Cave Underhill
Cave Underhill (1634–1710?) was an English actor in comedy roles.[1]
Underhill entertained three generations of London theatre-goers. For over 40 years, as a member of the Duke's Company, Underhill played the first Gravedigger in Hamlet. He was also successful in playing Gregory in Romeo and Juliet, the clown in Twelfth Night, and Trinculo in The Tempest.[1]
Early life
The son of Nicholas Underhill, a clothworker, he was born in St. Andrew's parish,
Stage career
The first character to which Underhill's name appears is Sir Morglay Thwack in D'Avenant's comedy The Wits, revived, with alterations, at Lincoln's Inn Fields on 15 August 1661. In
On the opening in 1671 of the new theatre in Dorset Gardens, Underhill was the original Sir Simon Softhead in Edward Ravenscroft's Citizen turned Gentleman (based on Monsieur de Pourceaugnac). He played also Pedagog in Lord Orrery's Mr. Anthony.[1][4]
During 1677 Underhill was confined in the
An anonymous comedy, Win her and take her, or Old Fools will be Meddling,’ 1691, acted at the Theatre Royal the same year, was dedicated by Underhill to
Later years
In 1702 Underhill was Merryman in Betterton's Amorous Widow. His name now appeared less frequently. On 8 February 1704 Œdipus and The Rover were played for his benefit, and he played at court Timothy in a revival of Sir Solomon. The Virtuoso was played for his benefit on 31 March 1705 at Lincoln's Inn Fields.[1]
On 5 December 1706 Underhill played at the
Reputation
In fiction
Underhill appears as a character in the 2015 play [exit Mrs Behn] or, The Leo Play by Christopher vanDer Ark.
Family
Underhill married Elizabeth Robinson, widow of Thomas Robinson, a vintner in Cheapside; she died in October 1673.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900. .
- Two Noble Kinsmen); and he played Gardiner in Henry VIII.
- ^ Also on 7 November Trincalo in The Tempest, as altered by Dryden and D'Avenant. On 26 March 1668 he was the first Jodelet in D'Avenant's Man's the Master, and in 1669 the first Timothy in John Caryl's Sir Solomon.
- ^ The year 1672 saw Underhill as the first Justice Clodpate in Thomas Shadwell's Epsom Wells, and Tutor in Joseph Arrowsmith's Reformation, and in 1673 he was Fullam in Nevil Payne's ‘Morning Ramble.’ He was, presumably, in 1676, the first Jacomo in Shadwell's Libertine ("Don Juan"); and was the first Sanco in Ravenscroft's Wrangling Lovers and Old Jollyman in Thomas d'Urfey's Madame Fickle.
- ^ The same year saw him as the original Blunt in Aphra Behn's Rover. In 1678 he was the first Ajax in John Bankes's Destruction of Troy, Sir Noble Clumsey in Thomas Otway's Friendship in Fashion, Pimpo in D'Urfey's Squire Oldsapp, Fabio in Counterfeits (attributed to Leanard), and Phæax in Shadwell's Timon of Athens. In 1679 he was Thersites in Dryden's adaptation of Troilus and Cressida, and Tickletext in Behn's Feigned Courtezans. In Otway's History and Fall of Caius Marius, taken from Romeo and Juliet, he was in 1680 the first Sulpitius (Mercutio). In the same year Underhill's name is down as Amble, a minor part in D'Urfey's Virtuous Wife; John Genest believed it should be Brainworm. Underhill was also the first Circumstantio in Lewis Maidwell's Loving Enemies. In the second part of Behn's Rover, 1681, as in the first part, he was the original Blunt. He was also Gomez in the first production of Dryden's Spanish Friar. In D'Urfey's Royalist in 1682 he was Copyhold; in Behn's False Count Guzman, and in Ravenscroft's London Cuckolds Wiseacre.
- Merry Devil of Edmonton.
- ^ Also in 1696 Sir Topewell Clownish in Peter Anthony Motteux's Love's a Jest, Sir Thomas Testie in Doggett's Country Wake, Sir Toby Cusifle in George Granville's She Gallants, Alderman Whim in Dilke's Lover's Luck; in 1697 Bevis in Dilke's City Lady, the Doctor in Ravenscroft's Anatomist, or the Sham Doctor, Sir Blunder Bosse in D'Urfey's Intrigues at Versailles, Flywife in Mary Pix's Innocent Mistress; and played Cacafogo in a revival of Rule a Wife and Have a Wife.
- Attribution
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Underhill, Cave". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.