Samuel Johnson (dramatist)
Encyclopedia
Samuel Johnson was an English dancing-master and dramatist, known for his work Hurlothrumbo
.
. In 1722 he gave a ball at Manchester
, noted by John Byrom
, and in 1724 he was in London with his fiddle. He worked to have staged his Hurlothrumbo
, which he had shown to Byrom and other friends in Manchester in the previous year.
Hurlothrumbo was produced at the ‘little theatre in the Haymarket’
early in April 1729, an epilogue by Byrom being added on the second night, while a prologue was contributed by Amos Meredith, another of the north-country wits in town. The whole circle attended and pledged themselves to applaud it from beginning to end. The piece ran for more than 30 nights, attracting crowded and fashionable audiences. They included the Duke of Montagu
, who was credited with ‘the idea’ of the piece. The most striking figure in the performance was the author himself, who played the part of Lord Flame, fiddling, dancing, and sometimes walking on stilts
. The piece was satirised in Henry Fielding
's Author's Farce (1729). ‘Hurlothrumbo, or the Supernatural,’ was published with a dedication to Lady Delves, signed Lord Flame; a second edition, with a dedication to Lord Walpole (who had subscribed for thirty copies), signed with the author's name, followed in the same year (1729).
In 1730 Johnson, who had declined to produce Hurlothrumbo at Manchester, brought out, at Sir John Vanbrugh's opera-house in the Haymarket, The Chester Comics, with alterations by Colley Cibber
. There followed a production called The Mad Lovers, or the Beauties of the Poets, acted at the Haymarket, and printed in 1732 with a frontispiece representing the author in the part of Lord Wildfire. The name of a play by him performed—not to his satisfaction—in April 1735 is unknown. In 1737 was acted his comedy All Alive and Merry; it was received with applause on the second night, and ran five or six more. There are also attributed to him a comic opera, A Fool made Wise, and a farce, Sir John Falstaff in Masquerade, both acted in 1741, as well as a tragedy, Pompey the Great (all unprinted). Besides these plays Johnson composed A Vision of Heaven, published in 1738. In the preface the author professes to have acted part of it before the Duke of Wharton and Bishop Francis Gastrell
. He is also said to have written Harmony in Uproar, and a dialogue (published) entitled Court and Country.
For some years after the production of Hurlothrumbo Johnson remained active in London, but also carried on his profession as dancing-master at Manchester. During the last thirty years of his life, he lived in retirement at the village of Gawsworth
, near Macclesfield
, known under the names of Maggoty or Fiddler Johnson. There he died in 1773 at a house called the New Hall, and was buried in a small wood in the neighbourhood.
Hurlothrumbo
Hurlothrumbo is an 18th century English nonsense play written by the dancing-master Samuel Johnson of Cheshire, and published in 1729. The spectacle incorporates both musical and spoken elements.Writing in 1855, Frederick Lawrence says of the play:...
.
Life
Johnson was a native of CheshireCheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
. In 1722 he gave a ball at Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, noted by John Byrom
John Byrom
John Byrom or John Byrom of Kersal or John Byrom of Manchester FRS was an English poet and inventor of a revolutionary system of shorthand. He is also remembered as the writer of the lyrics of Anglican hymn Christians Awake, salute the happy morn.- Early life :John Byrom was descended from an old...
, and in 1724 he was in London with his fiddle. He worked to have staged his Hurlothrumbo
Hurlothrumbo
Hurlothrumbo is an 18th century English nonsense play written by the dancing-master Samuel Johnson of Cheshire, and published in 1729. The spectacle incorporates both musical and spoken elements.Writing in 1855, Frederick Lawrence says of the play:...
, which he had shown to Byrom and other friends in Manchester in the previous year.
Hurlothrumbo was produced at the ‘little theatre in the Haymarket’
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...
early in April 1729, an epilogue by Byrom being added on the second night, while a prologue was contributed by Amos Meredith, another of the north-country wits in town. The whole circle attended and pledged themselves to applaud it from beginning to end. The piece ran for more than 30 nights, attracting crowded and fashionable audiences. They included the Duke of Montagu
John Montagu, 2nd Duke of Montagu
John Montagu, 2nd Duke of Montagu, KG, KB, PC , styled Viscount Monthermer until 1705 and Marquess of Monthermer between 1705 and 1709, was a British peer...
, who was credited with ‘the idea’ of the piece. The most striking figure in the performance was the author himself, who played the part of Lord Flame, fiddling, dancing, and sometimes walking on stilts
Stilts
Stilts are poles, posts or pillars used to allow a person or structure to stand at a distance above the ground. Walking stilts are poles equipped with steps for the feet to stand on, or straps to attach them to the legs, for the purpose of walking while elevated above a normal height...
. The piece was satirised in Henry Fielding
Henry Fielding
Henry Fielding was an English novelist and dramatist known for his rich earthy humour and satirical prowess, and as the author of the novel Tom Jones....
's Author's Farce (1729). ‘Hurlothrumbo, or the Supernatural,’ was published with a dedication to Lady Delves, signed Lord Flame; a second edition, with a dedication to Lord Walpole (who had subscribed for thirty copies), signed with the author's name, followed in the same year (1729).
In 1730 Johnson, who had declined to produce Hurlothrumbo at Manchester, brought out, at Sir John Vanbrugh's opera-house in the Haymarket, The Chester Comics, with alterations by Colley Cibber
Colley Cibber
Colley Cibber was an English actor-manager, playwright and Poet Laureate. His colourful memoir Apology for the Life of Colley Cibber describes his life in a personal, anecdotal and even rambling style...
. There followed a production called The Mad Lovers, or the Beauties of the Poets, acted at the Haymarket, and printed in 1732 with a frontispiece representing the author in the part of Lord Wildfire. The name of a play by him performed—not to his satisfaction—in April 1735 is unknown. In 1737 was acted his comedy All Alive and Merry; it was received with applause on the second night, and ran five or six more. There are also attributed to him a comic opera, A Fool made Wise, and a farce, Sir John Falstaff in Masquerade, both acted in 1741, as well as a tragedy, Pompey the Great (all unprinted). Besides these plays Johnson composed A Vision of Heaven, published in 1738. In the preface the author professes to have acted part of it before the Duke of Wharton and Bishop Francis Gastrell
Francis Gastrell
Francis Gastrell was bishop of Chester and a writer on deism. He was a friend of Jonathan Swift, mentioned several times in A Journal to Stella, and chaplain to Robert Harley, when Harley was speaker of the House of Commons.-Life:...
. He is also said to have written Harmony in Uproar, and a dialogue (published) entitled Court and Country.
For some years after the production of Hurlothrumbo Johnson remained active in London, but also carried on his profession as dancing-master at Manchester. During the last thirty years of his life, he lived in retirement at the village of Gawsworth
Gawsworth
Gawsworth is a civil parish and village in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is one of the eight ancient parishes of Macclesfield Hundred. Twenty acres of the civil parish were transferred to Macclesfield civil parish in 1936The country houses...
, near Macclesfield
Macclesfield
Macclesfield is a market town within the unitary authority of Cheshire East, the county palatine of Chester, also known as the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The population of the Macclesfield urban sub-area at the time of the 2001 census was 50,688...
, known under the names of Maggoty or Fiddler Johnson. There he died in 1773 at a house called the New Hall, and was buried in a small wood in the neighbourhood.
External links
- The Merry-Thought by Johnson, with introduction about Johnson