(This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curat...)
This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curated for quality. Quality assurance was conducted on each of these books in an attempt to remove books with imperfections introduced by the digitization process. Though we have made best efforts - the books may have occasional errors that do not impede the reading experience. We believe this work is culturally important and have elected to bring the book back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. This text refers to the Bibliobazaar edition.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0559432526/?tag=2022091-20
Woffington was born on 18 October 1720 of humble origins in Dublin. Her father is thought to have been a bricklayer, and after his death, the family became impoverished.
Her mother was obliged to take in washing while Peg sold watercress door to door.
It is said that she was walking through a marketplace as a pre-teen and happened upon Madame Violante, a famous tightrope walker.
As a child of ten she played Polly Peachum in a lilliputian presentation of The Beggar's Opera, and danced and acted at various Dublin theatres until 1740, when her success as Sir Harry Wildair in The Constant Couple secured her a London engagement.
In this, and as Sylvia in The Recruiting Officer, she had a pronounced success; and at Drury Lane and Covent Garden, as well as in Dublin, she appeared in all the plays of the day to ever growing popularity.
Among her best impersonations were the elegant women of fashion, like Lady Betty Modish and Lady Townley, and in "breeches parts" she was unapproachable.
She joined forces, at home as well as on the stage, with the great actor David Garrick and became noted for many other love affairs, as well as for kindness and generosity toward the indigent and for faithful support of her family.
Many artists, among them William Hogarth, painted her portrait.
She built and endowed by will some almshouses at Teddington, where she lived quietly after her retirement in 1757.
In 1852 Charles Reade and Tom Taylor wrote a play Masks and Faces which featured Woffington as a central character.
Following the play's success, Reade wrote a novel Peg Woffington the following year.
Woffington featured in several films, particularly in the silent era.
These portrayals were largely based on the works of Reade and Taylor and include Peg Woffington (1910), Peg Woffington (1912) and Masks and Faces (1917).
(This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curat...)
Quotes from others about the person
Her fiercest rivalry was with “equally peppery” actress Kitty Clive. According to Garrick biographer Thomas Davies, “No two women in high life ever hated each other more unreservedly than these two great dames of the stage. ”
