Mrs Gardner or Sarah Cheney (fl. 1763â€"1795) was a British comedic
actress and playwright.Sarah Cheney first came to notice when she
appeared at the Drury Lane Theatre in October 1763 in a play by
William Congreve. She worked regularly, commanding two pounds a week,
and, in 1765, she appeared in the first performance of Samuel Foote's
play, The Commissary, at the Haymarket Theatre. That year, she met the
actor William Gardner and they were married. The new couple took up
roles in Foote's Company of Comedians. In the autumn, she was
appearing as Mrs Gardner in the title role of Polly Honeycombe at
Covent Garden with her new husband. Gardner moved in with Foote, as
his housekeeper, at some point.In the eleven years from 1766 to 1777,
she appeared in comic roles for Foote but she had her best success in
summer roles at the Haymarket, including The Nabob. It was said that
her acting skills were less apparent after Foote died in 1777, and it
was then that Gardner turned to playwriting. She wrote and appeared in
The Advertisement, or, A Bold Stroke for a Husband at The Haymarket,
but this was not acclaimed. In the same year, she separated from her
husband and gained custody of their children. William Gardner went to
work in numerous secondary roles and died in 1790 whilst his wife was
abroad.
actress and playwright.Sarah Cheney first came to notice when she
appeared at the Drury Lane Theatre in October 1763 in a play by
William Congreve. She worked regularly, commanding two pounds a week,
and, in 1765, she appeared in the first performance of Samuel Foote's
play, The Commissary, at the Haymarket Theatre. That year, she met the
actor William Gardner and they were married. The new couple took up
roles in Foote's Company of Comedians. In the autumn, she was
appearing as Mrs Gardner in the title role of Polly Honeycombe at
Covent Garden with her new husband. Gardner moved in with Foote, as
his housekeeper, at some point.In the eleven years from 1766 to 1777,
she appeared in comic roles for Foote but she had her best success in
summer roles at the Haymarket, including The Nabob. It was said that
her acting skills were less apparent after Foote died in 1777, and it
was then that Gardner turned to playwriting. She wrote and appeared in
The Advertisement, or, A Bold Stroke for a Husband at The Haymarket,
but this was not acclaimed. In the same year, she separated from her
husband and gained custody of their children. William Gardner went to
work in numerous secondary roles and died in 1790 whilst his wife was
abroad.
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