1772-1815 A Collection of Plays Performed at the Theatre-Royal

Description

Original Binding, Publishers' Original Binding

Four volumes. A collection of plays written as they were originally performed on the West End, at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane or Hay-Market. The London West End's history as a theater district began in the seventeenth century, with the opening of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in 1663. This set contains: The Grecian Daughter: A Tragedy, 1772. Second edition. Set in ancient Sicily, this play opens with the King Evander of Syracuse having been imprisoned by a usurper, Dionysius. Evander's daughter, Euphrasia, is dedicated to his rescue. For many British actresses in the eighteenth century, playing the role of the central heroine, Euphrasia, was an important part of gaining fame. Written by Arthur Murphy, an Irish writer and barrister who established himself in London as a leading playwright. The Fashionable Lover: A Comedy, 1772. Second edition. A sentimental comedy, it follows the adventures of Augusta Aubrey after she leaves her ward's house and is nearly seduced by the villainous Lord Abberville. Written by Richard Cumberland, an English dramatist and civil servant. Alzuma: A Tragedy, 1773. First edition. A historical tragedy based on the Conquest of Peru by Francisco Pizarro in the sixteenth century. Murphy suggested that the British victory at Havana in 1762 influenced his sympathetic depiction of the Peruvians and hostility to Spain. Living in London: A Comedy in Three Acts, 1815. First edition. A delightful story following the lives of two young men, Charles and Frederick, who move to London to pursue their dreams of success and love. Written by Robert Francis Jameson, an English playwright.