Louisa Fontenelle (31 August 1769 â€" 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 Robert Burns, who wrote a number of
poems for her.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.Fontenelle was
recommended by the proprietor of the Public Advertiser, Henry Sampson
Woodfall, who wrote to Thomas Harris, proprietor of the Covent Garden
Theatre. The result of his submission was that in 1788 Fontenelle
appeared as Moggy McGilpin, the heroine in John O’Keeffe’s comic
opera, The Highland Reel. The show was a huge success and immediately
launched her acting career. A newspaper reviewer on the morning
following the opening declared: "Miss Fontanelle, as a breeches
figure, will rank with Jordan and Mrs Goodall."
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 Robert Burns, who wrote a number of
poems for her.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.Fontenelle was
recommended by the proprietor of the Public Advertiser, Henry Sampson
Woodfall, who wrote to Thomas Harris, proprietor of the Covent Garden
Theatre. The result of his submission was that in 1788 Fontenelle
appeared as Moggy McGilpin, the heroine in John O’Keeffe’s comic
opera, The Highland Reel. The show was a huge success and immediately
launched her acting career. A newspaper reviewer on the morning
following the opening declared: "Miss Fontanelle, as a breeches
figure, will rank with Jordan and Mrs Goodall."
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