Emma Waller
Encyclopedia
Emma Waller was an English
actress who achieved fame in America.
Waller made her first appearance at Drury Lane
in 1856 as Pauline in The Lady of Lyons. Earlier, she had acted in provincial theatres, and there is a record of her appearance at Melbourne
, in 1855, with Gustavus Vaughan Brooke
, in Macbeth
. On October 19, 1857 she appeared in Philadelphia
, playing Ophelia, and on April 5, 1858, she debuted on the New York
Stage
, acting with her husband, at the old Broadway Theatre, as the Duchess in John Webster
's The Duchess of Malfi
— a version of that play having been made for her use by her friend Richard Hengist Horne
. After that time, during several seasons, she made starring tours of the country, and she was received with general favor. During several seasons Mrs, Waller was absent from New York, but on December 27, 1869, she made a brilliant reentrance, appearing at Booth's Theatre
as Meg Merrilies, in a revival of Guy Mannering
Her later years were, in part, devoted to starring tours, in part to theatrical management (she leased the Troy Opera House in 1871), and in part to teaching.
Mrs. Waller's characteristic, best, and most admirable performances were those of Lady Macbeth, Meg Merrilies, and the Duchess of Malfi, but she also played male characters, and her impersonations of Hamlet
and Iago
are remembered as expert. She was a woman of stately presence; her countenance was expressive; she possessed dark, piercing eyes, a pallid complexion, and a voice of unusual depth and compass; her temperament was, in the highest degree, emotional; and, whether in repose or movement, her demeanor was impressively indicative of a self-centred mind, deep feeling perfectly controlled, and great physical power. She died in New York on February 28, 1899, at the age of eighty.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
actress who achieved fame in America.
Waller made her first appearance at Drury Lane
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane is a West End theatre in Covent Garden, in the City of Westminster, a borough of London. The building faces Catherine Street and backs onto Drury Lane. The building standing today is the most recent in a line of four theatres at the same location dating back to 1663,...
in 1856 as Pauline in The Lady of Lyons. Earlier, she had acted in provincial theatres, and there is a record of her appearance at Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, in 1855, with Gustavus Vaughan Brooke
Gustavus Vaughan Brooke
Gustavus Vaughan Brooke was an Irish stage actor who enjoyed success in Ireland, England and Australia.-Early life:...
, in Macbeth
Macbeth
The Tragedy of Macbeth is a play by William Shakespeare about a regicide and its aftermath. It is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy and is believed to have been written sometime between 1603 and 1607...
. On October 19, 1857 she appeared in Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, playing Ophelia, and on April 5, 1858, she debuted on the New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
Stage
Stage (theatre)
In theatre or performance arts, the stage is a designated space for the performance productions. The stage serves as a space for actors or performers and a focal point for the members of the audience...
, acting with her husband, at the old Broadway Theatre, as the Duchess in John Webster
John Webster
John Webster was an English Jacobean dramatist best known for his tragedies The White Devil and The Duchess of Malfi, which are often regarded as masterpieces of the early 17th-century English stage. He was a contemporary of William Shakespeare.- Biography :Webster's life is obscure, and the dates...
's The Duchess of Malfi
The Duchess of Malfi
The Duchess of Malfi is a macabre, tragic play written by the English dramatist John Webster in 1612–13. It was first performed privately at the Blackfriars Theatre, then before a more general audience at The Globe, in 1613-14...
— a version of that play having been made for her use by her friend Richard Hengist Horne
Richard Henry Horne
Richard Hengist Horne was and English poet and critic most famous for his poem Orion.-Early life:...
. After that time, during several seasons, she made starring tours of the country, and she was received with general favor. During several seasons Mrs, Waller was absent from New York, but on December 27, 1869, she made a brilliant reentrance, appearing at Booth's Theatre
Booth's Theatre
Booth's Theatre was a theatre in Manhattan built by actor Edwin Booth. Located on the southeast corner of 23rd Street and Sixth Avenue, Booth's Theatre opened on February 3, 1869....
as Meg Merrilies, in a revival of Guy Mannering
Guy Mannering
Guy Mannering or The Astrologer is a novel by Sir Walter Scott, published anonymously in 1815. According to an introduction that Scott wrote in 1829, he had originally intended to write a story of the supernatural, but changed his mind soon after starting...
Her later years were, in part, devoted to starring tours, in part to theatrical management (she leased the Troy Opera House in 1871), and in part to teaching.
Mrs. Waller's characteristic, best, and most admirable performances were those of Lady Macbeth, Meg Merrilies, and the Duchess of Malfi, but she also played male characters, and her impersonations of Hamlet
Hamlet
The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601...
and Iago
Iago
Iago is a fictional character in Shakespeare's Othello . The character's source is traced to Giovanni Battista Giraldi Cinthio's tale "Un Capitano Moro" in Gli Hecatommithi . There, the character is simply "the ensign". Iago is a soldier and Othello's ancient . He is the husband of Emilia,...
are remembered as expert. She was a woman of stately presence; her countenance was expressive; she possessed dark, piercing eyes, a pallid complexion, and a voice of unusual depth and compass; her temperament was, in the highest degree, emotional; and, whether in repose or movement, her demeanor was impressively indicative of a self-centred mind, deep feeling perfectly controlled, and great physical power. She died in New York on February 28, 1899, at the age of eighty.