Thomas D'Urfey · aftercurtain

Shows & credits

A Commonwealth of Women

Writer · Play · 1685

A Commonwealth of Women is a 1685 comedy play by the English writer Thomas D'Urfey. Originally performed by the United Company as the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, the cast included Joseph Williams as Captain Marine, Philip Griffin as Du Pier, Thomas Percival as Boldsprite, Thomas Jevon as Franvil, Anthony Leigh as Frugal, Joseph Haines as Hazard, Thomas Gillow as Don Sebastian, John Bowman as Nicusa, Henry Norris as La Mure, Joseph Harris as Bourcher, Katherine Corey as Roselia, Mary Lee as Clarinda, Margaret Osborne as Ariadne, Sarah Cooke as Aminta, Emily Price as Hippolita and Frances Maria Knight as Aglaura.

A Fond Husband

Writer · Play · 1677

A Fond Husband; Or, The Plotting Sisters also known as The Fond Husband is a 1677 comedy play by the English writer Thomas D'Urfey. It was first staged by the Duke's Company at London's Dorset Garden Theatre with a cast that included William Smith as Rashley, Henry Harris as Ranger, James Nokes as Peregrine Bubble, Anthony Leigh as Old Fumble, Samuel Sandford as Sir Roger Petulant, Thomas Jevon as Sneak, John Richards as Spatterdash, Thomas Percival as Apothecary, Elizabeth Barry as Emillia, Rebecca Marshall as Maria and Margaret Hughes as Cordelia. The published version was dedicated to the Irish statesman James Butler, Duke of Ormonde. It was a popular work and was revived on a number of occasions.

A Fool's Preferment

Writer · Play · 1688

A Fool's Preferment; Or, The Three Dukes Of Dunstable is a 1688 comedy play by the English writer Thomas D'Urfey. It is a reworking of John Fletcher's Jacobean work The Noble Gentleman. It was first performed by the United Company at the Dorset Garden Theatre in London. Henry Purcell composed the play's incidental music. It was his first major work composing for the theatre in seven years since Sir Barnaby Whigg. The original cast featured James Nokes as Cocklebrain, Anthony Leigh as Justice, William Mountfort as Lyonel, Edward Kynaston as Clermont, George Powell as Longevile, John Bowman as Bewford, Thomas Jevon as Toby, Martin Powell as Usher and Elizabeth Boutell as Aurelia.

Bussy D'Ambois

Writer · Play · 1691

Tamira has been forced by her parents to marry the wealthy Montfurry, despite her love for the Bussy D'Ambois. Teresia, Tamira's governess, preaches the virtues of temperance, but Tamira feels unable to heed her advice as she has an intense desire to give herself to D'Ambois. Tamira tells Teresia to give the impoverished D'Ambois, who being heartbroken, now spends a life in solitude, a purse of money, in part because he spent much of his expenses on gifts for Tamira during their courtship. Tamira also asks that Teresia tell D'Ambois of her esteem for him. Teresia agrees to do so, as charity. Tamira then enjoins Teresia to lead D'Ambois to a secret chamber in her apartments; Tamira plans to explain to D'Ambois that she married Montfurry against her will. Teresia, once again, gives her friend her approval and her assent. In a solitary grove, a bedraggled D'Ambois expounds the meaningless of pomp and status and the importance of virtue. He is soon joined by the king's brother (known only as "Monsieur") and his page. The gentleman plans to revolt against the King of France, and take his place on throne. He has followed D'Ambois with the intention of using him as muscle in his bid for the throne, thinking D'Ambois will be sufficiently motivated by poverty to aid him. Monsieur flatters D'Ambois, encouraging him to become part of courtly life. D'Ambois, seeing through his manipulation, refuses his offers. The gentleman leaves, but promises to send D'Ambois a gift. Although D'Ambois suspects that Monsieur will try to tempt him with money, he remains loyal to the king. Monsieur Masse, steward to Monsieur, enters, with instructions to give D'Ambois one thousand crowns. D'Ambois insults Masse, who then decides to save 900 crowns for his wife and give 100 to D'Ambois. D'Ambois perceives that Masse is cheating him out of money, and says as much. The two continue to exchange insults before D'Ambois pulls on his nose and spins him around. D'Ambois' behavior sufficiently intimidates Masse into handing D'Ambois the money. D'Ambois then physically assaults Masse and leaves. Masse, embarrassed by the incident, resolves to keep it a secret. At court, Tamira tells her maid, Charlotte, of her surprise and excitement at the news that the gentleman, referred to only as "Monsieur", has brought D'Ambois to court. Tamira hopes that Teresia will fulfill her promise. The two are then joined by King Henry III, the Duke of Guise, and an array of followers and attendants. Brissac, who numbers among the retinue, suspects that the newly gained peace between the King and the Duke is sure to be temporary. The King expresses his disapproval of the decadent French court, comparing it unfavorably to that of England. The Duke of Guise disagrees, and two clash. Suddenly, Mellinel spots Monsieur approach, along with the Bussy D'Ambois. The King sings D'Ambois' praises and commiserates with Monsieur as Teresia furtively approaches D'Ambois.

