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Race

2025-09-08T19:06:53Z

Mary Isbell: added accounts of Philadelphia Amateur Dramatic Association

Evidence of the involvement of people of colour within private and amateur theatricals is poorly evidenced in the historical record. This page aims to gather together evidence to better support our historical understanding and research of the historical contribution of people of colour to private and amateur theatricals.

At Hinchingbrook, in November 1787 Lord Sandwich reportedly had taken over managing the thunder and the lightning. It was noted that 'formerly a ''Black Servant'' of his used to direct the storms - but it was thought his outward appearance made them too horrible. Lord Sandwich, however, continued him 'till his death - as his Lordship never regarded any outwards appearances whatever.' <ref>Collection of cuttings in scrapbook on private theatricals, British Library</ref>

Public prejudices could actually block public amateur theatricals from taking place. In 1888, the Philadelphia Amateur Dramatic Association (PADA), “a downtown organization of young colored thespians,” sought $1,000 in damages from Peter Reuter, the proprietor of the Wheatley Dramatic Hall, for breach of contract (“Colored Actors” 1). The PADA had reserved the hall weeks in advance for a performance of ''The Hunchback'' and the first act of ''Hamlet'', and “about 800 tickets were printed, circulars were distributed, programmed procured, costumes hired, and ushers engaged for the performance.” About $100 worth of tickets had been sold and then a week before the performance Mr. Reuter informed Mr. Anderson, the business manager of the association, that they could not have the hall because another company had engaged it for the whole week. The PADA had to return the money for tickets and were of course responsible for the debts contracted (“Colored Actors” 1).<ref>“Colored Actors Claim Damages.” ''New York Times'' 13 October 1888. 1.</ref>

The Macedonian Scourge

2025-09-08T18:42:55Z

Mary Isbell: created article, citing source.

A short-lived publication produced aboard USS Macedonian featuring reviews of shipboard theatricals.<ref>Isbell, Mary. “Recognition and Anonymity: Shipboard Theatricals and Newspapers Aboard USS Macedonian.” ''Shipboard Literary Cultures: Reading, Writing, and Performing at Sea'', edited by Susann Liebich and Laurence Publicover, Springer International Publishing, 2021, pp. 85–106. ''Springer Link'', <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-85339-6_4</nowiki>.</ref>

The Thespian Critic and Theatrical Review

2025-09-08T18:12:59Z

Mary Isbell: created article, citing source.

A short-lived handwritten publication produced aboard USS ''Macedonian'' featuring reviews of shipboard productions about the ''Macedonian.''<ref>Isbell, Mary. “Recognition and Anonymity: Shipboard Theatricals and Newspapers Aboard USS Macedonian.” ''Shipboard Literary Cultures: Reading, Writing, and Performing at Sea'', edited by Susann Liebich and Laurence Publicover, Springer International Publishing, 2021, pp. 85–106. ''Springer Link'', <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-85339-6_4</nowiki>.</ref>

The Amateurs of Her Majesty's Ship Chesapeake

2025-09-08T18:05:34Z

Mary Isbell: Created page with "An amateur theatrical troupe made up of sailors and petty officers that performed from 1857-1860 aboard HMS Chesapeake and in ports like Aden, Jeddah, and Calcutta.<ref>Isbell, Mary. “When Ditchers and Jack Tars Collide: Benefit Theatricals at the Calcutta Lyric Theatre in the Wake of the Indian Mutiny.” ''Victorian Literature and Culture'', vol. 42, no. 3, Sept. 2014, pp. 407–23. ''Cambridge Core'', <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.10..."

An amateur theatrical troupe made up of sailors and petty officers that performed from 1857-1860 aboard [[wikipedia:HMS_Chesapeake_(1855)|HMS Chesapeake]] and in ports like Aden, Jeddah, and Calcutta.<ref>Isbell, Mary. “When Ditchers and Jack Tars Collide: Benefit Theatricals at the Calcutta Lyric Theatre in the Wake of the Indian Mutiny.” ''Victorian Literature and Culture'', vol. 42, no. 3, Sept. 2014, pp. 407–23. ''Cambridge Core'', <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.1017/S1060150314000060</nowiki>.</ref>

Bombastes Furioso

2025-09-08T17:46:10Z

Mary Isbell: created article (copying article from Wikipedia)

'''''Bombastes Furioso''''', subtitled ''A Burlesque Tragic Opera'', was written in 1810 by William Barnes Rhodes (sometimes credited as Thomas Barnes Rhodes). The first authorized printed edition was published in 1822. It is a drama with comic songs, that satirizes the bombastic style of other tragedies that were in fashion at the time.

It was very popular throughout the 19th century—its popularity was sufficient for two quotations to appear in ''Bartlett's Familiar Quotations'', and for Lewis Carroll to refer to it in his poem "Melancholetta".

The part of Bombastes was first played by Richard John Smith.

== Characters ==

* '''Artaxaminous''' – King of Utopia
* '''Fusbos''' – Minister of State
* '''Bombastes''' – general of Artaxaminous
* '''Distaffina''' – troth-plight (fiancé) of General Bombastes

== Plot ==
King Artaxaminous wishes to divorce his wife Griskinissa, and marry Distaffina. Distaffina, however, is betrothed to General Bombastes. Artaxaminous promises Distaffina "half a crown" if she will forsake the general for him. Distaffina is unable to resist, and abandons Bombastes. When the general learns of this, he goes mad, hangs his boots on the branch of a tree, and challenges anyone who would remove them. Artaxaminous cuts the boots down, and the general kills him. Fusbos, coming upon this, kills Bombastes. At the end of the drama, the dead men jump up and promise "to die again tomorrow", if the audience desires it.

== Notes ==
The story of ''Bombastes Furioso'' is based in part on ''Orlando Furioso''.

The sign that Bombastes places on the tree with his boots reads:

: Who dares this pair of boots displace,
: Must meet Bombastes face to face.

According to Bartlett, this is a reference to a quote from Don Quixote:

: Let none but he these arms displace,
: Who dares Orlando's fury face.

(This itself is a reference to Orlando Furioso.)

== References ==

* Bartlett, John. ''Familiar Quotations''. Boston: Little, Brown, and Company, 1919.
* Brewer, E. Cobham, Rev., LL.D. ''Character Sketches of Romance, Fiction and the Drama, Vol 1''. New York, 1892.

Damon and Pythias (1821 Play)

2025-09-08T17:40:31Z

Mary Isbell: created article (copying article from Wikipedia)

'''''Damon and Pythias''''' is an 1821 tragedy by the Irish writers John Banim and Richard Lalor Sheil.<ref>Morash p.84</ref> It is based on the Greek legend of Damon and Pythias. It premiered at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden in London on 28 May 1821.<ref>Nicoll p.291</ref> The original cast included William Macready as Damon, Charles Kemble as Pythias, William Abbot as Dionysius, Daniel Egerton as Damocles, William Chapman as Nicias, Thomas Comer as Procles, Charles Connor as Lucullus and Maria Foote as Hermion. It was widely performed in Ireland and the United States including at the Chestnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia.

== References ==
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== Bibliography ==

* Burwick, Frederck Goslee, Nancy Moore & Hoeveler Diane Long . ''The Encyclopaedia of Romantic Literature''. John Wiley & Sons, 2012.
* Morash, Christopher. ''A History of Irish Theatre 1601-2000''. Cambridge University Press, 2002.
* Nicoll, Allardyce. ''A History of Early Nineteenth Century Drama 1800-1850''. Cambridge University Press, 1930.