285:. Williamson's acting was criticised in that he "lacked flexibility of countenance." Fontenelle's role, on the other hand, was described as "the most astonishing and brilliant display of theatrical genius ever exhibited in America." After their first season, Williamson became manager of the Boston Theatre but his "unfortunate habit of undervaluing everything American" led to failure "through a want of co-operation and support from the stockholder." They later joined the Charleston Company of Actors in
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for her to recite at her benefit night on 26 November 1792 on the Rights of Women. This was accompanied by a letter in which he wrote, "To you, Madam, on our humble
Dumfries boards, I have been more indebted for entertainment, than ever I was in prouder Theatres. Your charms as a woman would ensure
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applause to the most indifferent
Actress, and your theatrical talents would secure admiration to the plainest figure." In December of the following year, Burns wrote another address for her benefit night. He also wrote a poem for her entitled
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Fontenelle was born in London on 31 August 1769, the daughter of John and Ann
Fontenell. She was sent to boarding school, after which, having "discovered so much agreeable vivacity", she was persuaded by friends to take up acting as a career.
116:(31 August 1769 – 30 October 1799) was an actress and singer who played in London and Scotland before marrying and heading off to America to join the Boston Theatre. In Dumfries, her acting came to the attention of
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While at
Dumfries, she also caught the eye of, and later married, the theatre manager, John Brown Williamson, a friend of Burns. Shortly after they were married, in 1796, the couple emigrated to
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and played in Boston and New York. Fontenelle died of yellow fever at
Charleston on 30 October 1799. Williamson died two years later in 1801.
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A biographical dictionary of actors, actresses, musicians, dancers, managers & other stage personnel in London 1660-1800
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Louisa
Fontenelle as Moggy McGilpin in The Highland Reel at Covent Garden ca. 1788. Engraving by Barlow.
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Played in London and
Scotland before marrying and heading off to America to join the Boston Theatre
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http://www.robertburns.org/encyclopedia/WilliamsonJamesorJohnBrownd1802.897.shtml
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at the
Haymarket Theatre to replace Miss George, who was now playing at the
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http://www.robertburns.org/encyclopedia/FontenelleLouisa177315199.363.shtml
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Following her success in her debut role, she appeared as Sophia in
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A History of the
American Theatre (first published 1888-91)
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To Miss
Fontenelle, on Seeing her in a Favorite Character
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The Burns Encyclopaedia online: John Brown Williamson
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Fontenelle was recommended by the proprietor of the
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343:The Burns Encyclopaedia online: Louisa Fontenelle
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390:18th-century British actresses
275:and Louisa 'Little Pickle' in
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234:Fontenelle and Robert Burns
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316:Thespian Dictionary, 1805
190:. She was in the cast of
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405:Deaths from yellow fever
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204:Theatre Royal, Edinburgh
395:British stage actresses
259:Marriage and emigration
240:Theatre Royal, Dumfries
143:Henry Sampson Woodfall
400:British women singers
216:Theatre Royal, Dublin
192:Such Things Have Been
151:Covent Garden Theatre
149:, proprietor of the
187:The Beggar's Opera
99:Actress and singer
282:The Spoil'd Child
208:Haymarket Theatre
159:The Highland Reel
139:Public Advertiser
114:Louisa Fontenelle
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70:(1799-10-30)
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385:1799 deaths
380:1769 births
277:Bickerstaff
200:The Funeral
167:Mrs Goodall
88:Nationality
374:Categories
293:References
124:Early life
76:Charleston
49:1769-08-31
220:Edinburgh
59:, England
248:Prologue
228:Dumfries
182:John Gay
273:Othello
224:Glasgow
178:The Toy
91:British
265:Boston
163:Jordan
82:, U.S.
57:London
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