Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

WILLIAMSBURG AND ITS THEATRES
July 29, 1937

Virginia, which can claim so many other priorities, has also the distinction of having the first theatre in America. This theatre was built in Williamsburg, the colonial capital, in 1716.

The records of the builder of the first theatre, William Levingston, still survive in the clerk's office in York County. From these ancient records it was possible to locate the site of the theatre on the green near the royal governor's Palace although the building disappeared about a century ago. When the archaeologists excavated the site they found the complete cellars of the old building and were able to reconstruct from them a picture of the old playhouse.

Levingston formed a partnership with Charles and Mary Stagg, dancing teachers, newly arrived from London. They were to act in "Comedies, Drolls or other kinds of Stage Plays" and "use their best endeavours to teach others in ye way and manner of acting according to ye best of their skill". They were also to share the expenses for "cloathes, musick and other necessaries required for acting ye said plays". Levingston agreed to build "one good substantiall house commodious for acting such plays" and to send to England for actors and musicians.

The playhouse had a distinguished list of gentlemen subscribers, the Lees, Ludwells, Randolphs, Blairs, Harrisons, Burwells and Nelsons being among the patrons. The Governor, his Council, and the Burgesses frequently attended the performances.

In fact one of the earliest records of a performance in an American playhouse was found among the letters of Governor Spotswood who was complaining in 1718 of eight members of the House of Burgesses who alighted an invitation of his. He wrote, "These eight committeemen would neither come to my house nor go to the play which was acted on the occasion".

Unfortunately there was no newspaper published in Virginia until 1736, but from 1718 to 1736 there were certainly regular performances in the playhouse. Charles and Mary Stagg supplemented their income from the playhouse by giving dancing lessons, and William Levingston laid out a bowling green and conducted an ordinary in addition to managing the theatre.

One of the very first issues of the Virginia Gazette on September 10, 1736 announced: "This evening will be performed at the Theatre by the young gentlemen of the College, 'The Tragedy of Cato', and on Monday, Wednesday and Friday next week will be acted the following comedies, by the Gentlemen and Ladies of this Country, viz: 'The Busy Body', 'The Recruiting Officer', 'The Beaux Stratagem'."

This seems to show that Levingston allowed his playhouse to be used by amateur companies, and perhaps the young students at William and Mary can be credited with one of the earliest "Little Theatre" groups.

Charles Stagg died in 1736 and the inventory of his estate is still preserved. The little house by the theatre had mahogany and walnut furniture, Russia leather chairs, polished brass andirons, gay gingham curtains, great tester beds with calico curtains, pewter tableware and other household articles found in the more prosperous town houses. The faithful appraisers listed also 25 prints, a violin, a parcel of maps, 2 packs of 3 cards, 2 pairs of dice, a stock of wine and beer, a silver hilted sword and a small library of books on the Art of Dancing. So passed Charles Stagg from the American stage, and soon the little playhouse fell on dark days-the mortgage was foreclosed on Levingston's dwelling house and Bowling Green and in 1745 the long-dark house was refurnished as a Court of Hustings by the City of Williamsburg.

After the closing of the early theatre a group of American actors prevailed on the play-loving citizens of Virginia to build another playhouse by subscription. Alexander Finnie, the genial host of the famous Raleigh Tavern, received subscriptions, and by 1751 a crude barn-like playhouse had been erected behind the Capitol building where an occasional theatrical season was held.

A group of London actors organized a company and set sail for Virginia in May 1752 in the Charming Sally. Aboard the vessel were Lewis Hallam, the actor-manager; his wife, a leading actress of her day, skillful in both comedy and tragedy; their little son Lewis who was only twelve years old at that time but was destined to become famous; Mr. Rigby, a tragedian; his wife who played minor parts, and a number of others. All were skilled in the popular plays and farces of the period, some were musical, others could fill in between the acts with dances, pantomimes or grotesques. In all it was a promising company that spent forty days on shipboard practising and planning for the opening of a theatre in the colonial capital of Virginia.

They arranged for a playhouse just behind the Capitol building, convenient to the Burgesses and other gentry who could be depended on for patronage. Not all the Virginians welcomed the players with enthusiasm, however. One prominent citizen, Dr. George Gilmer wrote to Dr. Thomas 4 Walker: "I have nothing to trouble you with only the arrival of Hallam and his Company...The Governor and Council, because you would not Pass a bill for suppressing ordinaries and players, have made an order that no player should act here; which is likely to prove the utter ruin of a set of idle wretches, arrived in Lee, at about 1000 expense..."

How disheartened the players must have been during that summer as they worked to improve the old playhouse, and struggled for permission, to perform in the little capital. Williamsburg too, between the April and October sessions of the court was a deserted village with little or no activity. But when courts were in session as many as five or six thousand people crowded into the city, the taverns and inns were filled to overflowing and the sandy streets teemed with coaches, chaises and riding chairs.

The Virginia Gazette announced the opening of the Hallam theatre, a momentous event in the history of the American stage, on August 21, 1752. The announcement stated: "We are desired to inform the Publick, That as the Company of Comedians, lately from London, have obtain'd His Honour the Governor's Permission, and have, with great Expence, entirely altered the Play-House at Williamsburg to a regular Theatre, fit for the Reception of Ladies and Gentlemen, and the Execution of their own Performances, they intend to open on the first Friday in September next, with a Play, call'd The Merchant of Venice (written by Shakespear) and a Farce, call'd The Anatomist, or Sham Doctor. The Ladies are desired to give timely Notice to Mr. Hallam, at Mr. Fisher's, for their Places in the Boxes, and on the Day of Performance to send their Servants early to keep them, in Order to prevent Trouble and Disappointment."

