Great Shakespeare Actors: Burbage to Branagh

323 Pages·2015·10.66 MB·English

by  Stanley Wells

R R R
G EAT SHAKESPEA E ACTO S

OUPCORRECTEDPROOF–FINAL,26/2/2015,SPi
R
BU BAGE TO BRANAGH
STANLEY WELLS
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Preface and Acknowledgements
This book draws on a lifelong interest in the history of theatre and of
Shakespeare’s place in it, as well as on close on seventy years of play-
going. An early stimulus to write it came from an invitation from
Alistair Smith, editor of The Stage, to contribute to a feature about
greatShakespeareactors.
I am grateful for assistance from the library staff of the Shakespeare
Birthplace Trust, especially Madeleine Cox, Victoria Swanston, and
Helen Hargest; to Kate Welch of the Shakespeare Institute; and to
Roger Howells and Paul Edmondson for encouragement and for
helpful comments on drafts. Jacqueline Baker, of Oxford University
Press,hasbeenanexemplaryeditor,andIhavebenefitedgreatlyfrom
theexpertiseoftheproductionstaffatthePress.Ioweespecialthanks
to Nick de Somogyi for the care and expertise with which he has
compiledtheindex.
Theorderinwhichtheactorsarediscussedisroughlychronological
bydateofbirth,butinafewcasesIhavedepartedfromthisprinciplein
theinterestsofcontinuity.
StanleyWells
January

Contents
ListofIllustrations xi
Introduction 
Prelude:WilliamShakespeare 
. RichardBurbage 
. WillKemp 
. RobertArmin 
. ThomasBetterton 
. CharlesMacklin 
. DavidGarrick 
WhoWastheFirstGreatShakespeareActress? 
. SarahSiddons 
. GeorgeFrederickCooke 
. JohnPhilipKemble 
. DoraJordan 
. EdmundKean 
. WilliamCharlesMacready 
. HelenFaucit 
WhoWastheFirstGreatAmericanShakespeareActor? 
. IraAldridge 
. CharlotteCushman 
. EdwinBooth 
. HenryIrving 
. EllenTerry 
. TommasoSalvini 
TimesofChange 