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"A Tale of Mystery"
In 1802, Thomas Holcroft translated French dramatist René-Charles Guilbert de Pixérécourt's popular 1800 play "Cœlina, ou, l'enfant du mystère." ("Thomas Holcroft") The resulting play, "A Tale of Mystery," premiered at the Covent Garden Theatre in London, and quickly gained a large amount of popularity. Generally considered the first British melodrama, the play's success and influence on British theatre gained Holcroft the title of "Father of British Melodrama." (Hoeveler, 1) -
Victor Hugo
One of France's most celebrated authors, Victor Hugo was born Feb. 26, 1802, to Gen. Joseph-Leopold Hugo and Sophie Trebuchet. ("Victor Hugo") Hugo produced thousands of works in a large variety of forms, and is perhaps best known for his novels "Les Misérables" and "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame," as well as the numerous stage and film adaptations which followed. He also authored the play "Hernani," which challenged the Neoclassical conventions of his time. Hugo passed away on May 22, 1885. -
Covent Garden Theatre Fire
Early in the morning, a fire started in the royal Covent Garden Theatre in London, burning it to the ground within three hours. The wardrobes and most of the scenery were destroyed, as well as Handel's organ and many of his manuscripts. Twenty lives were lost as a result of the fire, and many more were injured. A year later on September 18, 1809, the theatre reopened with a rendition of "Macbeth." ("Covent Garden Theatre") The theatre has survived and is now the famous Royal Opera House. -
Clara Fisher
One of the 19th century's most famous actresses, Clara Fisher was born in London, England, on July 14, 1811. She first performed at the age of six in the play "Lilliput." Her talented acting won much public praise, and she was soon performing at the royal Covent Garden Theatre. When Clara was sixteen, her family moved to the United States, where she gained even greater success and fame than in England. After seventy years of acting, Clara Fisher passed away on November 12, 1898. ("Clara Fisher") -
"Boris Godunov"
Alexander Pushkin completed his play "Boris Godunov" in 1825 while in exile. The play is based on the story of Czar Boris Godunov, who ruled Russia from 1598 to 1605. ("Boris Godunov") Because of Pushkin's exile, his play was not permitted to be published until 1831, and was not even produced until 1870. ("Boris Godunov (play)") Despite the meager history of this first play, it served as the basis for Modest Mussorgsky's extremely successful 1874 opera by the same title.("Boris Godunov (opera)") -
Mendelssohn's Overture
By the early 1800's, specific musical accompaniments were being written for many plays. In 1826, one such piece was written by a 17-year-old named Felix Mendelssohn. This work, the overture to "A Midsummer Night's Dream," helped launch Mendelssohn's career as a composer, and is considered a classical masterpiece to this day. In 1846, he augmented this overture by adding incidental music, which included his famous "Wedding March." ("A Midsummer Night's Dream") -
Premiere of "Hernani"
One of Victor Hugo's earlier works, "Hernani" was a bold step for Romanticism. The play, which portrayed immoral activity and featured characters wearing period dress, rejected many of the Neoclassical conventions which were prevalent at the time. This unorthodoxy sparked a historic riot at the play's premiere, as well as resistance as subsequent performances. It is more for this first incident, rather than the value of the play itself, for which "Hernani" is remembered. ("Hernani (drama)") -
Premiere of "The Gladiator"
In 1831, Robert Montgomery Bird's tragic melodrama "The Gladiator" was written as an entry for actor Edwin Forrest's play-writing competition. Bird's play won the competition and premiered at the Park Theatre in New York City on September 26. "The Gladiator" was a huge success both as a play, and as a catalyst for Forrest's acting career, making him one of the most famous American actors of his time. ("The Gladiator (play)") -
Death of William Dunlap
On September 28, 1893, William Dunlap passed away. Hailed as the "Father of American Theatre," ("Dunlap, William") Dunlap was an actor, playwright, theatre director, historian, and co-founder of the National Academy of Design. Dunlap wrote and translated over sixty plays, including "Andre," "The Italian Father," and "The Glory of Columbia, Her Yeomanry." He also authored the work "History of the Rise and Progress of the Arts of Design in the United States." ("William Dunlap" Wikipedia) -
Astor Place Riot
In the mid-nineteenth century, fueled in part by anti-British sentiments lingering from the War of 1812, a competition grew between American actor Edwin Forrest and his British counterpart, William Charles Macready. On the night of May 10th, 1849, this rivalry erupted as nearly 10,000 rioters stormed the Astor Place House, where Macready was performing "Macbeth." It took 250 police and 350 state militia to quell the riot. About 25 persons were killed, and over 250 wounded. ("Astor Place Riot")