Several months after the opening even the disgruntled Dr. Gilmer wrote of the great success of the enterprise: "By Capt. Lee in the Sally 5 arrived one Hallam with a Company of Strollers. They met great opposition from the governor on account loose behaviour...at last the voice of the Country, and proper application, obtained his leave on which they purchased Finnie's theatre, enlarged it mostly lining it, so altering it as to make it a regular house. The money kept burning till they opened and then it flew among this Association of indignant wretches with a lavishness you would be surprised at.

"Before Court they acted thrice a week at about 60/2d a night. Since Court every night except two and received sometimes as much as£300 a night. Notwithstanding they take so much money never were debts worse paid."

One amusing little incident of the opening night was the first appearance on any stage of the younger Lewis Hallam. He had but one line to speak but was so overcome with stagefright that he burst into tears and fled from the stage.

The Hallam Company was well-skilled in all the latest tragedies, comedies and farces then popular in the theatres of London. Their repertoire was astonishing, as they would not only perform a different play each night during the season, but their audience, after a long play also had to be diverted with shorter after-pieces, such as farces and brief comedies, and between the acts were entertained with music and dancing.

The plays of Shakespeare, Congrave, Garrick and Gay were most popular. The typical sophisticated comedy of the eighteenth century afforded much amusement to the Virginians. A New Yorker accustomed to the broad humor of the modern theatre might be shocked by the language and plots of the eighteenth century prototype of the bedroom farce.

Among the popular plays performed by Hallam's company and its direct successor the American Company of Comedians, "with great applause" as the Gazette said, were: False Delicacy; Every man in his Humour; The Constant Couple, or a Trip to the Jubilee; The Provoked Husband, or a Journey to London; The Way to Keep Him; A Word to the Wise; Miss in Her Teens or a Medley of Lovers; Woman's a Riddle; The Sham Doctor; The Devil to Pay; A Bold Stroke for a Wife; The Beggar's Opera; The West Indian; Bateman and His Ghost; Thomas and Sally, or the Sailor's Return.

After a long successful season, the Hallam company toured the colonies, performing in Annapolis, Philadelphia and New York, returning at intervals to Virginia. Hallam died and his wife soon married Douglas, another player. Young Lewis, the stage-frightened, became a leading light in their company, later succeeding to a popular company of his own.

Most of the prominent Virginians of that day attended the theatre season in Williamsburg. Outstanding among the patrons was George Washington who not only went to the theatre frequently, but invited guests to attend with him. He was a real "first-nighter", attending the opening performance of "The Beggar's Opera" in Williamsburg on June 16, 1770.

The next year he noted in his diary:

May 3, 1771.	Dined at the Speaker's and went to the Play; After wch. Drank a Bowl or two of Punch at Mrs. Campbell's
May 8, 1771.	Dined at Southall's with Colo. Robt. Fairfax and some other Gentlemen, and went to the Play (Ledger A-By Play Tickets 37s. 6d.).
October 29, 1771.	Reach'd Williamsburg before dinner and went to the Play in the Afternoon.
October 30, 1771.	Dined at the Speaker's, and went to the Play in the Afternoon.
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October 31, 1771.	Dined at the Governor's, and went to the Play. (Ledger A-By Sundry Play Tickets whilst in Wmsburg£4.1.0)
November 1, 1771.	Dined at Mrs. Dawson's. went to the Fireworks in the Afternoon and to the Play at Night.
November 4, 1771.	Dined with the Council and went to the Play afterwards.

Washington was also present at a closing performance of Douglas's American Company of Comedians and saw "False Delicacy" on April 9, 1772.

Lewis Hallam returned to Williamsburg with the company, not only as a leading man in the company but as the outstanding American actor of the day.

Miss Sarah Hallam, his beautiful cousin, was undoubtedly the queen of the American stage. When the company played in Annapolis, Charles Wilson Peale, the celebrated artist, painted her portrait as "Imogen" in "Cymbelene", her best role. Wherever she went the susceptible gallants wrote her impassioned letters. The newspapers burst forth with poems and other praises. One enraptured gentleman declared that she had "The face of Cytherea, the form of Diana".

When Miss Hallam played in Williamsburg the little theatre was thronged.

But a wider stage was being set for a more thrilling drama - the drama of the American Revolution. In 1774 the Congress which met in Philadelphia recommended that the people "discountenance and discourage every species of extravagance and dissapation, especially all horse-racing, all kinds of gaming, cock-fighting, exhibitions of shows, plays and other expensive diversions and entertainments".

And what became of the lovely and gifted Sarah Hallam, who at 8 the height of her fame and popularity had this embargo laid upon her art?

It is evident that she made a place for herself as a woman as well as an actress in the affections of her Virginia patrons. She laid aside her greater roles, and as her charming self returned to Williamsburg to conduct a dancing school which she opened on August 25, 1775.

She lived to be a very old lady, the petted darling of the whole city. Although Mistress Hallam seemed to have no visible means of support she lived in a handsome house, had servants, and fared sumptuously, the townspeople vying with each other in lavishing her with attentions.

As late as 1839 she lived in her house on York Street, but the once nimble feet would no longer support her and she was confined to her arm chair.

She sat in state, and the ladies of Bruton Parish held weekly prayer meetings in her chamber. The little old actress spent most of her days making little paper bags to fill with sweetmeats and other good things for the children who were allowed to attend these services.

Not many years ago Mrs. Randolph Harrison, one of Williamsburg's most beloved elderly ladies told of her own visits to Mrs. Hallam's.

"When the old lady was gathered to her fathers", Mrs. Harrison said, "there was universal mourning in the community, the ladies feeling that 'Othello's occupation was gone', and the juveniles that they had lost an indulgent and devoted friend."