Ann Street Barry

Anne Street Barry and Garrick, 1759

Ann Street Barry (* 1733 in Bath , England , † November 29, 1801 in London ) was an English singer, dancer and stage actress in the 18th century.

Life

Ann Street Barry was born in Bath in 1733, the daughter of a respected pharmacist named James Street . Her brother, William Street, became mayor of the city in 1784 ( he died in his office in 1785 ). She began her acting career in 1758 with her first husband, Irish actor William Dancer, as Cordelia in King Lear . Dancer promoted her acting talent, but is also said to have been increasingly jealous of her success and her admirers, which is why there should have been domestic disputes. This was followed mockingly by the public behind closed doors. King Lear was made by the Irish actorSpranger portrayed Barry and the two also began an affair. William Dancer died shortly thereafter in December 1759, allowing the couple to legally continue their relationship. They finally married in 1768.

In 1759 she appeared in a few leading roles in Dublin with moderate success . She then moved to London with Spranger Barry for nine years, where they performed together on Drury Lane . Her portrayals were received quite well here and cemented her reputation as an actress.

Ann Street Barry moved to the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden because of a dispute her husband had with artistic director David Garrick over his great success as Othello . After his death, she stayed in Covent Garden and later remarried. Her husband was first mentioned as Mr. Crawford in 1778. Her last known major appearance was in 1798 as Lady Randolph in John Homes Douglas .

criticism

Sarah Siddons wrote a letter describing her fear of Barry's talent and that Lady Randolph and Desdemona in Othello were Barry's greatest roles.

She was critically acclaimed for her Desdemona and Belvidera . The London Magazine , founded in 1732, wrote in July 1767 that she was a pleasant person and had an acceptable face, but no expression in it. Not really suitable for the strong roles of Desdemona and Belvidera.

Barry died at the age of 68 on November 29, 1801 and was buried next to her previous husband Spranger Barry in Westminster Abbey .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Mayor of Bath.co.uk .
2. ^ Marriage in Bedminster, Somerset (?) On March 17, 1754
3. ^ Philip H. Highfill: A Biographical Dictionary of Actors, Actresses, Musicians, Dancers, Managers & Other Stage Personnel in London, 1660–1800: 004 (Corye to Dynion) . Southern Illinois University Press, 2006, ISBN 978-0-8093-0693-0 , pp. 136-138.
4. ^ A Biographical Dictionary of Actors, Actresses, Musicians, Dancers, Managers, and Other Stage Personnel in London, 1660–1800, by Philip H. Highfill, Jr., Kalman A. Burnim, Edward A. Langhans, SIU Press in Google - Book search
5. ^ A Biographical Dictionary of Actors, Actresses, Musicians, Dancers, Managers, and Other Stage Personnel in London, 1660–1800, by Philip H. Highfill, Jr., Kalman A. Burnim, Edward A. Langhans, SIU Press in Google - Book search
6. ^ John C. Greene: Theater in Dublin, 1745-1820: a Calendar of Performances . Lehigh University Press, 2011, ISBN 978-1-61146-108-4 , p. 595.
7. ↑ John Genest: Some Account of the English Stage: From the Restoration in 1660 to 1830 . HE Carrington, 1832, p. 474.
8. ↑ The " Romeo and Juliet War" broke out because both rival theaters always put on the same play for a while. David Garrick and Spranger Barry each appeared here as Romeo, although the portrayal of Barry was more convincing to the criticism.
9. ^ Sybil Marion Rosenfeld: Strolling Players & Drama in the Provinces, 1660-1765 . CUP Archives, 1939, p. 145.
10. ↑ Spranger Barry . TheatreHistory.com. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
11. ^ A Biographical Dictionary of Actors, Actresses, Musicians, Dancers, Managers, and Other Stage Personnel in London, 1660–1800 Volume 1 ( of 12 ) in the Google Book Search, SIU Press, ISBN 978-0-8093-0517-9