Thomas Betterton

Thomas Betterton (* 1635 in London, † April 28, 1710 ) was an English actor of the Restoration period.

Life

Bettertons father was one of the chefs at the auxiliary of the English King Charles I Betterton yard junior went on with the publisher John Holden in the teaching and probably put his training with a bookseller names Rhodes continued, who oversaw the wardrobe of the Blackfriars Theatre. Rhodes received a license in 1659 to start his own theater company and opened in 1660 at London's Drury Lane his own theater. Betterton there made ​​his first appearance and was engaged in the following year by William Davenant for his acting troupe in Lincoln 's Inn Fields.

His acting talent made Thomas Betterton immediately known, and he took very soon lead roles. Betterton also gained very quickly the recognition of Charles II, who sent him to Paris to get there suggestions for the further development of the British theater. After Davenant's death in 1668 was Betterton head of the troupe, meanwhile, moved into the Dorset Garden Theatre as a patent Theatre in 1671. Between 1682 and 1695 he was manager of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

1692 Thomas Betterton lost his fortune in a speculation; the theater, which he built from 1693 in the courtyard of Lincoln 's Inn Field, was built with the support of his friends. It opened in 1695 with William Congreve's play " Love for Love". Betterton died on 28 April 1710 and was buried in Westminster Abbey.

Thomas Betterton was of medium height, athletic build, though tending to fullness. He had a more assertive as a melodic voice. Both Samuel Pepys, Alexander Pope, Richard Steele and Colley Cibber praised his acting talent. His repertoire included a number of Shakespearean roles, but became famous for his portrayal of Lord Foppington in the play The Wife provoked the versatile John Vanbrugh. He is also a morally perfect life rumored, which was unusual both for its time and for his profession. He married Mary Saunderson, also a remarkable actress who often represented the Ophelia, when he gave the Hamlet since 1662.

Libretto

• The Prophetess or The History of Dioclesian. Semi -opera. Music: Henry Purcell. UA 1690 London (Dorset Garden)

• Theater actors
• Author
• Libretto
• Briton
• Born in the 17th century
• Died in 1710
• Man