Exit the Actress

409 Pages·2016·1.8 MB·English

by  Parmar Priya

Touchstone
A Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
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New York, NY 10020
www.SimonandSchuster.com
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either
are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any
resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely
coincidental.
Copyright © 2011 by Priya Parmar All rights reserved, including the right to
reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information
address Touchstone Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the
Americas, New York, NY 10020.
First Touchstone trade paperback edition February 2011
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Designed by Renata Di Biase Manufactured in the United States of America 10
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Parmar, Priya.
Exit the actress / by Priya Parmar.
p. cm.
1. Gwyn, Nell, 1650–1687—Fiction. 2. Charles II, King of England, 1630–
1685—Fiction. 3. Mistresses—Great Britain—Fiction 4. Actresses—Great
Britain—Fiction. 5. Great Britain—Kings and rulers—Paramours—Fiction. I.
Title.
PS3616. A757 E95 2011
813’.6—dc22
2009048703
ISBN 978-1-4391-7117-2
ISBN 978-1-4391-7118-9 (ebook)
for my mother and father
from nora who left for plumbean’s house
to see the moon with you
Exit the Actress
By Most Particular Desire
THEATRE ROYAL, COVENT GARDEN
Audiences Brilliant and Overflowing
Are Invited to Attend the Premiere of
EXIT THE ACTRESS
This Present Wednesday, May 1, 1662
will be repeated tomorrow, Friday, and Saturday next
PRESENTED BY MR. THOMAS KILLIGREW,
LEASEE AND ROYAL PATENT HOLDER
With: the cast as listed below
Gwyn Family
Mrs.* Eleanor Gwyn (Ellen/Nell/Nelly)—an orange girl turned actress at
the King’s Theatre
Mrs. Rose Cassels (née Gwyn)—Ellen’s older sister
Mrs. Eleanor Gwyn (Nora)—Ellen and Rose’s mother; a serving woman at
the Rose Tavern
Captain Thomas Gwyn**—Nora’s husband; an officer in the Royal Army
Dr. Edward Gwyn (Grandfather)—Captain Gwyn’s father; a canon of
Christ Church, Oxford
Mrs. Margaret Gwyn*** (Great-Aunt Margaret)—Dr. Gwyn’s sister;
living in Oxford
Theatre
Mr. Theophilus Bird (Theo)—Actor at the King’s Theatre
Mr. Nicholas Burt (Nick)—Actor at the King’s Theatre
Mr. William Davenant—Manager of the Duke’s Theatre
Mrs. Moll Davis—Actress at the Duke’s Theatre; mistress to King Charles
II
Mr. John Dryden—Playwright; Poet Laureate
Sir George Etheredge—Wit; playwright
Mr. Charles Hart—Actor; major shareholder of the King’s Theatre
Mrs. Margaret Hughes (Peg)—Actress at the King’s Theatre and possibly
the first woman to act upon the London stage
Mr. Harry Killigrew—Groom of the Bedchamber; Wit; son of Thomas
Killigrew
Mr. Thomas Killigrew—Patent holder; manager and major shareholder of
the King’s Theatre; former Groom of the Bedchamber
Mrs. Elizabeth Knep (Lizzie)—Actress; mistress of diarist Samuel Peyps
Mr. Edward Kynaston (Teddy)—Former cross-dressing star; Wit; well-
loved actor
Mr. John Lacy—Actor, choreographer at the King’s Theatre
Mrs. Rebecca Marshall (Becka)—Actress at the King’s Theatre
Mrs. Mary Megs (Orange Moll)—Orange seller at the King’s Theatre;
employs the orange girls
Royal Families of England and France
King Charles I**—King of England; executed in 1649