in The
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JAMES H. HACKETT As Falstaff in King Henry IV. I Some Notable Comedians 247 Budget of Blunders. Placide was for twentyyears a member of this company, and afterthat, until his retirement in 1865, he was apopular star. In a criticism of Placide, writ-1 ten in 1829, the JVew York Mirror said: There are three distinct classes in which heis without an equal, namely, old men, or rathermiddle-aged gentlemen, drunken servants, andkind-hearted, simple country lads. As a sam-ple of the three we would instance the marquisin The Cabinet, Antonio in The Marriageof Figaro, and Zekiel Homespun in TheHeir-at-Law. JAMES H. HACKETT James H. Hackett, considered one of theworthiest delineators of Falstaff, was also acomedian of American birth. His father,Thomas G. Hackett, was of gentle blood, halfIrish and half Dutch, a lieutenant in the LifeGuards of the Prince of Orange until he re-signed his commission on account of poorhealth and migrated to America in 1794. In 1799, he married the daughter of a Jam

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