Henry Farren
Encyclopedia
Henry Farren was an English actor known mostly in comedy. Beginning his career in plays in the British provinces starring his actor father, William Farren
, Henry played in London for several years before moving to America, where he died in St. Louis. His daughter Nellie Farren
became a famous player in Victorian burlesque.
, and his brother was another actor, William Farren Jr.
In 1846, Farren played Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet
at the Theatre Royal, Birmingham
and at the Theatre Royal, Manchester. He also played Charles Plastic in Town and Country, and Charles Surface to the Sir Peter Teazle of his father in The School for Scandal
. He is believed to have made his first appearance in London at the Haymarket Theatre
about 1847, again playing Charles Surface to his father's Teazle. In October of that year, he played at the same theatre in a comedy entitled My Wife! What Wife? by Eaton S. Barrett. Farren was declared by the Theatrical Times to be "the facsimile of his father." Later that year at the Haymarket, he was Arthur Courtnay in a comedy by Sullivan entitled Family Pride, in which his father was Doctor Dodge.
When his father left the Haymarket to assume the management of the Strand Theatre
and the Olympic Theatre
s, Henry accompanied him, playing mostly leading parts in comedy. At the Olympic in November 1850, he created the role of Fontaine in Westland Marston's Philip of France and Marie de Méranie. The next year, he was in the Ladies' Battle, an adaptation of Eugène Scribe
's Bataille de Dames. Later that year, he was Claude Melnotte in The Lady of Lyons
opposite Laura Keene
, who was making her first appearance as Pauline. He briefly managed the Brighton Theatre. After his father's retirement in 1855, he went to America and appeared at the Broadway Theatre, New York, as Claude Melnotte. He then toured, finally settling down as manager of the theatre at St. Louis, where he died. He left a second wife, whom he married shortly before his death.
His daughter Florence acted at the Victoria Theatre and the Gaiety Theatre, London
, before she married Edward Wroughton. Another daughter, "Nellie"
, was a well-known actress in Victorian burlesque and other comedy at the Gaiety, among other theatres.
William Farren
William Farren , English actor, was born the son of an actor of the same name, who played leading roles from 1784 to 1795 at Theatre Royal, Covent Garden.-Life:...
, Henry played in London for several years before moving to America, where he died in St. Louis. His daughter Nellie Farren
Nellie Farren
Nellie Farren was an English actress and singer best known for her roles as the "principal boy" in musical burlesques at the Gaiety Theatre.Born into a theatrical family, Farren began acting as a child...
became a famous player in Victorian burlesque.
Biography
Farren was the son of William FarrenWilliam Farren
William Farren , English actor, was born the son of an actor of the same name, who played leading roles from 1784 to 1795 at Theatre Royal, Covent Garden.-Life:...
, and his brother was another actor, William Farren Jr.
William Farren Jr.
William Farren Jr. was an English actor.He was born in London, the son of actor William Farren , brother of Henry Farren and uncle of Nellie Farren.-References:...
In 1846, Farren played Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written early in the career of playwright William Shakespeare about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately unite their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular archetypal stories of young, teenage lovers.Romeo and Juliet belongs to a...
at the Theatre Royal, Birmingham
Theatre Royal, Birmingham
The Theatre Royal, originally the New Theatre, was a theatre located on New Street in Birmingham, England between 1774 and 1956.-Bibliography and further reading:**...
and at the Theatre Royal, Manchester. He also played Charles Plastic in Town and Country, and Charles Surface to the Sir Peter Teazle of his father in The School for Scandal
The School for Scandal
The School for Scandal is a play written by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. It was first performed in London at Drury Lane Theatre on May 8, 1777.The prologue, written by David Garrick, commends the play, its subject, and its author to the audience...
. He is believed to have made his first appearance in London at the Haymarket Theatre
Haymarket Theatre
The Theatre Royal Haymarket is a West End theatre in the Haymarket in the City of Westminster which dates back to 1720, making it the third-oldest London playhouse still in use...
about 1847, again playing Charles Surface to his father's Teazle. In October of that year, he played at the same theatre in a comedy entitled My Wife! What Wife? by Eaton S. Barrett. Farren was declared by the Theatrical Times to be "the facsimile of his father." Later that year at the Haymarket, he was Arthur Courtnay in a comedy by Sullivan entitled Family Pride, in which his father was Doctor Dodge.
When his father left the Haymarket to assume the management of the Strand Theatre
Royal Strand Theatre
The Royal Strand Theatre was located in Strand in the City of Westminster. The theatre was built on the site of a panorama in 1832, and in 1882 was rebuilt by the prolific theatre architect Charles J. Phipps...
and the Olympic Theatre
Olympic Theatre
The Olympic Theatre, sometimes known as the Royal Olympic Theatre, was a 19th-century London theatre, opened in 1806 and located at the junction of Drury Lane, Wych Street, and Newcastle Street. The theatre specialised in comedies throughout much of its existence...
s, Henry accompanied him, playing mostly leading parts in comedy. At the Olympic in November 1850, he created the role of Fontaine in Westland Marston's Philip of France and Marie de Méranie. The next year, he was in the Ladies' Battle, an adaptation of Eugène Scribe
Eugène Scribe
Augustin Eugène Scribe , was a French dramatist and librettist. He is best known for the perfection of the so-called "well-made play" . This dramatic formula was a mainstay of popular theater for over 100 years.-Biography:...
's Bataille de Dames. Later that year, he was Claude Melnotte in The Lady of Lyons
The Lady of Lyons
The Lady of Lyons; or, Love and Pride, commonly known as The Lady of Lyons, is a five act romantic melodrama written in 1838 by Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton...
opposite Laura Keene
Laura Keene
Laura Keene was a British-born American stage actress and manager. In her twenty-year career, she became known as the first powerful female manager in New York.-Early life:...
, who was making her first appearance as Pauline. He briefly managed the Brighton Theatre. After his father's retirement in 1855, he went to America and appeared at the Broadway Theatre, New York, as Claude Melnotte. He then toured, finally settling down as manager of the theatre at St. Louis, where he died. He left a second wife, whom he married shortly before his death.
His daughter Florence acted at the Victoria Theatre and the Gaiety Theatre, London
Gaiety Theatre, London
The Gaiety Theatre, London was a West End theatre in London, located on Aldwych at the eastern end of the Strand. The theatre was established as the Strand Musick Hall , in 1864 on the former site of the Lyceum Theatre. It was rebuilt several times, but closed from the beginning of World War II...
, before she married Edward Wroughton. Another daughter, "Nellie"
Nellie Farren
Nellie Farren was an English actress and singer best known for her roles as the "principal boy" in musical burlesques at the Gaiety Theatre.Born into a theatrical family, Farren began acting as a child...
, was a well-known actress in Victorian burlesque and other comedy at the Gaiety, among other theatres.