''The Iron Chest'' is a 1796 play by the British writer George Colman the Younger after by the novel '' Things as They Are'' by

William Godwin William Godwin (3 March 1756 – 7 April 1836) was an English journalist, political philosopher and novelist. He is considered one of the first exponents of utilitarianism and the first modern proponent of anarchism. Godwin is most famous fo ...

. Incidental music was composed by Stephen Storace. The play premiered at the

Theatre Royal, Drury Lane The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, commonly known as Drury Lane, is a West End theatre and listed building, Grade I listed building in Covent Garden, London, England. The building faces Catherine Street (earlier named Bridges or Brydges Street) an ...

in London on 12 March 1796.

Cast

The original cast included

John Philip Kemble John Philip Kemble (1 February 1757 – 26 February 1823) was a British actor. He was born into a theatrical family as the eldest son of Roger Kemble, actor-manager of a touring troupe. His elder sister Sarah Siddons achieved fame with him o ...

as Sir Edward Mortimer,

Richard Wroughton Richard Wroughton (1748–1822), was an actor, who worked mainly in Covent Garden (now the Royal Opera house) and Drury Lane (now the Theatre Royal), and occasionally in the city of his birth, Bath. Acting at Covent Garden He was born in 1748 ...

as Fitzharding, John Bannister as Wilford,

James William Dodd James William Dodd (1740?–1796) was an English actor, one of David Garrick's picked company. Early life Born in London about 1740, he is said to have been the son of a hairdresser. He was educated at the grammar school in Holborn. A success ...

as Adam Winterton, William Barrymore as Rawbold,

Richard Suett Richard is a male given name. It originates, via Old French, from Old Frankish and is a compound of the words descending from Proto-Germanic language">Proto-Germanic ''*rīk-'' 'ruler, leader, king' and ''*hardu-'' 'strong, brave, hardy', and ...

as Samson Rawbold,

Robert Palmer Robert Allen Palmer (19 January 1949 – 26 September 2003) was an English singer and songwriter. He was known for his powerful and soulful voice, sartorial elegance and stylistic explorations, combining soul, funk, jazz, rock, pop, regga ...

as Orson,

Charles Bannister Charles Bannister Comedian Charles Bannister (1738–1804) was an English actor, comedian and singer. Origins and debut Bannister was born in Gloucestershire. When he was seven his father moved to Deptford. He was possessed of 'a manly form, a ...

as Third Robert,

Elizabeth Farren Elizabeth Stanley, Countess of Derby (c. 175923 April 1829), known as Elizabeth Farren, was an Irish actress of the late 18th century. She was born in Cork in 1759 to George Farren, a surgeon. His drinking habits brought on early death and his ...

as Lady Helen,

Maria Gibbs Maria Gibbs (born about 1770) (''fl''. 1783–1844) was a British actress. Life She was one of three sisters who became actors. Her Irish father was associated with the theatre. John Palmer, her godfather, brought her on the stage at the Hayma ...

as Blanch,

Charlotte Tidswell Charlotte Tidswell (c. 1760 – 3 September 1846) was an English actress. Life Tidswell was born in 1759 or 1760 and her father may have been a soldier. She may have been acting for five years when her name was first mentioned when she appeared ...

as Dame Rawbold,

Nancy Storace Anna (or Ann) Selina Storace (; 27 October 176524 August 1817), known professionally as Nancy Storace, was an English operatic soprano. The role of Susanna in Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Mozart's ''The Marriage of Figaro, Le nozze di Figaro'' was w ...

as Barbara and

Maria Theresa Kemble Maria Theresa Kemble (1774–1838), née Marie Thérèse Du Camp, was an Archduchy of Austria-born English actress, singer, dancer and comic playwright on the stage. She was the wife of actor Charles Kemble and mother of Fanny Kemble, part of t ...

as Judith. The Irish premiere took place at the

Crow Street Theatre Crow Street Theatre was a theatre in Dublin, Ireland, originally opened in 1758 by the actor Spranger Barry. From 1788 until 1818 it was a patent theatre. History Spranger Barry and Henry Woodward The actor Spranger Barry (1719–1777), born ...

Dublin Dublin is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Situated on Dublin Bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, and is bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, pa ...

on 6 March 1797.

Plot

''The Iron Chest'' is a

melodrama A melodrama is a Drama, dramatic work in which plot, typically sensationalized for a strong emotional appeal, takes precedence over detailed characterization. Melodrama is "an exaggerated version of drama". Melodramas typically concentrate on ...

. The villain is Sir Edward Mortimer, a head-keeper of the

New Forest The New Forest is one of the largest remaining tracts of unenclosed pasture land, heathland and forest in Southern England, covering southwest Hampshire and southeast Wiltshire. It was proclaimed a royal forest by William the Conqueror, featu ...

, who has been acquitted on a charge of murder some years previously. The secret of his guilt is learnt by Wilford, the hero, who is consequently hounded by Mortimer and is accused of robbery. In an old iron chest the documentary evidence of Mortimer's guilt is discovered.Nicoll, p. 104

References

Bibliography

* Greene, John C. ''Theatre in Dublin, 1745-1820: A Calendar of Performances, Volume 6''. Lexington Books, 2011. * Nicoll, Allardyce. ''A History of English Drama 1660–1900: Volume III''. Cambridge University Press, 2009. * Hogan, C.B (ed.) ''The London Stage, 1660–1800: Volume V''. Southern Illinois University Press, 1968. 1796 plays West End plays British plays Works by George Colman the Younger Plays set in England Plays based on novels {{play-stub