plause of the town; however, racter of Desdemona, in which Barry, seeing an inferiority she shewed such judgment, tenarising from the joint power ex- derness, and expression, that Garerted against him as actor and rick, who was then in the pit, manager, quitted Drury Lane, declared her an actress of the and headed Govent Garden. first stamp; and soon after enHere his powers had full play; gaged her along with Mr. Barry and our stage Milo entered the at a very considerable salary. For lists of competition against a further particulars of this lady, man, which none hitherto durst see Crawford (Mrs.). Mr. Barry, approach. They played all their soon after, quitted Drury Lane principal characters against each for Covent Garden; when an other with various success, which hereditary gout (which occasionare marked by many epigrams ally attacked him from his earli and bon mots of that day. In est days) rendered his performthis contention they remained till ances not only unfrequent, but the summer of 1758, when Bar- imperfect; yet, even in this unry, joining with Mr. Woodward, finished state of his powers, of Drury Lane, undertook an cramped with aches, and bowed expedition to Ireland, where down with infirmity, he gave an they built two elegant play- || affecting picture of what he once houses, one in Dublin, the other was. He died Jan. 10, 1777. In in Cork; and as joint managers many of his characters he estaexerted their respective abilities, blished an equality with Garrick, with those of a very respectable and in Othello, and a few others, company, part of which they contended for the superiority. brought over from England. In short, he was Mr. Garrick's However, after trying this scheme most formidable rival. He had for some years, what with the a gift of pleasing in conversation expense of building, the great beyond most men, owing more salaries and increase of perform- to the manner than the matter. ers, together with the uncer- One of his greatest pleasures tain returns of their theatres, consisted in giving splendid enthey both found they had chang-tertainments, and though posed situations for the worse. sessed of as little learning as Woodward making the best bar-knowledge, no man did the hogain he could with Barry, to be paid his share in annuities, set sail for England, engaged himself at Covent Garden, and in a very laughable prologue, restored himself to the public fa vour. Barry staid but a few seasons behind him, for both he and Mrs. Barry played in the summer of 1766, at the operahouse in the Haymarket, under Mr. Foote. Here it was Mrs. Barry made her first appearance on the London stage, in the cha nours of a table with more ease and politeness. Mr. Pelham, who was much delighted with his style of acting, once invited himself to sup with him, but the pro fusion of elegant dishes, with the choicest and dearest wines, which Barry provided for him, so displeased the statesman, that he never gave him another opportunity of exposing his want of judgment. BARRYMORE, (Mr.) actor, was born in Taunton, and placed by by his father in a counting-house : conceiving an early passion for the stage, he changed his name from Blewit to the above, and joined a theatrical company in the West of England. Having been seen and approved of by the late Mr. Colman, at Brighton, he was accordingly engaged for the Haymarket, and intended for a vocal performer; but the engagement was afterwards broken on the manager's part. He applied, but in vain, to the managers of Drury Lane; at last, the loss of Mr. Dubellamy prompted them to give him an appearance, and he came out in Young Meadows, (Love in a Village). || After which, he occasionally performed in tragedy, comedy, opera, &c. On the departure of Mr. Farren to the rival theatre, he appeared in characters of more consequence. One night, at a very short notice, he offered to read the character of Charles Oakley, (Jealous Wife) in consequence of the sudden indisposition of Mr. Bannister, jun. the intended representative. The apology having been made to the audience, and accepted, he began with the part in his hand, but, during the second act, put it into his pocket, and went through the character to the great astonishment of all present, who testified their pleasure with flattering applause. He now married a lady in Bloomsbury, and the additional favour he acquired with the public, was justly at tended with an increase of salary. On the death of Mr. Brereton, and the departure of Mr. Palmer to the Royalty Theatre, he gained further opportunities of advancing himself, and on the death of Mr. Palmer, &c. has, by due attention and unremitting industry, insured himself a permanent situation at Drury Lane; he lately belonged to the Haymarket. BARTHELEMON, (F. H.) composer, resident at Kennington. He has composed music for several little pieces, particularly the "Maid of the Oaks," the overture of which was a composition of sweet pastoral simplicity, which gave general satisfaction; but disgusted with the false promises of managers, he declined his further assistance to the stage. He was engaged with his family at the Rotunda, Dublin, about the year 1784, when he gave Mr. Mountain (formerly leader of the band at Covent Garden) some private instructions, and which he continued to do on Mr. Mountain's visiting London. Mrs. Barthelemon and her daughter have sung in concerts; the former assisted Dr. Arnold in his burlettas at Marybone Gardens. Both these ladies had a taste for composition; lately were published Hymns and Anthems for the Asylum and Magdalen Chapels, &c. composed by Mrs. Barthelemon, which are superior to the generality of female productions. She died in 1779. BARTLEY (Mr.) actor, was recommended to the managers of Drury Lane by Mrs. Jordan, who, during her engagement at Margate in 1802, entertained a favourable opinion of his abilities. His first appearance in London was in Orlando, (As you like it) Dec. 18, when he was well received. His correct mode of delivery, and above all his quickness of study, rendered him so