Early American Plays Part 13

THE GENEROUS CHIEF. A Tragedy. Montreal, 1792. 8vo.

This is probably the only original play published in Canada prior to 1831.

O'CONWAY, JAMES

THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS. A Historical Tragedy, with Notes, as it was represented on the French Theatre, by the Performers of the Emperor of the French. To which is prefixed An Interesting History of the Origin, Character, and Persecution, of That Ill.u.s.trious Order. Also the Mode of Receiving Members. The whole supported by the most Respectable Authorities. Translated from the original of M. Raynouard, by Matthias James O'Conway, commissioned interpreter and teacher of the Spanish, French and English languages. Philadelphia: Published by the Translator, No. 202 Chestnut Street. Brown & Merritt, Printers, 24 Church Alley, 1809. Portrait of "Jacques de Molay." 8vo, t.i.tle, 1 p.

l., pp. lxviii. 3-80, [1]

PARKE, JOHN

JOHN PARKE was born in Delaware about 1750. At the commencement of the Revolution he entered the American Army and was attached to Was.h.i.+ngton's Division. After the war he was for some time in Philadelphia, and was last heard of in Arundel County, Va. A number of the pieces in his book are dated at camp in the neighborhood of Boston, at Valley Forge and other places.

VIRGINIA. A Pastoral Drama, on the Birth Day of an Ill.u.s.trious Personage and the Return of Peace, February 11, 1784 [4 lines of poetry in Latin].

Published in a volume of poems ent.i.tled _The Lyric Works of Horace_, etc. Printed by Eleazer Oswald, at the Coffee-House, 1786.

Another edition. Philadelphia: Eleazer Baldwin. 8vo, pp. 14, 1789.

This is probably the first attempt to celebrate Was.h.i.+ngton's Birthday.

PAULDING, JAMES K.

JAMES KIRKE PAULDING, born in Pleasant Valley, Dutchess Co., N. Y., August 22, 1779, died in Hyde Park, in the same county, April 6, 1860, was a.s.sociated with Was.h.i.+ngton Irving in literary work on _Salmagundi_. A paper on political affairs from Paulding's pen led to his appointment by President Madison as Secretary of the Navy Commission in Was.h.i.+ngton. He was Agent of the Navy at New York, 1825, and Secretary of the Navy under Van Buren.

THE BUCKTAILS; OR, AMERICANS IN ENGLAND. A Comedy, written shortly after the conclusion of the War of 1812.

This play was published in a volume ent.i.tled _American Comedies_, by W. I. Paulding, Author; Carey & Hart, Publishers. Philadelphia, 1847.

PAYNE, JOHN HOWARD

JOHN HOWARD PAYNE, born in New York City, June 9, 1791, died in Tunis, Africa, April 9, 1852, was an actor and journalist. In early life he removed to Easthampton, L. I., where the greater part of his childhood was pa.s.sed. He played in a number of amateur performances, and made his debut as an actor at the Park Theatre, New York City, February 24, 1809, as _Young Norval_. He made his literary debut by contributing to _The Fly_, a juvenile paper published by Woodworth.

He soon after published a little paper called _The Thespian Mirror_, which had a short existence.

After playing in a number of American cities he went to England in 1813, where his success as an actor and dramatist was very great. His first appearance was at Drury Lane Theatre, June 4, 1813, as _Norval_. He also started a periodical in London called the _Opera Gla.s.s_.

He returned to America in 1832 and contributed to the _Democratic Review_ and other periodicals. Soon afterward (1841) he was appointed United States Consul at Tunis, where he died.

JULIA; OR, THE WANDERER. A Comedy in Five Acts, as performed at the New York Theatre. New York, 1806. 16mo, pp. 72.

The first separate writing of Payne, written when he was fourteen years of age.

Performed as _The Wanderer_ at the Park Theatre, New York, February 7, 1806.

LOVER'S VOWS. A Play in Five Acts. Baltimore, 1809. 16mo, pp. 90, [4].

BRUTUS; OR, THE FALL OF TARQUIN. An Historical Tragedy in Five Acts.

London, 1818. 8vo, pp. viii.-53.

Same. New York, 1819. 16mo, pp. 54.

Acted for the first time at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London, December 3, 1818.

First acted in the United States at the Park Theatre, New York, March 15, 1820.

ACCUSATION; OR, THE FAMILY OF D'ANGLADE. A Melodrama in Three Acts, from the French, with alterations. London, 1817. 8vo, pp. 79.

Same, Boston, 1818. 18mo, pp. vii.-76.

First acted at Park Theatre, New York, May 10, 1816.

THERESE, THE ORPHAN OF GENEVA. A Drama. New York, 1821. 18mo.

First acted at the Anthony Street Theatre, New York, April 30, 1821.

ADELINE; OR, SEDUCTION. A Melodrama in Three Acts. New York, 1822.

16mo, pp. 41.

Performed for the first time in the United States, at the Park Theatre, New York, May 1, 1822.

CLARI, THE MAID OF MILAN. An Opera in Three Acts. New York, 1823.

16mo, pp. 54.

Another edition, London, 1823. 8vo, pp. 45.

Performed for the first time at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, London, May 8, 1823.

In this opera _Home, Sweet Home_ was sung for the first time.

Performed for the first time in the United States at the Park Theatre, New York, November 12, 1823.

ALI PACHA; OR, THE SIGNET RING. A Melodrama in Two Acts. New York, 1823. 18mo, pp. 36.

Performed at the Park Theatre, New York, May 8, 1823.

RICHELIEU; OR, THE BROKEN HEART. A Domestic Tragedy founded on Fact.

(As adapted for performance at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, London, before it was altered by order of the Lord Chamberlain, and produced under a new name.) Now First Printed from the Author's Ma.n.u.script. New York, 1826. 18mo, pp. 79.

THE TWO GALLEY SLAVES. A Melodrama in Two Acts. London, n. d.

[1823]. Frontispiece. 18mo, pp. 33.

First performed in the United States at the Park Theatre, New York, October 27, 1823.

'TWAS I; OR, THE TRUTH A LIE. A Farce in Two Acts. London, n. d.

8vo, pp. 15.