Hannah Cowley · aftercurtain

A Bold Stroke for a Husband

Writer · Play · 1783

A Bold Stroke for a Husband is a 1783 comedy play by the British writer Hannah Cowley. The title is a variation on Susanna Centlivre's A Bold Stroke for a Wife. The original Covent Garden cast included William Thomas Lewis as Don Julio, Richard Wroughton as Don Carlos, John Quick as Don Caesar, John Edwin as Don Vincentio, Richard Wilson as Gasper, John Whitfield as Don Garcia, James Fearon as Vasquez, Mary Robinson as Victoria, Sarah Maria Wilson as Minette, Mary Whitfield as Laura, Harriet Pitt as Sancha and Isabella Mattocks as Olivia. The epilogue was written by John O'Keeffe. The play is in five acts and is set in Madrid.

A Day in Turkey

Writer · Play · 1791

A Day in Turkey is a 1791 comedy by the English author Hannah Cowley. It premiered at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden in London on 3 December 1791. The original cast included Joseph George Holman as Ibrahim, William Farren as Orloff, John Fawcett as A La Greque, Joseph Shepherd Munden as Mustapha, William Cubitt as Azim, Charles Incledon as Selim, William Macready as Muley, Charles Farley as Ismael, James Thompson as Old Man, Jane Pope as Alexina, Harriet Pye Esten as Paulina, Isabella Mattocks as Lauretta and Margaret Martyr as Fatima. The Irish premiere took place at the Crow Street Theatre in Dublin on 16 May 1792

A School for Greybeards

Writer · Play · 1786

A School for Greybeards is a comedy play by the British writer Hannah Cowley that premiered on November 25, 1786. The original cast included Thomas King as Don Alexis, John Philip Kemble as Don Henry, William Parsons as Don Gasper, John Bannister as Don Sebastian, John Palmer as Don Octavio, Mary Ann Wrighten as Rachel, Ann Maria Crouch as Donna Maria, Sarah Maria Wilson as Carlota, Margaret Cuyler as Donna Clara and Elizabeth Farren as Donna Seraphina.

Albina, Countess Raimond

Writer · Play · 1779

Albina, Countess Raimond is a 1779 verse drama tragedy by the British playwright Hannah Cowley. It premiered at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket in London 31 July 1779. The original cast included Howard Usher as King Henry, West Digges as Westmoreland, William Wyatt Dimond as Edward, James Aickin as Egbert, Robert Palmer as Oswald, John Gardner as Steward and Katherine Sherry as Albina. She dedicated the play to the politician Lord Harrowby.

More Ways Than One

Writer · Play · 1783

More Ways Than One is a 1783 comedy play by the British writer Hannah Cowley. The original Covent Garden cast included William Thomas Lewis as Bellair, John Quick as Doctor Freelove, John Edwin as Sir Marvel Mushroom, Ralph Wewitzer as Le Gout, Richard Wilson as Evergreen, James Fearon as David, Richard Wroughton as Carlton, James Thompson as Lawyer's Clerk, Priscilla Kemble as Arabella and Sarah Maria Wilson as Miss Juvenile and Elizabeth Younge as Miss Archer.

The Belle's Stratagem

Writer · Play · 1780

The play's double plotline concerns the romance between Letitia Hardy and Doricourt, as well as the relationship between Sir George Touchwood and his wife, Lady Frances Touchwood. The story comes to a dénouement at the masquerade ball of the last act. As described by the press office of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, "Set in 1780s London, The Belle's Stratagem is the tale of Letitia Hardy, promised to the charming Doricourt whom she hasn't seen since childhood. Her plan to enchant him with her wit and charm is turned upside-down when she discovers she's fallen madly in love with him, and he seems quite unmoved by her. Desiring to marry a man who adores her equally, she plans a bold deception--to have love as she likes it. Interwoven with Letitia's scheme to trick Doricourt into passion is the story of the newly married Touchwoods. Sir George is wildly jealous of his lovely country-bred wife and his fear of her being corrupted by fashionable life encourages plots by his acquaintance to turn Lady Frances into a fine lady in order to spite Sir George." The role of the ingenue heroine, Letitia Hardy, proved to be a successful vehicle in Paris for Harriet Smithson, who infatuated Hector Berlioz. It was also "a favorite role" for Ellen Terry, who was both photographed and engraved in her character's costume. Characters include... Kitty Willis, Tony, Saville, Courtall, Doricourt, Flutter, Villers, Mrs. Racket, Letitia Hardy, Old Hardy, Sir George Touchwood, Miss Ogle, Lady Frances Touchwood

The Belle's Stratagem (Tony Cownie adaptation)

Original play · Play · 2018

Tony Cownie relocates Cowley’s comedy to Enlightenment Edinburgh during the development of the city’s New Town.

