Bell’s British Theatre

Bell’s British Theatre (Bells Britisches Theater) ist ein englisches Sammelwerk mit Theaterstücken, das von John Bell (1745–1831) veröffentlicht wurde, einem britischen Verleger, der ursprünglich Buchhändler und Drucker war.

John Bell

Kurzeinführung

Die Sammlung wurde in den Jahren 1776–1778 veröffentlicht und in Sets mit 140 Stücken in 21 Bänden verkauft, von denen jeder eine einzigartige Auswahl an Stücken enthielt, darunter Comus von John Milton, The Beggar's Opera von John Gay, The Beaux' Stratagem von George Farquhar; She Stoops to Conquer von Oliver Goldsmith, The Miser von Henry Fielding, All For Love von John Dryden und viele andere.

Angelika Kauffmann: Bildnis David Garrick, 1764, Stamford, Burghley House

Ein Supplement to Bell's British Theatre, Consisting of the most esteemned Farces and Entertainments Now performing on the British Stage wurde in 4 Bänden von dem Schauspieler David Garrick und anderen veröffentlicht (John Bell, London, 1784) mit Stücken von David Garrick, Henry Fielding, Dr. Smollet, Isaac Bickerstaff, Kane Ohara, Thomas Sheridan, Colley Cibber etc. sowie aus Werken Shakespeares und Miltons abgeändert.

Bände

Die folgende Übersicht zum Inhalt der Bände erhebt keinen Anspruch auf Vollständigkeit:

