Elizabeth Whitlock
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Whitlock was a British actress.
A member of the Kemble family of actors, she made her first appearance on the stage in 1783 at Drury Lane
as Portia
. In 1785 she married Charles E. Whitlock, went with him to America, and played with much success there. She had the honor of appearing before President George Washington
. She seems to have retired about 1807. Her reputation as a tragic actress might have been greater had she not been eclipsed by the career of her sister, Sarah Siddons
.
She was apprenticed to a mantua-maker, however, she acquired some theatrical experience in the provinces, and appeared at Drury Lane on 22 February 1783 as Portia in The Merchant of Venice
.
She subsequently played at York, where Tate Wilkinson
, in The Wandering Patentee, described her as ‘possessed of marks of merit, but wild as a colt untamed’.
Elizabeth Kemble returned to Drury Lane for two seasons, playing Margaret in Philip Massinger's A New Way to Pay Old Debts, Leonora in Edward Young's The Revenge, and Elvira in Love Makes a Man.
She returned to York, and on 21 June 1785 married Charles Edward Whitlock (d. 1822). He was manager of the Newcastle, Sunderland, Lancaster, and Chester theatres, and from 1785 to 1791 she was one of the chief actresses of his circuit. The couple had three sons, the eldest of whom, Henry Edward Whitlock (1787–1806), later appeared with them in America.
After performing in Edinburgh in 1793, the Whitlocks were engaged in the USA, where they spent the following fourteen years, playing in Annapolis, Philadelphia, Charleston, Boston, and New York, and gaining a solid reputation.
Her roles were primarily in tragedy: Belvidera in Venice Preserv'd, Imogen in Cymbeline, Lady Macbeth, and Lady Randolph in John Home's Douglas.
On 6 October 1807 Elizabeth Whitlock reappeared at Drury Lane, acting the part of Elwina in Hannah More's Percy, which may have been her last performance.
She and her husband returned to America for the years 1812–14, before settling at Addlestone
, Surrey. He died on 3 March 1822, and she some years later, at Addlestone, on 27 February 1836.
A member of the Kemble family of actors, she made her first appearance on the stage in 1783 at Drury Lane
Drury Lane
Drury Lane is a street on the eastern boundary of the Covent Garden area of London, running between Aldwych and High Holborn. The northern part is in the borough of Camden and the southern part in the City of Westminster....
as Portia
Portia (Merchant of Venice)
Portia is the heroine of William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice. A rich, beautiful, and intelligent heiress, she is bound by the lottery set forth in her father's will, which gives potential suitors the chance to choose between three caskets composed of gold, silver and lead...
. In 1785 she married Charles E. Whitlock, went with him to America, and played with much success there. She had the honor of appearing before President George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
. She seems to have retired about 1807. Her reputation as a tragic actress might have been greater had she not been eclipsed by the career of her sister, Sarah Siddons
Sarah Siddons
Sarah Siddons was a Welsh actress, the best-known tragedienne of the 18th century. She was the elder sister of John Philip Kemble, Charles Kemble, Stephen Kemble, Ann Hatton and Elizabeth Whitlock, and the aunt of Fanny Kemble. She was most famous for her portrayal of the Shakespearean character,...
.
She was apprenticed to a mantua-maker, however, she acquired some theatrical experience in the provinces, and appeared at Drury Lane on 22 February 1783 as Portia in The Merchant of Venice
The Merchant of Venice
The Merchant of Venice is a tragic comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. Though classified as a comedy in the First Folio and sharing certain aspects with Shakespeare's other romantic comedies, the play is perhaps most remembered for its dramatic...
.
She subsequently played at York, where Tate Wilkinson
Tate Wilkinson
Tate Wilkinson , English actor and manager, was the son of a clergyman.His first attempts at acting were badly received, and it was to his wonderful gift of mimicry that he owed his success. His imitations, however, naturally gave offence to the important actors and managers whose peculiarities he...
, in The Wandering Patentee, described her as ‘possessed of marks of merit, but wild as a colt untamed’.
Elizabeth Kemble returned to Drury Lane for two seasons, playing Margaret in Philip Massinger's A New Way to Pay Old Debts, Leonora in Edward Young's The Revenge, and Elvira in Love Makes a Man.
She returned to York, and on 21 June 1785 married Charles Edward Whitlock (d. 1822). He was manager of the Newcastle, Sunderland, Lancaster, and Chester theatres, and from 1785 to 1791 she was one of the chief actresses of his circuit. The couple had three sons, the eldest of whom, Henry Edward Whitlock (1787–1806), later appeared with them in America.
After performing in Edinburgh in 1793, the Whitlocks were engaged in the USA, where they spent the following fourteen years, playing in Annapolis, Philadelphia, Charleston, Boston, and New York, and gaining a solid reputation.
Her roles were primarily in tragedy: Belvidera in Venice Preserv'd, Imogen in Cymbeline, Lady Macbeth, and Lady Randolph in John Home's Douglas.
On 6 October 1807 Elizabeth Whitlock reappeared at Drury Lane, acting the part of Elwina in Hannah More's Percy, which may have been her last performance.
She and her husband returned to America for the years 1812–14, before settling at Addlestone
Addlestone
Addlestone is a town in the borough of Runnymede in the county of Surrey, England.Immediate surrounding towns and villages include Weybridge, Ottershaw, Chertsey, and New Haw. It is near Junction 11 of the M25 motorway and is served by Addlestone railway station on the Chertsey Branch Line. It also...
, Surrey. He died on 3 March 1822, and she some years later, at Addlestone, on 27 February 1836.