Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1916-04-25
WILLIAM HALLAN
FATHER OF THEATRE
Financed Shakespeare's Plays
Sent Company Of Players to
America
FROM MARYLAND GAZETTE
Files Tell of PLAYS Produced in An
napOlis in l752 When Richard
Ill Was Acted Twice Here
The Gazette Now the Evening
Capital"

Facts which support the statement
that the FIRST company OF professional
actors to produce Shakespeare's plays
in this country was financed by VIII
iam Hal;am is the caption Of an article
IN the Sunday Washington star,which
is of mere than passing interest to
Aunapolitans. OF which the following
IS an extract:
William Hallam, sometimes called
the father of the American theatre. was
manager and owner of Goodman sField
a theatre nj London In 1850 owing
10 TIE failing of the London house.
Hallam sent a company Of players to
America,under the management of his
brother, Louis Haiiam, who played the
parts OF low comedian, while his wife
took the heavy parts
This campeny consisted OF twclv
members,and had repertoire of twen-
" four plays. OF these plays the only
ones that have survived are those Of
Shakespe This body Of courag-
eous actors after being fully equipped
with costumes and other stage prop
critics set sail on the charming Sally
early in May 1752 The vessel was
commanded by Capt William Lee. who
made the voyage very delightful one
and who arrived at Yorktown after
passage of six weeks, Il quick trip in
the days of sailing vessels.
On the arrival OF the Charming
Sally, with her list of Shakesperean
artists, the first to set foot on Amer
lean soil, the party proceeded to Will
iamsburg, the capital of Virginia. there
20 obtain permission from Governor
Dinwiddie TO erect and fit up a build
ing for a theatre Though the Virgin
ian Gazette of 1863 speaks OF a play
house on the area reserved for the
market space. there evidently was
nothing of this description. for the
Governor was delighted at the promise
of such diversion as this~company OF
players offered and readily granted the
permission sought
Lewis Hallam found what is de-
scribed as long house" evidently
usol as a warehouse, in the outskirts
of the capital. which he quick trans
| es gallery and stage This first the
atre. opened in new world by com
pany of regular comedians. is describ-
ed by a man who knew Lewis Hallam
I'd, son of the first Lewis, who man
aged the company FOR his brother. viii
liam. both being brothers of Adm. al
Hallam. of England as "a long house
in the suburbs of the town. probably
| erected as a storehouse by the early
emigrants' It was unocupied and
Lewis Hallam purchased It.
Though within the boundaries of the
metropolis of Virginia, the seat of will
liam ana Mary College and the resi-
dence of all the officers of his ma les
| tvs government. it was so near The
| woods the manager could stand in
the door and shoot pigeons for his din
ner. which he did more than once
| Everything was now ready for the
first rehearsals on terra flrma. but in
| the preparations made in London
! which We're multitudinous and had
| hcen Wonderfully carried out for a trst
| venture in a distant land. an orchestra
| had either been overlooked or the
| management hoped to find musical tai
| ent in the new world They We're for
| tunate in getting the services Of Mr.
/ Pelham, teacher of the harpsichord
and music master TO the gentry of the
| colony. including Martha SHELTON. who
| was 10 marry Thomas Jefferson, and
/ Martha cambridge, later the wife OF
| President Washington,and other bellies
| of Williamsburg.
/ Instead pf the large orchestra
| which are an integral part OF the won
| derful theatrical productions now TAX
ing place to mark this tercentenary
and the strolling musicians of some oi
the Lonlon theatres. Mr. Pelham was
the whole orchestra and seemed tC
| have enlivened the time between acts
with a pleasing program. September
&. "a httle over a month after the arriv
Al everything was ready ior The oven
ing night of The Merchant of Venice
which was followed by @Lethe." f;
farce by Garrick, which was ever
then new in London. SO the fashion
ahles at this performance were gettin.
the newest of the London stage.
Continued