• 1. Zara by Aaron Hill; Venice Preserved by Thomas Otway; Jane Shore by Nicholas Rowe; Siege of Damascus by Mr. Hughes; Distressed Mother, by Mr. A. Philips
• 2. Spanish Fryar by John Dryden illustrated with Mrs Isabella Mattocks as Elvira. Boadicea by Richard Glover illustrated with Mrs Mary Ann Powell as Boadicea. The Minor by Samuel Foote illustrated with Mr Henry Angelo as Mrs Cole. The Refusal or The Ladies Philosophy by Colley Cibber illustrated with Mr Charles Macklin as Sir Gilbert Wrangle.
• 3. Fair Penitent by Nicholas Rowe illustrated with Mrs Ann Brunton Merry as Calista. Douglas a tragedy by John Home illustrated with Joseph George Holman as Douglas. Cato a tragedy by Joseph Addison illustrated with John Philip Kemble as Cato. Jane Shore a tragedy by Nicholas Rowe illustrated with Mrs Sarah Siddons as Jane Shore. The Roman Father by William Whitehead illustrated with Mrs Ann Brunton Merry as Horatia.
• 4. Every Man in His Humour by Ben Jonson illustrated with Mr Charles Lee Lewes as Captain Bobadil. The Suspicious Husband by Dr. Benjamin Hoadly illustrated with Mr John Bernard as Jack Meggot. The Grecian Daughter by Arthur Murphy illustrated with Mrs Sarah Siddons as Euphrasia. The Choleric man by Richard Cumberland illustrated with Mr John Fawcet as Jack Nightshade
• 5. Cleone by Robert Dodsley illustrated with Mrs Sarah Siddons as Cleone. Isabella or The Fatal Marriage altered from Thomas Southern illustrated with Mrs Sarah Siddons as Isabella. She Would and She Would Not or The kind Imposter by Colley Cibber illustrated with Mrs (Edward Anthony) Rock as Viletta. The discovery by Mrs. Frances Sheridan illustrated with Mrs Harriet Pye Esten as Lady Flutter.
• 6. The Distrest Mother translated by Ambrose Philips from the Andromaque by Jean Racine illustrated with Mr William Farren as Oresters. The Earl of Essex by Henry Jones illustrated with Mr William Wroughton as the Earl of Essex. Medea by Richard Glover illustrated with Mrs Sarah Siddons as Medea. The Gamester altered by Charles Johnson from James Shirley and illustrated with Mrs Elizabeth Farren as Penelope. The Battle of Hastings (play) by Richard Cumberland illustrated with Mr Robert Bensley as Harold.
• 7. Love Makes a Man or the Fop's Fortune by Colley Cibber illustrated with Mr John Quick as Don Lewis. Alzira adapted by Aaron Hill from Voltaire illustrated with Mrs Ann Brunton Merry as Alzira. The School for Wives by Hugh Kelly illustrated with Mrs Maria Hunter as Mrs Belville. The School for Lovers by William Whitehead illustrated with Mrs Elizabeth Heard as Celia.
• 8. The Maid of the Mill by Isaac Bickerstaffe illustrated with Mr William Blanchard as Ralph. Rule a Wife and Have a Wife by Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher illustrated with Mr William Thomas Lewis as the Copper Captain. The Careless Husband by Colley Cibber illustrated with Mr William Farren as Charles Easy. The Revenge by Edward Young LLD illustrated with Mrs Brooks as Leonora.
• 9. The Orphan or The Unhappy Marriage by Thomas Otway illustrated with Mr Joseph George Holman as Chamont. The Country Lasses by Charles Johnson illustrated with Mrs Margaret Martyr as Aura. She Stoops to Conquer or the Mistakes of the Night by Dr Oliver Goldsmith illustrated with Mr John Quick as Tony Lumpkins. Edward the Black Prince or the Battle of Poictiers by William Shirley illustrated with Mr Kemble as the Prince.
• 10. The Beaux Stratagem by George Farquhar illustrated with The Rt. Hons. the Earl of Barrymore as Scrub and Captain George Warthen as Archer. The Gamester by Mr Edward Moore illustrated with Mr Thomas Hull as Javis. The Double Gallant or The Sick Lady's Cure by Colley Cibber illustrated with Mrs Charles Lee Lewis as Mrs Sadlife. Theodosius or the Force of Love by Nathaniel Lee illustrated with Alexander Pope as Varanes.
• 11. The Beggar's Opera by John Gay illustrated with Mrs Anna Maria Crouch as Polly. The Chances by Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher adapted by The Duke of Buckingham illustrated with Mr John Palmer as Don John. The Miser by Henry Fielding Esq. illustrated with Mr Richard Yates as Lovegold. The Foundling by Mr Edward Moore illustrated with Mrs Rosoman Mountain as Fedelia.
• 12. A Bold Stroke for a Wife by Mrs. Susanna Centlivre illustrated with Mrs Mary Stephens Wells as Mrs Lovely. All in the Wrong by Arthur Murphy illustrated with Mrs Isabella Mattocks as Lady Restless. The Brothers by Richard Cumberland illustrated with Mrs Webb as Lady Dove. The Siege of Damascus by John Hughes illustrated with Mr John Pritt Harley as Called.
• 13. Love in a Village by Isaac Bickerstaff illustrated with Mrs Elizabeth Billington as Rosetta. The Country Girl by David Garrick adapted from William Wycherley illustrated with Mrs Dorothy Jordan as Peggy. The Conscious Lovers by Sir Richard Steele illustrated with Mr Robert Palmer as Tom. The Recruiting Officer by George Farquhar illustrated with Mrs Margaret Martyr as Rose.
• 14. The Fair Quaker or Deal or Humours of the Navy by Charles Shadwell illustrated with Mr John Moody as Commodore Flip. Tancred and Sigismunda by James Thomson illustrated with Mr Joseph George Holman as Tancred. George Barnwell by George Lillo illustrated with Mr John Palmer as George Barnwell. The Clandestine Marriage by George Coleman and David Garrick illustrated with Mr Thomas King as Lord Ogleby.
• 15. Venice Preserved or A Plot Discovered by Thomas Otway illustrated with Mrs Harriet Pye Esten as Belvirdira. Lady Jane Gray by Nicholas Rowe illustrated with Mrs Elizabeth Inchbald as Lady Jane Gray. Oedipus by John Dryden and Nathaniel Lee illustrated with John Philip Kemble as Oedipus. Ximena or The Heroic Daughter Colley Cibber illustrated with Mr John Palmer as Don Carlos.
• 16. The Busy Body by Mrs. Susanna Centlivre illustrated with Mr Joseph Shepherd Munden as Sir Francis Gripe. All for Love or The World Well Lost by John Dryden illustrated with Mrs Ward as Octavia. The Constant Couple or The Trip to The Jubilee by George Farquhar illustrated with Mrs Charlotte Goodall as Sir Harry Wildair. The Carmelite by Richard Cumberland illustrated with Mrs Sarah Siddons as Matilda.
• 17. Zara by Aaron Hill illustrated with Mr John Pritt Harley as Lusiganan. The Way to Keep Him Arthur Murphy illustrated with Mrs Frances Abington as the Widow Bellmour. The Good Natured Man by Dr Oliver Goldsmith illustrated with Miss Barclay as Olivia. The Earl of Warwick translated by Dr. Franklin of The Grecian by M. de la Harpe illustrated with Mrs Elizabeth Whitelock as Margaret.
• 18. Philaster by Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher illustrated with Mr William Wyatt Dimond as Philaster. The Profok'd Husband or A Journey to London by Sir John Vanbrugh and Colley Cibber illustrated with Mr Richard Wilson as Sir Francis Wronghead. The Fashionable Lover by Richard Cumberland illustrated with Miss Chapman as Augusta Aubrey. The Countess of Salisbury by Hall Hartson illustrated with Mr James Middleton as Salisbury.
• 19. The Mourning Bride by Mr. William Congreve illustrated with Mr Alexander Pope as Zara. Oroonoko by Thomas Southern illustrated with Mrs S. Kemble as Imoinda. The West Indian by Richard Cumberland illustrated with Mr John Henry Johnstone as Major O'Flaharty. King Charles I by Mr William Havard illustrated with Mr John Kemble as King Charlesv.
• 20. The Tender Husband or the Accomplished Fools by Sir Richard Steele illustrated with Robert Baddeley as Sir Harry Gubbin. The Committee by the Hon. Sir Robert Howard illustrated with Edward Anthony Rock as Teague. The Natural Son by Richard Cumberland illustrated with Mr William Parsons as Dumps. The Jealous Wife by George Coleman illustrated with Mr Robert Bensley as Oakly.
• 21 The School for Fathers or Lionel & Clarissa by Isaac Bickerstaff illustrated with William Parsons as Colonel Oldboy. The Hypocrite by Isaac Bickerstaff illustrated with Mr John Fawcet as Maw-Worm. The Wonder A Woman Keeps a Secret by Mrs. Susanna Centlivre illustrated with Mr William Wyatt Dimond as Don Felix. Amphitryon or The Two Socias adapted by Dr. John Hawkesworth from John Dryden illustrated with Mrs Dorothy Jordan as Phoedra.

Literatur

• Ian Maxted: John Bell. The London Book Trades 1775–1800: a preliminary checklist of members. Exeter Working Papers in British Book Trade History. 2007