Madame Ponisi
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Elizabeth Ponisi Wallis (15 December 1818, Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England – 19 February 1899, Washington, D. C.), née Hansom or Hanson, known throughout her career as Madame Ponisi, was an English-American actress. At an early age, she made her stage debut at
Barnard Castle Barnard Castle (, ) is a market town on the north bank of the River Tees, in County Durham, England. The town is named after and built around a medieval castle ruin. The town's Bowes Museum has an 18th-century Silver Swan automaton exhibit ...
, Durham, England, as Amy in ''Father and Son''. She made her London debut on 26 December 1848. In September 1850 she sailed for America under a three-month contract with E. A. Marshall, manager of the
Walnut Street Theatre Walnut Street Theatre, founded in 1808 at 825 Walnut Street, on the corner of S. 9th Street in the Washington Square West neighborhood of Philadelphia, is the oldest operating theatre in the United States. The venue is operated by Walnut Str ...
in Philadelphia and the Old Broadway Theatre in New York. She made her American debut 7 October 1850, at the former theater, as Marianne in '' The Wife'', by James Sheridan Knowles. She played seven different roles in her first week, and then went to New York. Her debut there, at the Broadway Theatre, occurred on 11 November 1850, as Lady Teazle in '' The School for Scandal'', with William Davidge. She was immediately invited to join the company to play leading roles. She stayed at the theater until its closing, 2 April 1859, on which occasion she played Cleopatra in Shakespeare's tragedy. She supported Edwin Forrest on a number of his starring tours. In 1864 Madame Ponisi made a short starring tour herself with Lady
Macbeth ''The Tragedy of Macbeth'', often shortened to ''Macbeth'' (), is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, estimated to have been first performed in 1606. It dramatises the physically violent and damaging psychological effects of political ambiti ...
as the feature of her repertory. She did not enjoy the roving life, however, and soon returned to New York, where she played special engagements until 1871, when she joined
Lester Wallack John Johnstone Wallack (January 1, 1820, New York City – September 6, 1888, Stamford, Connecticut), was an American actor-manager and son of James William Wallack and Susan Johnstone. He used the stage name John Lester until October 5, 1858, ...
's company, staying until it was disbanded in 1888. She subsequently acted with Joseph Jefferson and
Richard Mansfield Richard Mansfield (24 May 1857 – 30 August 1907) was a German-born English actor-manager best known for his performances in Shakespeare plays, Gilbert and Sullivan operas, and the play ''Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1887 play), Dr. Jekyll and Mr ...
. In her youth she married James Ponisi, a professional actor, whom she divorced in 1856 or 1858. She married Samuel Wallis, the master mechanic of the Broadway Theatre, in 1859, who died in 1884. Her last appearance on any stage was 6 April 1893, when she emerged from retirement for a benefit to her friend and contemporary, Louisa Eldridge. Her roles included Tabitha Stork in ''Rosedale'', Mrs. Malaprop in ''
The Rivals ''The Rivals'' is a comedy of manners by Richard Brinsley Sheridan in five acts which was first performed at Covent Garden Theatre on 17 January 1775. The story has been updated frequently, including a 1935 musical and a 1958 List of Maverick ...
'', the Marquise in ''Caste'', Suzanne in ''L'Abbé Constantin'', Helen Macgregor in ''Rob Roy'', Mrs. Hardcastle in '' She Stoops to Conquer'', Mrs. Cregan in ''
The Colleen Bawn ''The Colleen Bawn, or The Brides of Garryowen'' is a melodramatic Play (theatre), play written by Irish people, Irish playwright Dion Boucicault. It was first performed at Laura Keene's Theatre, New York City, New York, on 27 March 1860 with ...
'', Sarah Matheson in ''Patrie'', Lady Franklin in ''Money'', Widow O'Kelly in ''
The Shaughraun ''The Shaughraun'' is a melodramatic Play (theatre), play written by Irish people, Irish playwright Dion Boucicault. It was first performed at Wallack's Theatre, New York City, New York, on 14 November 1874. Dion Boucicault played Conn in the ...
'', Lady Shendryn in ''Ours'', Mrs. Macclesfield in ''The Gov'nor'', the Marquise del Rio Zares in ''
Diplomacy Diplomacy is the communication by representatives of State (polity), state, International organization, intergovernmental, or Non-governmental organization, non-governmental institutions intended to influence events in the international syste ...
'', Countess Pompion in ''Old Heads and Young Hearts'', the Duchess in ''The Duke's Motto'', Francesca da Rimini in George Henry Boker's tragedy of that name, Mrs. Vandam in ''Oofty-Gooft'', Black Eyed Susan in the play of that name, the Duchess of York in ''Richard III'', Desdemona and Emilia in ''
Othello ''The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice'', often shortened to ''Othello'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare around 1603. Set in Venice and Cyprus, the play depicts the Moorish military commander Othello as he is manipulat ...
'', Volumnia in ''
Coriolanus ''Coriolanus'' ( or ) is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1605 and 1608. The play is based on the life of the legendary Roman leader Gnaeus Marcius Coriolanus. Shakespeare worked on it during the same ...
'', Cordelia in ''
King Lear ''The Tragedy of King Lear'', often shortened to ''King Lear'', is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare. It is loosely based on the mythological Leir of Britain. King Lear, in preparation for his old age, divides his ...
'', and
Juliet Juliet Capulet () is the female protagonist in William Shakespeare's romantic tragedy ''Romeo and Juliet''. A 13-year-old girl, Juliet is the only daughter of the patriarch of the House of Capulet. She falls in love with the male protagonist Ro ...
to Charlotte Cushman's Romeo, among others. She played several male characters, including Sir Edward Ardent in ''The Morning Call'', and Romeo.


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* {{DEFAULTSORT:Ponisi, Madame 1818 births 1899 deaths 19th-century English actresses English stage actresses 19th-century American actresses American stage actresses People from Huddersfield