ANNE OLDFIELD

English actress. She has appeared on the stage "Drury Lane". Among roles: Andromache ( "The poor mother"), Sylvia ( "The officer-recruiter"), Cleopatra ( "All for Love"), etc.

Anne Oldfield was born in 1683 Her father, Nathaniel Oldfield, served in the Guard. He died when Anne was very small. The aspiring actress has not received a decent education. In twelve years it was learning on the seamstress, and three years later took up the education of girls sister, mother, mistress of the tavern "Mitra". When the visitors became fewer, Anne retired to her room and read aloud some play. Once, she heard a novice playwright George Farquhar. "She read with such vividness and transferred so true nature of each character that I am filled with wonder and joy. "

Thanks to efforts of Farquhar and his friend, playwright John Vanbru, director of the theater "Drury Lane" Rich in 1699 adopted a young and talented Anne Oldfield in his troupe.

During the year, staying in the shadows, unseen, silent, she played a maid, pages, maids. In March 1700 the troupe began rehearsing the play Vanbru "Pilgrim". Roles in the play distributed by the author himself, and Oldfield won the role of the heroine, a naive and gullible Alinda.

Looking back on this performance, the actor Colley Sibber notes that, "fortunately, the timidity of Anne, her lack of confidence in our abilities, were in harmony with the way the heroine′s tender Alinda, then falls into a gang of robbers, in a shelter for the insane, the palace tyrant.

Among the young actresses of the troupe Ann stood out a slim figure, delicate features, strong and beautiful voice. Many were amazed she serviceability and diligence.

In the summer of 1703 the troupe of the Royal Theater Drury Lane "went to Bath, where according to tradition, gathered high society. Ann addressed the role of Leonora in the play Crown Sir Kortli Nice, or It can not be. " The play enjoyed great success with a respectable audience.

In London Oldfield returned not one - was accompanied by her boyfriend - Sir Arthur Meynvering, an influential representative of the Whig. He was a rich man, though descended from an ancient noble family.

On stage, "Drury Lane" Anne Oldfield played its first tragic role - from the play Mary Stuart Banks "Queen of Albion. " "When she played Mary - wrote an eyewitness, - in the hall crying. Sob violently, as if off to the execution of a loved one. From Mary - Oldfield smelled trouble, grief, tragedy, and sometimes a sort of defiant courage.

December 7, 1704 saw the premiere "Bringing Up Husband Sibbera. Oldfield played Betty Modish easy, fun, infecting their partners and the temperament of the audience. Sibbera struck by a sense of humor, with whom Ann held its scenes, a bravura comic "Brio" her remarks, unwittingly makes the viewer does not miss a word, impeccable artistry with which she created the character of unbalanced and cruel.

In the summer of 1705, Ann Oldfield bore a son. In honor of his father was named Arthur. To ensure the family settled Meynvering inspector on government subsidies.

Every year Oldfield more meticulously applies to the choice of repertoire. Among the images created by Anne in 1706, was Sylvia, the heroine of the comedy Farquhar "The officer-recruiter. The performance was a triumph. In the role of Sylvia actress noted primarily to the strong young woman, her innate intelligence, resourcefulness, ability to stand up for their honor, to find a way out of difficult situations. For many contemporaries Silvia - Oldfield poses a new sample of women, women of the XVIII century, the century of the Enlightenment.

Photo — «Anne Oldfield»

In 1706 a number of actors, among them Robert Wilkes, Ann Oldfield and Jane Rogers, a disgruntled policy director Rich, left, Drury Lane and went into the Queen′s Theater in Heymarkete signed on 15 August contract with the owner - Vanbru. Oldfield had the opportunity to work with such interesting comedy today, as Vanbru and Congreve, speak with the luminaries of British stage Bettertonom and Barry.

In season 1706/07 year, Ann has played a dozen roles. Contemporaries unanimously celebrated diversity of its talents. Oldfield, according Bettertona, equally well played "high tragedy and low farce. " Here, for example, a typical contrast: the drama of Yemen Smith′s Phaedra and Hippolytus, and the widow of Rich Etheridge′s comedy "Love in a barrel, or comic vengeance.

