The Haymarket Theatre (1796–1803) or Hay-Market Theatre was a theatre in late-18th century Boston, Massachusetts.Don Wilmeth and Christopher Bigsby, eds. The Cambridge history of American theatre, Volume 2. Cambridge University Press, 1998; p.53. Organized by Charles Stuart Powell, it occupied a large, wooden building "opposite the Mall on Common (later Tremont) Street, near Hatch's Tavern."Richard Stoddard. The Haymarket Theatre, Boston. Educational Theatre Journal, Vol.27, No.1, March 1975; p.63. In addition to dramatic plays, the theatre presented some 62 musical entertainments during its first 5 years.Susan L. Porter. English-American Interaction in American Musical Theater at the Turn of the Nineteenth Century. American Music, Vol. 4, No. 1, British-American Musical Interactions (Spring, 1986); p.11. The Haymarket "was seldom used after 1800, and on March 3, 1803, it was offered for sale at auction on the condition that it be removed in 60 days."
Works performed
Isaac Bickerstaffe's "The Padlock"George Oberkirsh Seilhamer. History of the American Theatre: New foundations. Philadelphia: Globe Printing House, 1891 Samuel Birch's "The Adopted Child"Samuel Birch. The adopted child, : a musical drama, in two acts. As performed at the Hay-Makket [sic] Theatre, Boston. Boston: : Printed by B. Edes, Jun. for John West, no. 75, Cornhill, 1798.WorldCat Samuel Birch William Hill Brown's "West Point Preserved" John Daly Burk's "Bunker-Hill; or, the Death of General Warren"WorldCat John Daly Burk Susanna Centlivre's "The Ghost" James Cobb's "The Siege of Belgrade"Massachusetts Mercury; 08-22-1797WorldCat James Cobb George Colman's "Inkle and Yarico" Richard Cumberland's "Note of Hand"Advertisement: "Hay Market Theatre. Mr. Villiers' night ... On Wednesday evening, April 25, 1798" Charles Dibdin's "The Quaker"; "The Waterman" David Everett's "Daranzel; or, the Persian Patriot" George Farquhar's "The Recruiting Officer"Boston Gazette, and Weekly Republican Journal; 04-02-1798 Henry Fielding's "The Mock Doctor"Columbian Centinel, 10-04-1800 David Garrick's "The Lying Valet" Oliver Goldsmith's "She Stoops to Conquer" John Hodgkinson's "The Launch, or, Huzza for the Constitution" Elizabeth Inchbald's "Married Man";Advertisement: "Hay Market Theatre. Mr. Villiers' night ... On Wednesday evening, April 25, 1798 ... The married man, or, A school for husbands. ... To which will be added ... the Descent of Apollo. ... the evening will conclude with a farce ... called, The note of hand, or, A lesson for gamesters" "Animal Magnetism;" "Child of Nature" Robert Jephson's "Two Strings to Your Bow"Boston Gazette, and Weekly Republican Journal; 08-14-1797 Hugh Kelly's "Romance of an Hour" Kotzebue's "The stranger; or, Misanthropy and repentance"Early American imprints. First series; no. 48806. ("Hay-Market Theatre : On Monday evening, May 27th, 1799, will be presented (for the last time) the celebrated drama of The stranger; or, Misanthropy and repentance. Translated from the German of Kotesbue [sic]. ... : To which will be added (never performed in Boston) a comedy in 2 acts, called the Wandering Jew; or Love's masquerade.") Nathaniel Lee's "Alexander the Great" Thomas Morton's "Way to Get Married" Arthur Murphy's "Old Maid" John O'Keeffe's "The Young Quaker";Early American imprints. First series; no. 48066 ("Hay-Market Theatre. On Friday evening, September 15th, '97 : Will be presented, a comedy, called, The young Quaker; or, The fair American. ... To which will be added ... Don Juan; or, The libertine destroyed") "Agreeable Surprise;" "Son in Law" Walley Chamberlain Oulton's "All in Good Humour"WorldCat Walley Chamberlain Oulton William Preston's "Death of Louis XVI"WorldCat William Preston Frederick Reynolds' "Cheap Living"Columbian Centinel; 05-01-1799 Richard Brinsley Sheridan's "The School for Scandal" Royall Tyler's "A Georgia Spec; or, Land in the Moon" "The Boston Balloon; or, a Supposed Flight from the Beacon-Hill" ("localized from the celebrated farce written by Mrs. Inchbald, of Mogul Tale")Boston Price Current and Marine Intelligencer; 07-31-1797 "The Village Lawyer" "Washington, or Memorable Era of 1776"Massachusetts Mercury; 07-02-1799
Performers
Mrs. Allen Mr. Amean Mr. Barrett Mrs. Barrett Mr. Borier Mr. Bowen Mrs. Brett Miss Broadhurst Mr. Clough Mr. Cunnington Mr. Dickenson Mr. Dubois Mr. Fawcett Mons. Francisqui (or Francisquy) Mrs. Harper Miss Harrison Mr. Hodgkinson Mrs. Hodgkinson Mr. Hughes Mrs. Hughes Miss Gowen Mr. Kenny Mrs. King Mr. Lege Madame Lege Mr. Marriott Mrs. Pick Mr. S. Powell Mrs. S. Powell Mr. Sevens Master Shaffer Mr. Simpson Mrs. Simpson Mr. Smith Mr. Spinacuta Mr. Sprague Mr. Taylor Mr. Turnbull Mr. Val Madame Val Mr. Villiers Eleanor Westray (later Mrs. Darley) Elizabeth Westray (later Mrs. Villiers and Mrs. Twaits) David Williamson Mr. Wilson
References
Further reading Letter to the editor. Polar Star and Boston Daily Advertiser; 12-30-1796 William Warland Clapp. A Record of the Boston Stage. Boston: J. Munroe & Co., 1853
External links
Harvard Theatre Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library. Early American playbills: Guide; includes playbills from the Hay-Market Theatre