''Master Clarke'' is an 1840
historical play by the British writer
Thomas James Serle. It premiered at the
Theatre Royal, Haymarket on 26 September 1840. It revolves around the life of
Richard Cromwell, deposed
Lord Protector of England, during the
seventeenth century.
Cast
The original cast included
William Macready as Richard Cromwell,
Benjamin Nottingham Webster as
Charles II of England
Charles II (29 May 1630 – 6 February 1685) was King of Scotland from 1649 until 1651, and King of England, Scotland and Ireland from the 1660 Restoration of the monarchy until his death in 1685.
Charles II was the eldest surviving child of ...
,
Samuel Phelps as General Lord Disbrowe,
Walter Lacy
Walter Lacy (1809 – 13 December 1898) was an English actor. In a long career he played leading roles in London theatres.
Early life and career
Lacy was born, as Walter Williams, in Bristol in 1809, the son of a coach-builder, and was educated fo ...
as Ingoldsby,
Henry Howe as Sir Richard Willis,
William Henry Oxberry
William Henry Oxberry (21 April 1808 – 29 February 1852) was an English actor, appearing at many London theatres, particularly in comic roles. He wrote many plays and burlesques.
Life
Oxberry was born in 1808, son of William Oxberry, the actor ...
as Smoothly,
George John Bennett as Captain Darnel and
Helena Faucit as Lady
Dorothy Cromwell. The play was not a great success, partly due to the fact that Macready had not properly learned the part which was to be a growing problem for him.
[Downer p.198]
References
Bibliography
* Carlisle, Carol Jones. ''Helen Faucit: Fire and Ice on the Victorian Stage''. Society for Theatre Research, 2000.
* Downer, Alan Seymour. ''The Eminent Tragedian William Charles Macready''. Harvard University Press, 1966.
* Nicoll, Allardyce. ''A History of Early Nineteenth Century Drama 1800-1850''. Cambridge University Press, 1930.
1840 plays
West End plays
British plays
Historical plays
Plays set in the 17th century
Plays set in London
Cultural depictions of Richard Cromwell
Cultural depictions of Charles II of England
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