Love for Money

Writer · Play · 1691

Love For Money, also known as The Boarding School, is a 1691 comedy play by the English writer Thomas D'Urfey. It was originally staged at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane by the United Company. In 1733 it was adapted into a ballad opera The Boarding School by Charles Coffey. In 2025 a lost work from the play, the song As Soon as Day Began To Peep by English composer Henry Purcell, was rediscovered in the Worcestershire County Archives by Caro Lesemann-Elliott, a researcher on the 'Music, Heritage, Place' project (co-led by Kirsten Gibson, Stephen Rose, and Nancy Kerr); it was unknown to modern scholars. Announcing the find, music professor Stephen Rose said the song was written for a character called Monsieur le Prate, a French fop who is "not quite in control of his emotions" in trying to woo a woman: "He comically compares himself to a cat howling and scratching at the door of his beloved, with Purcell representing the miaows in music." He added that, at the play's performance in London, audience members booed it as a malicious attack on a girls’ boarding school in Chelsea where D’Urfey had stayed in 1690: "Purcell’s opera Dido and Aeneas was performed at the same school in around 1687, so it is interesting to see Purcell also involved in a play that satirised the venue of his opera and the girls who sang in it."

Madam Fickle

Writer · Play · 1676

Madam Fickle; Or, The Witty False One is a 1676 comedy play by the English writer Thomas D'Urfey. It was first staged at the Dorset Garden Theatre by the Duke's Company. The original cast included Thomas Betterton as Lord Bellamore, William Smith as Manley, Samuel Sandford as Sir Arthur Oldlove, Matthew Medbourne as Captain Tilbury, Anthony Leigh as Zechiel, James Nokes as Toby, Cave Underhill as Old Jollyman, Thomas Jevon as Harry, John Richards as Flaile, Henry Norris as Dorrel, Mary Lee as Madam Fickle, Elizabeth Barry as Constantia and Anne Shadwell as Arbella. The published version of the play was dedicated to the Duke of Ormonde.

Sir Barnaby Whigg

Writer · Play · 1681

Sir Barnaby Whigg; Or, No Wit Like A Womans is a 1681 comedy play by the English writer Thomas D'Urfey. It was first staged by the King's Company at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. A song for the play was composed by Henry Purcell. The original cast included Thomas Clark as Wilding, Cardell Goodman as Townly, Philip Griffin as Porpuss, Martin Powell as Whigg, John Coysh as Swift, Carey Perin as Benedick, Mary Corbett as Gratiana, Sarah Cooke as Livia and Susanna Percival as Winifred. The published version was dedicated to the politician Lord Berkeley.

Squire Oldsapp

Writer · Play · 1678

Squire Oldsapp is a 1678 comedy play by the English writer Thomas D'Urfey. Staged by the Duke's Company at the Dorset Garden Theatre in London, the original cast included Thomas Betterton as Welfore, William Smith as Henry, John Crosby as Lovell, James Nokes as Squire Oldsapp, Anthony Leigh as Sir Frederick Banter, Samuel Sandford as Colonel Buff, Cave Underhill as Pimpo, Emily Price as Christina and Elizabeth Currer as Madame Tricklove.

The Banditti

Writer · Play · 1686

The Banditti is a 1686 comedy play by the English writer Thomas D'Urfey. It is also known by the longer title The Banditti: or, a Lady's Distress. It was originally staged by the United Company at the Drury Lane Theatre. The original cast included Edward Kynaston as Don Antonio, Joseph Williams as Don Fernand, Anthony Leigh as Don Ariell, Cave Underhill as Don Diego, Thomas Gillow as Don Garcia, Thomas Percival as Lopez, Thomas Jevon as Frisco, Philip Griffin as Leon, Sarah Cooke as Dona Elvira, Katherine Corey as Eugenia and James Nokes as Megaera.

The Bath

Writer · Play · 1701

The Bath; or, The Western Lass is a 1701 comedy play by the English writer Thomas d'Urfey. The original Drury Lane cast included Philip Griffin as Lord Lovechace, Henry Norris as Sir Oliver Oldgame, Benjamin Johnson as Sir Carolus Codshead, John Mills as Colonel Philip, William Pinkethman as Charles, William Bullock as Harry, Colley Cibber as Crab, Frances Maria Knight as Lydia, Jane Rogers as Sophronia, Mary Kent as Delia, Susanna Verbruggen as Gillian and Henrietta Moore as Combrush.

