John Leigh (1689â€"1726) was an Irish actor and dramatist.Leigh
appeared as Demetrius in Thomas Shadwell's adaptation of Timon of
Athens, produced at Dublin's Smock Alley Theatre in 1714. Recruited by
John Rich for London's newly erected theatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields,
he played there on the opening night, 18 December 1714, as Captain
Plume in The Recruiting Officer by George Farquhar. Leigh remained at
Lincoln's Inn until his death, and played some original parts. The
last part to which Leigh's name appears is Phorbas in Å'dipus, 14
April 1726.On 26 November 1719 Leigh acted Lord George Belmour in his
own comedy The Pretenders (published 1720), original title Kensington
Garden, or the Pretenders. This was acted about seven times, and is
dedicated to Lord Brooke, an original supporter of the theatre. On 11
January 1720 a new farce by Leigh in two acts, Hob's Wedding,
(published 1720), was acted for the first time. It was repeated six
times, the author having benefits on the third and fifth nights.
Leigh's share in this was minor, the piece consisting only of the
scenes of the Country Wake, which Thomas Doggett cut when he converted
it into Flora, or Hob in the Well, It was, according to John Genest,
printed, with songs added by John Hippisley, in 1732 as the Sequel to
Flora, and was revived in the same year. William Rufus Chetwood gave
in his short life of Leigh a ballad written by him to the tune of
Thomas, I cannot, a humorous song about other actors.Leigh died in
1726. Nicknamed Handsome Leigh, he was initially popular, but did not
sustain his position. After Lacy Ryan and Thomas Walker joined the
company, he fell into the background.
appeared as Demetrius in Thomas Shadwell's adaptation of Timon of
Athens, produced at Dublin's Smock Alley Theatre in 1714. Recruited by
John Rich for London's newly erected theatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields,
he played there on the opening night, 18 December 1714, as Captain
Plume in The Recruiting Officer by George Farquhar. Leigh remained at
Lincoln's Inn until his death, and played some original parts. The
last part to which Leigh's name appears is Phorbas in Å'dipus, 14
April 1726.On 26 November 1719 Leigh acted Lord George Belmour in his
own comedy The Pretenders (published 1720), original title Kensington
Garden, or the Pretenders. This was acted about seven times, and is
dedicated to Lord Brooke, an original supporter of the theatre. On 11
January 1720 a new farce by Leigh in two acts, Hob's Wedding,
(published 1720), was acted for the first time. It was repeated six
times, the author having benefits on the third and fifth nights.
Leigh's share in this was minor, the piece consisting only of the
scenes of the Country Wake, which Thomas Doggett cut when he converted
it into Flora, or Hob in the Well, It was, according to John Genest,
printed, with songs added by John Hippisley, in 1732 as the Sequel to
Flora, and was revived in the same year. William Rufus Chetwood gave
in his short life of Leigh a ballad written by him to the tune of
Thomas, I cannot, a humorous song about other actors.Leigh died in
1726. Nicknamed Handsome Leigh, he was initially popular, but did not
sustain his position. After Lacy Ryan and Thomas Walker joined the
company, he fell into the background.
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