exceedingly useful, that the then acting manager, Mr. Bannister, used all his exertions to have his salary raised, but in vain. This gentleman's laudable intention not meeting with the concurrence of the economical proprietors is the chief reason, as it is said, of Mr. Bannister's having resigned the management of that theIn the summer of 1804, he was engaged by Mr. Colman for the Haymarket Theatre. His mother died the same year, in the month of April. atre. ; BASTAR,(Mrs.) actress, maiden name, Green, is the daughter of a gentleman who holds a situation under government, and wife of a respectable tradesman in the Strand. She was educated at a convent in France, and for some time instructed ladies in music, vocal and instrumental. Having performed at several private theatres with flattering applause, (and indeed the applause of private theatres is in general flattering) she formed the resolution of attempting the public boards induced, perhaps, by the example of a sister, who is now a successful actress on the American stage. She made her first appearance at Covent Garden, in Don Carlos, (Duenna) for the benefit of the Bayswater General Lying-in Hospital, June 13, 1800; her services having been readily accepted on account of the then scarcity of performers. In consequence of her success and strong recommendation, she was engaged by Mr. Harris. During the sunnmer, she improved herself at Norwich and Yarmouth, and afterwards made her second, and we may add regular appearance at Covent Garden, in Patrick, (Poor Soldier) Sep. 22, 1800. ley. BATE, Rev. (H.) See Dud BATES, (Mr.) actor and member of Drury Lane company, but resigned his situation to assist the late Mr. Palmer in the Royalty Theatre scheme, for which he furnished several pantomimes, having much ingenuity in that way, and was frequently the motley hero of Wellclose-square. On the close of the Royalty, he wisely returned to his former station: He afterwards went to America. His wife, who was an actress at Drury Lane, died lately in great distress. BEARD, (JOHN) actor and one of the proprietors of Covent Garden, where he was acting manager, and celebrated both as a singer and performer. He was bred up in the King's Chapel, and was one of the singers in the Duke of Chandos Chapel, at Cannons, where he performed in an oratorio composed by Mr. Handel. His first appearance on the stage was at Drury Lane, Aug. 30, 1737, in the character of Sir John Loverule, (Devil to Pay). In 1758-9, he married the only daughter of James Earl of Waldegrave, widow of Lord Edward Herbert, and on her death, which happened fourteen years afterwards, erected to her memory a handsome pyramidal monument, expressive of his love and sorrow. He afterwards married the daughter of Mr. Rich, who was likewise patentee of Covent Garden, and by whose death, he was in affluent circumstances. He quitted the stage on his first marriage for a few years, and afterwards returned to Drury Lane. A little spaniel bitch. strayed into this theatre, and fixed fixed upon this gentleman as her master and protector, was constantly at his heels, and attended him on the stage in the character of Hawthoru. She died much lamented, not only by her master, who was a member of the Beef Steak Club, but by all the other members; one of whom, John Walton, Esq. (author of the well-known ballad, "Ned and Nell," and some beautiful songs) wrote her epitaph. In 1744, Mr. Beard went to Covent Garden, where he remained four seasons. He then engaged with Mr. Garrick, and continued with him till 1752; when, on his second marriage, he was engaged at Covent Garden, and on the death of his father-in-law, became one of the proprietors. His first appearance at that time was in Macheath, Oct. 10, 1756, Polly by Miss Brent, and the opera ran fifty-two nights. During his management in February 1763, the following serious riot took place: The opera of Artaxerxes being advertised to be performed at the Theatre in Covent Garden, the first time for this season, with notice, that nothing under the full price could be taken, the audience, in consequence thereof, would not suffer it to begin, until Mr. Beard came upon the stage, and gave them a categorical answer, Yes, or No, concerning half-prices. From six in the evening, until past nine, there were several messages and speeches passed, but none that the audience thought satisfactory. One gentleman in the pit, declared that the actors ought to submit in this to the town, more especially, as they had lately a precedent in Mr. Garrick, the greatest theatrical genius. For want of this point being determined, at about half an hour past nine, the audience grew so exasperated, that the benches of the second gallery, the fore part of it, the seats in the boxes, the glasses, and every thing else that they could come at, were pulled to pieces. The stage was crowded with the audience that left the boxes and pit. The damages amounted to some hundred pounds, and some of the people belonging to the house were very much hurt. In 1767, he was engaged in a literary contest with Dr Shebbeare, for having rejected a comedy of his. In 1768, he retired from the stage on account of the loss of his hearing, and died Feb. 5,1791, aged 75, at Hampton, Middlesex, where he resided after his retirement. He left legacies to the amount of 30001. He gave 100l. to the fund for decayed performers, and to Mr. Hull, his intimate friend and acquaintance, 501. to buy a ring in memory of him. His remains were deposited in the vault of the church at Hampton. BECKINGHAM. (CHAS.) dramatist, was the son of a linendraper in Fleet- street, and received his education under Dr. Smith at the Merchant Taylor's School; he produced two trage. dies, which were represented on the stage before the author had well completed his twentieth year, viz. " Scipio Africanus,' 1718, and Henry IV. of France," 1720. On the author's benefit for the first, Dr. Smith gave his boys a holiday, that such as pleased, might pay their compliments to their school-fellow on that occasion. " BELLAMY, (GEORGE ANNE) |