''Virginius'' is an 1820

tragedy A tragedy is a genre of drama based on human suffering and, mainly, the terrible or sorrowful events that befall a tragic hero, main character or cast of characters. Traditionally, the intention of tragedy is to invoke an accompanying catharsi ...

by the Irish writer

James Sheridan Knowles James Sheridan Knowles (12 May 1784 – 30 November 1862) was an Irish dramatist and actor. A relative of Richard Brinsley Sheridan, Knowles enjoyed success writing plays for the leading West End theatres. Later in his career he also produced ...

. It was part of a crop of plays set during the

Roman Republic The Roman Republic ( ) was the era of Ancient Rome, classical Roman civilisation beginning with Overthrow of the Roman monarchy, the overthrow of the Roman Kingdom (traditionally dated to 509 BC) and ending in 27 BC with the establis ...

, part of a revival of interest in the period.Sachs p.224 The original cast featured

William Macready William Charles Macready (3 March 179327 April 1873) was an English stage actor. The son of Irish actor-manager William Macready the Elder he emerged as a leading West End performer during the Regency era. Career Macready was born in London ...

as Virginius and also included

Maria Foote Maria Stanhope, Countess of Harrington (24 July 1797? - 27 December 1867), better known as Maria Foote, was a British actress and peeress in the nineteenth century. Early life Foote was born 24 July 1797(?) at Plymouth. Her father, Samuel T. Fo ...

as Virginia, Harriet Faucit as Servia, William Abbot as Appius Claudius,

Charles Connor Charles Connor (January 14, 1935 – July 31, 2021) was an American drummer, best known as a member of Little Richard's band. Richard's shout of "a-wop bop-a loo-mop, a-lop bam-boom" at the beginning of " Tutti Frutti" is said to be a reference ...

as Caius Claudius, John Faucit as Titus,

Daniel Egerton Daniel Egerton (1772–1835) was an English actor. Life Egerton was born in the city of London on 14 April 1772. According to various accounts, presumably supplied by himself, he was 'bred to the law in a public office.' Another source says, h ...

as Numitorious,

Thomas Comer Thomas Comer (1790–1862) was a British stage actor. Comer was born in Bath in Somerset. After appearing in the West End at the Drury Lane and Covent Garden theatres, he emigrated to the United States and established himself as a leading music ...

as Lucius,

Charles Kemble Charles Kemble (25 November 1775 – 12 November 1854) was a British actor from the prominent Kemble family. Life Charles Kemble was one of 13 siblings and the youngest son of English Roman Catholic theatre manager/actor Roger Kemble, and Ir ...

as Icilius and

Daniel Terry Daniel Terry (1780?–1829) was an English actor and playwright, known also as a close associate of Sir Walter Scott. Life He was born in Bath, Somerset, Bath in about 1780, and was educated at the Bath grammar school and subsequently at a priv ...

as Dentatus.

References

Bibliography

*Sachs, Jonathon. ''Romantic Antiquity: Rome in the British Imagination, 1789-1832''. OUP USA, 2010. 1820 plays West End plays Tragedy plays Historical plays Plays by James Sheridan Knowles Plays set in ancient Rome {{19thC-play-stub