The Campaigners

Writer · Play · 1698

The Campaigners; Or, The Pleasant Adventures At Brussels is a 1698 comedy play by the English writer Thomas D'Urfey. It was first staged at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane by Christopher Rich's Company. The original Drury Lane cast included Thomas Simpson as Don Leon, Benjamin Johnson as The Sieur Bondevelt, John Mills as Colonel Darange, Tobias Thomas as Kinglove, William Pinkethman as Min Heer Tomas, Colley Cibber as Marqui Bertran, William Bullock as Mascarillo, Frances Maria Knight as Angellica, Susanna Verbruggen as Madam la Marquise, Mary Powell as Anniky and Mary Kent as Gusset.

The Comical History of Don Quixote

Playwright · Play · 1694 est

A three-part Restoration comedy dramatization of Cervantes's Don Quixote, with numerous songs. The three parts are described as separate plays and together take more than seven hours to perform.

The Marriage-Hater Matched

Writer · Play · 1692

The Marriage-Hater Matched is a comedy play by the English writer Thomas D'Urfey. It was first staged by the United Company at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in January 1692. The original cast included John Bowman as Brainless, William Mountfort as Sir Philip Freewit, Samuel Sandford as Limber, John Hodgson as Darewell, Anthony Leigh as Myn Here Van Grin, George Bright as Bias, Thomas Doggett as Solon, William Bowen as Callow, Colley Cibber as Splutter, Elizabeth Barry as Lady Subtle, Katherine Corey as Lady Bumfiddle, Anne Bracegirdle as Phoebe, Charlotte Butler as La Pupsey and Abigail Lawson as Margery.

The Old Mode and the New

Writer · Play · 1703

The Old Mode and the New is a 1703 comedy play by the English writer Thomas d'Urfey. The original Drury Lane cast included Benjamin Johnson as Sir Fumbler Oldmode, Robert Wilks as Frederick, John Mills as William Queenlove, William Bowen as Monsieur de Pistole, Colley Cibber as Tom Pistole, William Pinkethman as Misterious Maggothead, Richard Cross as Major Bombard, William Bullock as Abram, Henrietta Moore as Lady Oldmode, Frances Maria Knight as Probleme and Anne Oldfield as Lucia. The play was dedicated to Duke of Richmond, a son of Charles II.

The Richmond Heiress

Writer · Play · 1693

The Richmond Heiress is a 1693 comedy play by the English writer Thomas D'Urfey. It was staged by the United Company at the Drury Lane Theatre. The original cast included John Freeman as Charles Romance, George Bright as Sir Quibble Quere, George Powell as Tom Romance, Samuel Sandford as Doctor Guaiacum, Joseph Williams as Frederick, John Bowman as Rice ap Shinken, Cave Underhill as Dick Stockjobb, John Hodgson as Hotspur, Thomas Doggett as Quickwit, William Bowen as Cummington, Anne Bracegirdle as Fulvia, Elizabeth Barry as Sophronia, Frances Maria Knight as Madame Squeamish, Elizabeth Bowman as Mrs Stockjobb and Elinor Leigh as Marmalette. Henry Purcell composed incidental music for the play.

The Royalist

Writer · Play · 1682

The Royalist is a 1682 comedy play by the English writer Thomas D'Urfey. It was staged at the Dorset Garden Theatre by the Duke's Company, shortly before the merger that created the United Company. It is set during the Commonwealth Era following the English Civil War. The original cast featured William Smith as Sir Charles Kinglove, Joseph Williams as Heartall, John Bowman as Broom, Anthony Leigh as Sir Oliver Oldcut, Thomas Jevon as Sir Paul Eitherside, Thomas Percival as Captain Jonas, Cave Underhill as Copyhold, George Bright as Slouch and Mary Betterton as Camilla.

The Virtuous Wife

Writer · Play · 1679

The Virtuous Wife; Or, Good Luck At Last is a 1679 comedy play by the English writer Thomas D'Urfey. It was originally performed by the Duke's Company at the Dorset Garden Theatre in London. The original cast included Henry Harris as Beverly, William Smith as Beauford, Thomas Jevon as Sir Frolack Whimsey, Anthony Leigh as Sir Lubbery Widgeon, Cave Underhill as Amble, John Bowman as Crotchett, James Nokes as Lady Beardly, Elizabeth Barry as Olivia and Elizabeth Currer as Jenny Wheedle.

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