"Who could remain indifferent while listening to passionate speeches Phaedra - Barry or Ismene - Oldfield? - Contemporary wrote. - With what perfection played Oldfield Yemen! It is difficult to convey the impression of the tragic intensity, with which the talented actress delivered their monologues, majestic and solemn . . . "

The most striking event in the life Heymarketa was the staging of George Farquhar "cunning plan dandies. This was the last meeting Oldfield with the work of the playwright, who played such a significant role in her fate.

Many historians of the English theater of XVIII century is often likened to playing the game Garrick Ann Oldfield, finding in their manner of performing many common features, notably "the natural and irrepressible desire" to psychological individualization of the image. In monologues Oldfield sought to diversify the palette of vocal, turn away from monotonous cantilena, make a living playing the role. In the preface to his plays Sibber often noted that even a mediocre dramatic material shall obtain significance in the mouth of the actress. Oldfield always knew how to correctly identify the essence of a scene or monologue: "Ann, unlike many of her contemporary actors - wrote one of the earliest biographers Oldfield - always knew what she was saying on stage. "

Heroines Oldfield were dressed with taste. No wonder Alexander Pope wrote that it was worth the actress to appear on stage in the hall heard "a cry of delight over her elegant dress. Oldfield - one of the first English actresses, to reflect on the historical authenticity of theatrical costume.

In 1710-1720-ies she played a number of tragic roles in the plays Lee, Rowe, Phillips, Addison Young. Ann initially reluctant to play a tragedy. It tells the prompter Chetvud, with the genre of tragedy Ann reconciled Semandry role in the play Lee "Mithridates," which she played with absolute perfection. " Especially for Oldfield Rowe wrote the play The Tragedy of Jane Shore "and" Tragedy of Lady Jane Gray. "

January 13, 1708 Oldfield returned to the scene "Drury Lane". For Anne was hard pressed. She began to entrust faceless roles in mediocre plays. Salaries were paid irregularly. Then Oldfield Lord Chamberlain sent a petition, describing the riots that regularly occur in the theater. After several months of theater director Rich was deprived of the patent. Oldfield worked at the "Drury Lane" for another twenty years, those same twenty years, which historians of the English stage XVIII century later would be called "the golden age of old Drury.

March 17, 1712 the premiere of "unfortunate mother" Phillips. Oldfield′s success in the role of Andromache has surpassed all expectations. "Enthusiastic applause broke out after her monologues - wrote biographer actress - the sad and noble, tragic, cling to the soul.

Photo — «Anne Oldfield»

Her Andromache in her grief was alien to the universal madness, a grieving widow, mourning for the deceased husband, a beautiful and noble woman, worthy of the most passionate and tender love, self-sacrificing mother, the force of circumstances forced to choose between her son′s life and marriage to the hated Pirro. "

They all admired the play and the game Oldfield. Musician and poet John Hughes remember the voice of Ann, strong, flexible, expressive. He notes with some fine craftsmanship used actress vowel length, creating a sense of tragic monologues, crying, "mournful hymns doomed woman. " Richard Steele later wrote that most surprised him a sense of proportion, which Oldfield has developed its role: ". . . passion, grief, anger and even despair, - he stressed - passed performer with nobility and dignity. "

In the same year Oldfield grasped a heavy blow: he died in November, Arthur Meynvering. The only consolation Ann began her son, seven-Arthur.

April 14, 1713 in Drury Lane "premiere classical tragedy D. Addison′s" Cato. " Anne played the daughter of Cato, Marcia. In her performance Marcia was touching and extraordinarily sincere. Particularly successful in Juba scene with an actress - Wilkes, Ann captivated the audience with their womanhood and nobility. "Cato" was thirty-five times in succession. With every performance Oldfield became increasingly difficult to play: it was the last month of pregnancy. Alas, the last child, Ann and Arthur was born dead.

Six years after the death Meynveringa Oldfield married a second time. And this time the marriage was not legally decorated: in the spring of 1718, Colonel Churchill lived in the house of Anne. The good-natured, tactful, extremely reliable, he lived her interests. In winter 1720 they had a son, who was in honor of his grandfather and father was called Charles.

In the season 1721/22 year, Oldfield was involved in all the luck "Drury Lane". For example, the intelligent and subtle comedy of Millament William Kongriva "Ways of secular life" gained in the performance of the extraordinary complexity of nature, Ann.