The Fate of Sparta

Writer · Play · 1788

The Fate of Sparta is a 1788 tragedy by the British writer Hannah Cowley. It is also known by the longer title The Fate of Sparta, or, The Rival Kings. The original Drury Lane cast included John Philip Kemble as Cleombrotus, Robert Bensley as Leonidas, William Barrymore as Amphares, John Whitfield as Nicrates, Matthew Williames as Mezentius, Richard Staunton as Corex, John Phillimore as Sarpedon, Richard Wilson as Priest and Sarah Siddons as Cherolice.

The Runaway

Writer · Play · 1776

George Hargrave, who is home from college, is overjoyed to learn that Emily, the mysterious runaway whom his godfather, Mr. Drummond, has taken in, is the same young lady he fell in love with at a recent masquerade. Meanwhile, George's spirited cousin, Bella, helps George's sister, Harriet, and George's friend Sir Charles fall in love. George's designs are threatened when he learns that his father wants George to marry Lady Dinah, a pretentious older lady who is also very rich. When Emily's father arrives to take Emily back to London, George gives chase and snatches Emily back. Mr. Drummond saves the day by offering the young lovers some of his land so that they can have a fortune of their own.

The Town Before You

Playwright · Play · 1794

Sir Robert Floyer arrives in London seeking a government post and becomes the target of swindlers Fancourt and Tippy, who exploit Tippy's resemblance to a peer. Their schemes intersect with the courtships of Floyer's daughter Georgina and Conway, and of the widowed Lady Horatia and Asgill, whose uncle invents a story of poverty to test her affection.

The World as it Goes

Writer · Play · 1781

The World as It Goes is a 1781 comedy play by the British writer Hannah Cowley. The original cast included William Thomas Lewis as Sir Charles Danvers, Charles Lee Lewes as Fairfax, John Quick as Grub, Richard Wilson as Colonel Sparwell, John Edwin as Bronze, Ralph Wewitzer as Von Irkin, Isabella Mattocks as Mrs Sparwell, Lydia Webb as Molly Grub, Elizabeth Inchbald as Sidney Grubb and Elizabeth Younge as Lady Danvers.

Which is the Man?

Writer · Play · 1782

Which is the Man? is a 1782 comedy play by the British writer Hannah Cowley. The original Covent Garden cast included John Henderson as Fitzherbert, William Thomas Lewis as Beauchamp, Richard Wroughton as Belville, John Quick as Pendragon, Charles Lee Lewes as Lord Sparkle, Isabella Mattocks as Sophy Pendragon, Sarah Maria Wilson as Kitty, Mary Morton as Clarinda, Harriet Pitt as Tiffany, Elizabeth Satchell as Julia and Elizabeth Younge as Bloomer.

Who's the Dupe?

Writer · Play · 1779

Who's the Dupe? is a 1779 comedy play by the British writer Hannah Cowley. A two-act farcical afterpiece, it premiered at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London on 10 April 1779. The original cast included William Parsons as Doiley, James Aickin as Sandford, John Palmer as Granger, Thomas King as Gradus, Priscilla Brereton as Elizabeth and Mary Ann Wrighten as Charlotte. The Irish premiere was at the Smock Alley Theatre in Dublin on 8 February 1791. Cowley had enjoyed success with her debut play The Runaway and followed it with the tragedy Albina and this farce. It became one of her most popular works.

Shows & credits

A Bold Stroke for a Husband

A Day in Turkey

A School for Greybeards

Albina, Countess Raimond

More Ways Than One

The Belle's Stratagem

Shows & credits

A Bold Stroke for a Husband

A Day in Turkey

A School for Greybeards

Albina, Countess Raimond

More Ways Than One

The Belle's Stratagem

The Belle's Stratagem (Tony Cownie adaptation)

The Fate of Sparta

The Runaway

The Town Before You

The World as it Goes

Which is the Man?

Who's the Dupe?

A Bold Stroke for a Husband

A Day in Turkey

A School for Greybeards

Albina, Countess Raimond

More Ways Than One

The Belle's Stratagem

A Bold Stroke for a Husband

A Day in Turkey

A School for Greybeards

Albina, Countess Raimond

More Ways Than One

The Belle's Stratagem

The Belle's Stratagem (Tony Cownie adaptation)

The Fate of Sparta

The Runaway

The Town Before You

The World as it Goes

Which is the Man?

Who's the Dupe?