Aaron Hill · aftercurtain

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Elfrid

Writer · Play · 1710

Elfrid: or The Fair Inconstant, generally shortened to Elfrid, is a 1710 tragedy by the British writer Aaron Hill. Hill wrote the work in less than a fortnight. Set in Saxon England it featured Barton Booth as Athelwold, Charles Powell as King Edgar and Lucretia Bradshaw as Elfrid. Concerned about the play's modest reception, Hill wrote an afterpiece entitled The Walking Statue which proved to be more popular than the main play, and was revived numerous times. In 1731 Hill reworked the play and staged it under a new title Athelwold at Drury Lane. It marked his return to the London stage after an eight year absence. Although he hoped to persuade Robert Wilks to star in the title role, it ended up being played by Roger Bridgewater. Although Alexander Pope tried to generate interest, the new version lasted for three nights and met a largely poor reception.

Fatal Extravagance

Writer · Play · 1721

Fatal Extravagance is a 1721 tragedy by the British writer Aaron Hill. It was presented by another writer Joseph Mitchell, a friend of Hill, at the Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre in London. The original cast included James Quin as Bellmour, Anthony Boheme as Courtney, John Ogden as Bargrave and Anna Maria Seymour as Louisa. It was printed with the slightly longer title The Fatal Extravagance. Hill was inspired by the recent South Sea Bubble where speculative investment had led to a massive crash, ruining backers of the company. In the play this takes the former a out-of-control gambler who ends up killing a creditor and planning to commit suicide. In 1793 a version of the play retitled The Prodigal by Francis Godolphin Waldron was staged at the Haymarket Theatre, with a happy ending added.

Rinaldo

Scenario · Opera · 1711

During the First Crusade, knight Rinaldo loves Almirena, daughter of the Crusader commander Goffredo. The Saracen king Argante seeks help from the sorceress Armida, who abducts Almirena. Rinaldo leaves his companions to pursue her, while Argante’s love for Almirena leads to conflict with Armida. With a Christian magician’s help, Goffredo and Eustazio reach Armida’s palace and free Almirena. The Crusaders capture Jerusalem; Rinaldo captures Argante, and Armida and Argante accept Christianity. Goffredo forgives them, and the victors and vanquished reconcile.

The Fatal Vision

Writer · Play · 1716

The Fatal Vision is a 1716 tragedy by the British writer Aaron Hill. It is also known as The Fatal Vision: Or, the Fall of Siam. It is set at the Chinese imperial court in an unspecified time, and features the Chinese Emperor, his wife and two sons plus a captive princess from Siam. Hill funded the production using his own money. It ran for seven nights at the Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre.

Zara

Writer · Play · 1736

Zara is a 1736 tragedy by the British writer Aaron Hill, based on the 1732 French play Zaïre by Voltaire. As in Voltaire's original, Hill's play, set during the Crusades, tells the story of Zara, a Christian slave. The original Drury Lane cast included Susannah Maria Cibber as Zara, William Milward as Lusignan, Theophilus Cibber as Nerestan, Edward Berry as Chatillon, Richard Cross as Melidor and Hannah Pritchard as Selima. The incidental music was composed by Thomas Arne.

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