The Belle's Stratagem
Encyclopedia
The Belle's Stratagem is a romantic comedy of manners
that premiered on February 22, 1780; it was the most successful work by Hannah Cowley
. It drew its title from George Farquhar
's play The Beaux' Stratagem. The show was presented by David Garrick, filling the 2,000-seat Drury Lane theatre. to become a major hit of the season. Queen Charlotte enjoyed the play so much that she decreed it be performed for the royal family once a season for several years.
of the last act. As described by the press office of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival
,
"Set in 1780's 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
when he took over management of Drury Lane from Garrick. Although presented a number of times during the 19th century in both England and the United States, it was rarely performed by major theaters throughout recent history. It was revived in a workshop by Prospect Theatre in New York in 2003, in a major production by the Oregon Shakespeare Festival
in 2005, and in 2011 received its first British production since 1888. It was presented at Southwark Playhouse, London, by Red Handed Theatre Company, directed by Jessica Swale, and met universal acclaim from the press, leading to a tour to Britain's premiere Georgian playhouse, Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds. Michael Billington (The Guardian) heralded it 'eminently revivable' and Libby Purves (The Times) commented 'Theatrical enterprise like this makes you proud to be British'. The production featured Maggie Steed, Jackie Clune, Hannah Spearritt, Marc Baylis Gina Beck, Joseph Macnab, Christopher Logan, Michael Lindall and Robin Soans in the lead roles.
Comedy of manners
The comedy of manners is a genre of play/television/film which satirizes the manners and affectations of a social class, often represented by stock characters, such as the miles gloriosus in ancient times, the fop and the rake during the Restoration, or an old person pretending to be young...
that premiered on February 22, 1780; it was the most successful work by Hannah Cowley
Hannah Cowley
Hannah Cowley was an English dramatist and poet. Although Cowley’s plays and poetry did not enjoy wide popularity after the nineteenth century, critic Melinda Finberg rates Cowley as “one of the foremost playwrights of the late eighteenth century” whose “skill in writing fluid, sparkling dialogue...
. It drew its title from George Farquhar
George Farquhar
George Farquhar was an Irish dramatist. He is noted for his contributions to late Restoration comedy, particularly for his plays The Recruiting Officer and The Beaux' Stratagem .-Early life:...
's play The Beaux' Stratagem. The show was presented by David Garrick, filling the 2,000-seat Drury Lane theatre. to become a major hit of the season. Queen Charlotte enjoyed the play so much that she decreed it be performed for the royal family once a season for several years.
SYNOPSIS
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 ballMasquerade ball
A masquerade ball is an event which the participants attend in costume wearing a mask. - History :...
of the last act. As described by the press office of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival
Oregon Shakespeare Festival
The Oregon Shakespeare Festival is a regional repertory theatre in Ashland, Oregon, United States. The festival annually produces eleven plays on three stages during a season that lasts from February to October...
,
"Set in 1780's 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
Ingenue (stock character)
See also Disingenuous, which is not quite the antonym that it may seem!The ingénue is a stock character in literature, film, and a role type in the theatre; generally a girl or a young woman who is endearingly innocent and wholesome. Ingenue may also refer to a new young actress or one typecast in...
heroine, Letitia Hardy, proved to be a successful vehicle in Paris for Harriet Smithson
Harriet Smithson
Henrietta Constance Smithson was an Anglo-Irish actress, the first wife of Hector Berlioz, and the inspiration for his Symphonie Fantastique....
, who infatuated Hector Berlioz
Hector Berlioz
Hector Berlioz was a French Romantic composer, best known for his compositions Symphonie fantastique and Grande messe des morts . Berlioz made significant contributions to the modern orchestra with his Treatise on Instrumentation. He specified huge orchestral forces for some of his works; as a...
. It was also "a favorite role" for Ellen Terry
Ellen Terry
Dame Ellen Terry, GBE was an English stage actress who became the leading Shakespearean actress in Britain. Among the members of her famous family is her great nephew, John Gielgud....
, 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
PERFORMANCE HISTORY
Despite immense popularity in its time, The Belle's Stratagem was withdrawn by Richard Brinsley SheridanRichard Brinsley Sheridan
Richard Brinsley Butler Sheridan was an Irish-born playwright and poet and long-term owner of the London Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. For thirty-two years he was also a Whig Member of the British House of Commons for Stafford , Westminster and Ilchester...
when he took over management of Drury Lane from Garrick. Although presented a number of times during the 19th century in both England and the United States, it was rarely performed by major theaters throughout recent history. It was revived in a workshop by Prospect Theatre in New York in 2003, in a major production by the Oregon Shakespeare Festival
Oregon Shakespeare Festival
The Oregon Shakespeare Festival is a regional repertory theatre in Ashland, Oregon, United States. The festival annually produces eleven plays on three stages during a season that lasts from February to October...
in 2005, and in 2011 received its first British production since 1888. It was presented at Southwark Playhouse, London, by Red Handed Theatre Company, directed by Jessica Swale, and met universal acclaim from the press, leading to a tour to Britain's premiere Georgian playhouse, Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds. Michael Billington (The Guardian) heralded it 'eminently revivable' and Libby Purves (The Times) commented 'Theatrical enterprise like this makes you proud to be British'. The production featured Maggie Steed, Jackie Clune, Hannah Spearritt, Marc Baylis Gina Beck, Joseph Macnab, Christopher Logan, Michael Lindall and Robin Soans in the lead roles.