Cleopatra - Oldfield in Dryden′s play "All for Love" was delighted 23-year-old Charles McLean, later celebrated master of the English stage. With bated breath, he watched the meeting between Cleopatra and Antony - Bout in the third act of the tragedy. "How much dignity and greatness in their postures and gestures - McLean wrote many years later. - The auditorium erupted with applause as soon as they appeared on the scene. The pride of men and women feigned humility, intelligence and cunning commander queen innate arrogance of the Roman and Egyptian exquisite sarcasm and destructive passion of a lover′s desperate jealousy loving - all this, having merged into a single vortex, the unstoppable force rushed forward to assert their rhythm throughout the performance, capturing audience bewitching her, denying the power of speech . . . "

Oldfield spared himself. Tiredness was creeping up unnoticed. Entry made by hand treasurer theater, said: "January 7, 1727, Saturday. Canceled "carefree husband, suddenly fell ill, Mrs. Oldfield. " Once, when she was in costume and makeup Lady Betty Modish, actress fainted. At the direction of physicians, Ann began drinking infusions of herbs. By the spring of Oldfield felt better and was able to go on the street, go on walks with Churchill and little Charles. sometimes appeared in the theater.

February 16, 1728 Oldfield, the first time after a long break played a new role: Lady Metchliss in Fielding′s comedy "Love in the different masks.

Photo — «Anne Oldfield»

In the preface to the play the playwright recalled with gratitude that Mrs. Oldfield helped him to redo some scenes comedy, advised how to file them brighter and sharper. The premiere was held with success. "Amazing perfection Mrs Oldfield - later recalled Fielding - so captivated the eye and ear of each, that will remain forever in the memory of many. "

A week later held a benefit Oldfield, for which she chose comedy Vanbru "incorrigible" where she performed the role Berintii. The audience took the play with particular enthusiasm.

Oldfield was an ardent admirer of Voltaire. "It was surprisingly pleasant woman - to write the French genius. - She doted me to the English stage. Her voice, figure, manner, the game is so fascinated me that I hastened to learn English to understand it . . . "Diction Oldfield was so perfect, Voltaire said that he understood the actress without the slightest effort.

Season 1728/29 year Oldfield started late. Only on November 16 played Andromache in "unfortunate mother" Phillips. Tension was probably unsustainable, because two days later the newspapers reported that Mrs. Oldfield ill. However, after a little over a week, Billboard announced the play again with the great actress: comedy Fletcher "The mind without money, where Anne played the role of queen of hearts lady Hartuell.

Sensing that her strength wanes, Oldfield decided to turn the season of 1729/30, in a kind of farewell to the audience and the theater: from 11 September 1729 to April 28, 1730, she played 80 performances, singing 28 roles in various plays, were part of the repertoire Drury Lane.

Oldfield has created two new roles: Lady Sayens Miller in the comedy "Fun in Oxford and Queen Sofonizbu in the homonymous tragedy Thomson. Actor Tom Davis has left us a description of one of the scenes of the tragedy, where Sofonizba - Oldfield read his monologue "Not a word about the vile Carthage !. . ". "She was so expressive in every gesture, - he wrote Davis - in her eyes burned with hatred for this sizzling Masinissa - Wilkes dared unflattering comments about Carthage, his voice sounded with such force withering contempt that the room froze, and then, after scene, burst of applause.

April 28, 1730 Oldfield played Lady Brutus in "The angry wife" Vanbru. This spectacle was destined to be the last in the life of the actress. The next day she fell ill. The diagnosis was terrible: swelling of internal organs. Oldfield asked not to conceal the truth from her, and doctors have admitted that the disease is incurable. As said Margaret Saunders, Ann burst into tears on hearing the verdict, but only with a heavy sigh, said she hoped that she would get strength to endure suffering.

Ann Oldfield died on Friday, October 23, 1730. That evening, the Royal Theater Drury Lane "did not turn on the lights. So the actress was buried in the southern aisle of Westminster Abbey (by special order of the dean and the chapter), near the graves of William Kongriva. The magnificent and solemn funeral British actress struck Voltaire, his sincere sorrow touched hundreds of Londoners of different classes and ranks.

Name Anne Oldfield again appears on posters in London theaters in the middle of the XIX century. In 1855, Charles Reed wrote a one-act play "Nance Oldfield". The premiere took place on April 17, 1855 in the theater, the Saint-James. The role of Mrs. Oldfield played famous actress Laura Seymour. After the success in the theater, the Saint-James′ play took the statement and other troupes.