Mary Elmy

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Mary Elmy
in Hamlet (detail of print from 1773)[1]
Born
Mary Morse

1712
Died1 April 1792
Knightsbridge
NationalityGreat Britain
Occupationactor
Known forstage actor in London and Dublin
SpouseMr Elmy or Mr Williams

Mary Elmy born Mary Morse (1712 – 1792) was a British actress who appeared in roles at leading theatres in Dublin and London. She led a long life and she was noted for her role of Gertrude appearing with Spranger Barry in Hamlet.

Life

Elmy was born in 1712 and came to notice in maybe 1732 but almost definitely by 18 October 1733 when "Miss Morse" was at Drury Lane playing Charlotte in Oroonoko, adapted from Aphra Behn's novel story of Surinam.[2] In January 1734 she became Mary Elmy although details of her husband are not known and his name may have been James Elmy or even Mr Williams.[2]

Elmy in The Old Bachelor at Covent Garden in 1756

In 1737 Elmy appeared in another Aphra Behn story. The play "

Aungier Street Theatre before joining the company of the Smock Alley Theatre. Her debut there was on 11 December 1739 and she was there for several years before returning to London in 1744.[2]

In 1745 she had to take over

The Provok'd Husband at Drury Lane and she remained at that theatre throughout the 1740s.[2]

with Spranger Barry in Hamlet, III-4

In 1750 it was claimed that Elmy was making "a debut" in

The Provok'd Wife when she appeared as Belinda at Covent Garden. Actually this was the start of her steady work as she remained at Covent Garden but was never in the top rank of actresses.[4] She appeared in King Lear and with Barry in Hamlet which was well received.[2] Charles Jennens' new edition of Shakespeare's play 'Hamlet, Prince of Denmark; a Tragedy' in 1773 included a picture of the final scene with Mary Elmy playing a leading role.[1]

Elmy died in Knightsbridge on 1 April 1792 and her will gave £20 to a cousin in London and £100 each to four of her cousins in Norwich and £10 each to the children of one of them. The remaining estate was left to a cousin, also in Norwich. A final amendment (a codicil) to the will directed that £50 be given to the actress Ann Crawford.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b Charles Jennens, 1773, "Hamlet, Prince of Denmark; a Tragedy", frontispiece
  2. ^
    doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/64333. Retrieved 3 November 2020. (Subscription or UK public library membership
    required.)
  3. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/64340. Retrieved 18 November 2020. (Subscription or UK public library membership
    required.)
  4. ^
    ISBN 978-0-8093-0832-3
    .
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