Author of "Table Traits," "Lives of the Queens of England of the House of Hanover," &c., &c.
2 vols. 8vo, 32s.
"BILL OF THE PLAY."
VOL. I.
Prologue—The Decline and Fall of the Players—The "Boy Actresses," and the "Young Ladies"—The Gentlemen of the King's Company—Thomas Betterton—"Exeunt," and "Enter"—Elizabeth Barry—"Their first appearance on this stage"—The Dramatic Poets—Noble, gentle, and humble Authors—Professional Authors—The Dramatic Authoresses—The Audiences of the Seventeenth Century—A Seven Years' Rivalry The United and the Disunited Companies—Union, Strength, Prosperity—Competition, and what came of it—The Progress of James Quin, and Decline of Barton Booth—Barton Booth—Mrs. Oldfield—From the Death of Anne Oldfield to that of Wilks—Robert Wilks—Enter, Garrick—Garrick, Quin, Mrs. Porter—Rivalry; and Enter, Spranger Barry—The Old Dublin Theatre—Garrick and Quin: Garrick and Barry—The Audiences of 1700-1750—Exit, James Quin—England and Scotland.
VOL. II.
Margaret Woffington—Colley Cibber—England and Ireland—Byan, Rich, O'Brien—Susanna Maria Cibber—Re-appearance of Spranger Barry—Retirement of Mrs. Prichard—The last Years of Garrick and Barry—David Garrick—Spranger and Anne Barry—Kitty Clive, Woodward, Shuter—Samuel Foote—Supplemental Catalogue of New Plays from the retirement of Garrick to the end of the Eighteenth Century—Of Authors, and particularly of condemned Authors—The Audiences of the last half of the Eighteenth Century—Charles Macklin—A Bevy of Ladies; but chiefly, Mrs. Bellamy, Miss Farren, Mrs. Abington, and "Perdita"—A Group of Gentlemen—John Henderson—Sarah Siddons—John Kemble—George Frederick Cooke—Master Betty—Stage Costume and Stage Tricks—Prologues, Epilogues; Dedications, and Benefits—Old Stagers Departing—New Ideas; New Theatres; New Authors; and the New Actors—Edmund Kean.
ATHENÆUM, Nov. 21, 1863.—"Dr. Doran has contrived a couple of volumes which, while they satisfy the information-seeking few, will be received as a treasury of amusing anecdote by the lovers of gossip. The stage of any country, whether it flourishes or not, is sure to produce a crop of good stories, and no one can tell good stories better than Dr. Doran."