In 1830, author James Kirke Paulding was awarded $300 by actor James Hackett, for an original play portraying an actual American in the leading role. By this time Congressman David S. Crockett had become quite the legend even in his own time. Paulding wrote his play with the main character Nimrod Wildfire, portraying the real-life legend of Crockett. The play hit the stage on April 25th of 1831 at Park Theatre in New York. The popular actor James Hackett produced the play and starred in the leading role. It was an immediate success. It played at numerous venues until 1833 when it was taken to England. By this time it had been adapted by William Bayle Bernard, a dramatist, who re-titled it “The Kentuckian, or a Trip to New York.” It first appeared at the Theatre Royal Covet Garden on March 9, 1833. It ran for several weeks there and then another six week run at the Haymarket Theatre. Hackett then took it to Edinburgh and Dublin for another successful run. It then re-crossed the Atlantic to appear again on the American stage. Hackett was the only actor ever to appear as Wildfire. The play became the most popular play on the American stage until 1852 when “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” grabbed the attention and heart of American audiences.
The play not only depicts the life and character of Crockett, but it captures the heart and soul of America, especially in relation to its former mother country, England. Relations with the Brits were still strained from two previous conflicts. The play helped to re-direct that posture by including the character of an English visitor to America, Mrs. Amelia Wollope, who was determined to “ameliorate” the conduct and behavior of Americans. Her portrayal obviously referenced a true-to-life character, Mrs. Frances Trollope, who came to America from England to set up a department store in Cincinnati in 1827. Mrs. Trollope was never accepted into Cincinnati society. She returned to England and completed her “Domestic Manners of the Americans” in which she ridiculed many of the customs and manners of Americans. Her book annoyed many in America who willingly volleyed the ridicule. So the inclusion of Mrs. Amelia Wollope into the play helped to heighten the entertainment value of the piece.
The manuscript was lost for almost 100 years until it was found by James Nathan Tidwell in the British Theatre archives. He published the work in 1952, just in time for the re-immergence of the legendary David Crockett by Walt Disney through movies and TV. The play has only been sparsely performed on stage since that time.
The reader or viewer of this comedy will be treated to a glimpse of the spirit, mannerisms, expressions, and attitudes of 1830’s America as well as that of the American stage.
The play not only depicts the life and character of Crockett, but it captures the heart and soul of America, especially in relation to its former mother country, England. Relations with the Brits were still strained from two previous conflicts. The play helped to re-direct that posture by including the character of an English visitor to America, Mrs. Amelia Wollope, who was determined to “ameliorate” the conduct and behavior of Americans. Her portrayal obviously referenced a true-to-life character, Mrs. Frances Trollope, who came to America from England to set up a department store in Cincinnati in 1827. Mrs. Trollope was never accepted into Cincinnati society. She returned to England and completed her “Domestic Manners of the Americans” in which she ridiculed many of the customs and manners of Americans. Her book annoyed many in America who willingly volleyed the ridicule. So the inclusion of Mrs. Amelia Wollope into the play helped to heighten the entertainment value of the piece.
The manuscript was lost for almost 100 years until it was found by James Nathan Tidwell in the British Theatre archives. He published the work in 1952, just in time for the re-immergence of the legendary David Crockett by Walt Disney through movies and TV. The play has only been sparsely performed on stage since that time.
The reader or viewer of this comedy will be treated to a glimpse of the spirit, mannerisms, expressions, and attitudes of 1830’s America as well as that of the American stage.
