Theatre In The 1800s

Guilbert de Pixerecourt

1800

Guilbert, was a astonishingly prolific dramatist. He was delighted by popular audiences in Paris with a succession of more than a hundred plays during the 19th century. One of his greatest success were melodrama. His plays were full of comedy, and had realistic scenery. "With his melodramas Pixerecourt started a theatrical tradition that survived throughout the 19th century"(Britannica Guilbert de Pixerecourt). he died July 27, 1844.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Guilbert-de-Pixerecourt

Alexandre Dumas

1802

Alexandre is a legendary historical writer and is one of the most popular French authors of all time. He was a son of a French Army General, and had grew up on hearing his fathers war stories and how brave his father was. Alexandre's father had died when he was only four years old. "Hearing the war stories from his mother encouraged his profound interest in historical events"(Thefamouspeople). He was a playwright and wrote plays. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/alexandre-dumas-654.php

August von Kotzebue

1803

August was a law student at Jena, where he had wrote his first comedy. In 1783 he entered the Russia government, he became the president of magistracy of province Estonia in 1785. Some of his best work was written while he was there such as, Adelheid von Wulfingen, and Menschenhass und Reue. "As a dramatist Kotzebue was prolific and facile, adroit. He is at his best in such comedies"(britannica). https://www.britannica.com/biography/August-Friedrich-Ferdinand-von-Kotzebue

Alfred de Musset

1810

Alfred was one of the very first Romantic writers. "His love for literary began at an early age when he used to perform unrehearsed mini-acts in front of his family, based upon episodes from old romance stories he had read"(thefamouspeople Alfred de Musset). Alfred met a women and they had soon separated, and during the time of grief he had wrote some of his best work. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/alfred-louis-charles-de-musset-pathay-661.php

The Innkeeper of Abbeville, or The Ostler and the Robber

1820

'The Innerkeeper of Abbeville, or The Ostler and the Robber' was written by Edward Fitzball. This play was Edwards first West end play. The play was a domestic crime melodrama. "The play was a resounding success, featuring murder, robbery, torture, mistaken identity, villainy and remorse"(Crossref-it.info Nineteenth century melodrama). Fitzball wrote many plays for 25 theatres, he also produced 170 melodramas. https://crossref-it.info/articles/517/nineteenth-century-melodrama

Fifteen Years of a Drunkard's Life

1828

The play was produced in 1828 by Douglas Jerrold. A lot of the people in the Victorian society were mostly considered alcohol abuse and the temperance that the societies tried to encourage abstinence for those who drank. "Jerrold's play was the first stage production to identify the characteristics of the stage drunkard and was a harsh condemnation of the evils of drink in both the lower and middle classes"(Crossref-it.info) https://crossref-it.info/articles/517/nineteenth-century-melodrama

Charlotte Cushman

1835

Charlotte Cushman was a famous actress in the 1800."Her mother encouraged chores around the house, so she attempted being a maid, figured it wasn't for her so she took up acting"(pdfslide.netFamousMelodramaActorsandActresses). Charlotte and her younger sister preformed Romeo and Juliet and became famous for the act."In 1915 she was elected New York University Hall of Fame"(pdfslide.netFamousMelodramaActorsandActresses). https://pdfslide.net/documents/famous-melodrama-actors-and-actresses.html

Dion Boucicault

1841

Dion Boucicault, his real name is Dionysius Lardner Boursiqout and he was born on December 26, 1820 and died September 18, 1890. Dion was an Irish-American playwright and actor. He was also a major influence in American drama. Dion's acting begin in England in 1873. Also in 1840 he submitted his first ever play to Covent Garden, and was rejected. "His second, London Assurance(1841), which foreshadowed the modern social drama, was a huge success"(Britannica Dion Boucicault).

Edwin Booth

1852

Edwin was born in 1833. He followed his father Junius Booth who was a famous actor. "Edwin and his brother Junius.Jr performed Julius Caesar in 1864 this was the first and last time Edwin and his brother performed together. The funds went toward the statue of William Shakespeare that still stands in central park"(pdfslide.net Famous melodrama actors and actresses). Edwin had built his own theater called "Booth's Theater". https://pdfslide.net/documents/famous-melodrama-actors-and-actresses.html

Adelaide Ristori

1855

Adelaide was born in 1822 in Civdale De Friuli. "At age 14 she made her first success as Francesca da Rimini in Silvio Pellico's. "In 1866 she paid her first visit to the United States of America were she won much applause in Paolo Giacometti's Elisabeth"(pdfslide.net famous melodrama actors and actresses). She retired from her theater life in 1885 and died in 1905 at the age of 84.
https://pdfslide.net/documents/famous-melodrama-actors-and-actresses.html