George Farquhar · aftercurtain

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Love and a Bottle

Writer · Play · 1698

Love and a Bottle is a 1698 comedy play by the Irish writer George Farquhar. Written shortly after Farquhar, an Irish Protestant originally from Derry, moved to London its central character is an Irishman Roebuck who has fled from Ireland after getting a woman pregnant. Resisting his father's demand that he marry the woman, he is followed to the English capital by the recent mother of his son. The original Drury Lane cast included Joseph Williams as Roebuck, John Mills as Lovewell, William Bullock as Mockmade, Benjamin Johnson as Lyrick, Joseph Haines as Pamphlet, William Pinkethman as Club, Jane Rogers as Lucinda, Mary Powell as Bulfinch, Henrietta Moore as Pindress, Maria Allison as Leanthe and Margaret Mills as Trudge. The published version was dedicated to the Marques of Carmarthen. His debut work in England, it lacked the impact that his subsequent work The Constant Couple had. However, following the success of his later plays it became a commonly-performed work during the eighteenth century.

Sir Harry Wildair

Writer · Play · 1701

Sir Harry Wildair is a 1701 comic play by the Irish writer George Farquhar. It is a sequel to the 1699 hit The Constant Couple, portraying the further adventures of the most popular character from the earlier play. The original Drury Lane cast included Robert Wilks as Sir Harry Wildair, John Mills as Colonel Standard, Benjamin Johnson as Captain Fireball, Colley Cibber as Marquis, William Pinkethman as Clincher, Henry Norris as Dicky, Henry Fairbank as Shark, Thomas Simpson as Lord Bellamy, Susanna Verbruggen as Lady Lurewell, Jane Rogers as Angelica and Jane Lucas as Parly. Farquhar, an Irish Protestant from Derry, dedicated the play to William of Orange.

The Beaux' Stratagem

Original play · Play · 2006

In this adaptation of Farquhar's comedy, two financially troubled gentlemen pose as master and servant while pursuing heiresses. The adaptation removes Count Bellair and Gibbet and replaces them with Gloss, a highwayman disguised as a priest.

The Constant Couple

Writer · Play · 1699

The Constant Couple is a 1699 play by the Irish writer George Farquhar. It is part of the Restoration comedy tradition, and is often described as a sentimental comedy. It marked the first major success of Farquhar's career. A series of comic misunderstandings are triggered when three rivals vie for the hand of the wealthy heiress Lady Lurewell. It was staged at the Drury Lane Theatre in London. The original cast included Robert Wilks as Sir Harry Wildair, George Powell as Standard, John Mills as Vizard, Benjamin Johnson as Smugler, William Pinkethman as Clincher Senior, William Bullock as Clincher Junior, Henry Norris as Dicky, Joseph Haines as Tom Errand, Susanna Verbruggen as Lurewell, Jane Rogers as Angelica, Mary Powell as Lady Darling and Henrietta Moore as Parly. The hero and most popular character, the rakish Sir Harry Wildair was revived for a sequel Sir Harry Wildair in 1701. For several decades the part of Sir Harry was strongly identified with the actor Robert Wilks, and became his signature role. It was later taken over by the Irish actress Peg Woffington, who performed it as a breeches role. Dorothea Jordan also played the part as did Samuel Foote. Actresses who have played the role of Lady Lurewell included Anne Oldfield and Hannah Pritchard. William Bullock appeared in the original run as Clincher. Numerous revivals of the play have taken place over subsequent centuries.

The Inconstant

Writer · Play · 1702

The Inconstant, or the Way to Win Him is a 1702 play by the Irish writer George Farquhar. It was a reworking of the Jacobean comedy The Wild Goose Chase by John Fletcher. A success, the play was revived a number of times during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Despite its popularity, the play was later criticised for its similarities to Fletcher's earlier work with Leigh Hunt commenting it was "neither more or less Fletcher's play, with the poetry taken out".

The Recruiting Officer

Playwright · Play · 1706

In Shrewsbury, recruiting officers Captain Plume and Captain Brazen pursue military recruits and romantic matches. Sylvia disguises herself as a man to enter the town, becoming entangled in a recruiting contest and legal proceedings, while a fortune-telling deception and mistaken identities complicate the courtships of Melinda, Worthy, and Brazen.

The Stage Coach

Writer · Play · 1704

The Stage Coach is a 1704 play by George Farquhar and Peter Motteux. A farce, it is based on the 1680 French play Les Carrosses d'Orléans by Jean de La Chapelle. It was staged at the Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre in London as an afterpiece to a revival of John Crowne's The Country Wit. The cast included Thomas Doggett as Nicodemus Somebody, Barton Booth as Captain Basil, George Pack as Fetch, John Freeman as Micher and Abigail Hunt as Dolly.

The Twin Rivals

Writer · Play · 1702

The Twin Rivals is a 1702 comedy play by the Irish writer George Farquhar. It was one of the author's least successful plays. A younger son schemes to cheat his elder brother out of the family estate. The original Drury Lane cast featured Robert Wilks as Elder Woudbee, Colley Cibber as younger Woudbee, Benjamin Husband as Richemore, John Mills as Trueman, William Pinkethman as Subtleman, Benjamin Johnson as Balderdash, William Bowen as Teague, Jane Rogers as Constance, Mary Hook as Aurelia, William Bullock as Mandrake and Henrietta Moore as Steward's wife. The prologue was written by Peter Anthony Motteux. In 1981 it was revived by the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Trumpets and Drums

Original play · Play · 1955

Brecht recasts Farquhar’s Restoration comedy as an epic comedy: recruiting officer Plume arrives from London to find recruitment failing, while his friend Worthy seeks help in love and offers Plume a commission on boots.

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