An Apology for the Life of James FennellB. Blom, 1969 - 510 pages In this book, English/American actor James Fennell recites the tale of his life. The facts are these: born in London in 1766, Fennel had a reasonable education at Bow, Eton College and Trinity College, Cambridge. His life at university was extravagant, so with extensive gambling debts he entered Lincoln's Inn. Unsuccessful there, he removed to Edinburgh in 1787, with a view to adopting the stage as a profession. He played six times in Edinburgh with some success, and accepted an engagement for the following season. Returning to London, he appeared at Covent Garden Theatre 12 October 1787 as Othello, and acted in other plays. In 1792 he married, and in 1793 he accepted an offer from the Philadelphia Theatre, and started for America. Between 1797 and 1806 he acted at many theatres in New York, Boston, and elsewhere without establishing a position. He gave readings and recitations at College Hall, Philadelphia, and for a time kept an academy at Charlestown, Massachusetts. In 1815, at the Chestnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia, he was allowed to attempt Lear, but his memory was gone. He died 14 June 1816. |
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Page 189
... perform as such at Glasgow . In the mean time I spent so many fascina- ting hours at Kinnaird , that , but for a promise made , I should have wished to decline any further perform- ances . I went to Glasgow and performed . There I met ...
... perform as such at Glasgow . In the mean time I spent so many fascina- ting hours at Kinnaird , that , but for a promise made , I should have wished to decline any further perform- ances . I went to Glasgow and performed . There I met ...
Page 215
... performed , and indeed it might have been put off eight days longer , I told Mr. Woods , that " not having the most distant intention of giving him uneasiness , if he had the least wish to perform Jaf- fier in preference to Pierre , I ...
... performed , and indeed it might have been put off eight days longer , I told Mr. Woods , that " not having the most distant intention of giving him uneasiness , if he had the least wish to perform Jaf- fier in preference to Pierre , I ...
Page 216
... performed the character of Jaffier in London , but before it . I had played the cha- racter in Edinburgh and Glasgow the preceding summer : and after the summer , performed it once in Covent Garden , then played it several times during ...
... performed the character of Jaffier in London , but before it . I had played the cha- racter in Edinburgh and Glasgow the preceding summer : and after the summer , performed it once in Covent Garden , then played it several times during ...
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acquainted afterwards amiable amusement appeared arrived asked assistance attended audience bashaw boys Bruce Buxton Calais called Carr cause character conduct consented consequently conversation Dartford determined dine dinner dollars duty Edinburgh endeavour engaged England entered error Eton Eton college eyes father favour feelings felt Fennell fête champêtre folly frequently gentleman give guineas happy honour horses hundred immediately induced indulged informed introduced invited Jaffier John Hollins lady letter Lincoln's inn London lord Louis the fourteenth manager Matlock ment miles mind Mobjack bay morning mother nature never Newyork night observed occasion occasionally Othello party passed performed person Philadelphia play pleasure portmanteau pounds procured racter received recitations replied requested respect Scotland sent soon stage suffered theatre thing thought thousand guineas tion told took Topal Osman virtue wish young