Spranger Barry (23 November 1719 â€" 10 January 1777) was an Irish
actor.He was born in Skinner's Row, Dublin, the son of a silversmith,
to whose business he was brought up. He took over the business but was
not successful.His first appearance on the stage was at the Theatre
Royal, Smock Alley, Dublin, on the 5 February 1744, and his engagement
at once increased its prosperity. His first London appearance was made
in 1746 as Othello at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Here his talents
were speedily recognized, and in Hamlet and Macbeth he alternated with
David Garrick, arousing the latter's jealousy by his success as Romeo.
This resulted in his leaving Drury Lane for the Covent Garden Theatre
in 1750, accompanied by Mrs Cibber, his Juliet. Both houses now at
once put on Romeo and Juliet for a series of rival performances, and
Barry's Romeo was preferred by the critics to Garrick's.In 1758 Barry
opened the Crow Street Theatre in Dublin, and later a new Theatre
Royal in Cork. He staged many successful productions but seems to have
lived beyond his means. In 1767 returned to London to play at the
Haymarket Theatre, then under the management of Foote. As his second
wife, he married in 1768 the actress Mrs Dancer (1734â€"1801), and he
and Mrs Barry played under Garrick's management, Barry appearing in
1767, after ten years absence from the London stage, in Othello, his
greatest part. In 1774 they both moved to Covent Garden, where Barry
remained until his death.
actor.He was born in Skinner's Row, Dublin, the son of a silversmith,
to whose business he was brought up. He took over the business but was
not successful.His first appearance on the stage was at the Theatre
Royal, Smock Alley, Dublin, on the 5 February 1744, and his engagement
at once increased its prosperity. His first London appearance was made
in 1746 as Othello at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Here his talents
were speedily recognized, and in Hamlet and Macbeth he alternated with
David Garrick, arousing the latter's jealousy by his success as Romeo.
This resulted in his leaving Drury Lane for the Covent Garden Theatre
in 1750, accompanied by Mrs Cibber, his Juliet. Both houses now at
once put on Romeo and Juliet for a series of rival performances, and
Barry's Romeo was preferred by the critics to Garrick's.In 1758 Barry
opened the Crow Street Theatre in Dublin, and later a new Theatre
Royal in Cork. He staged many successful productions but seems to have
lived beyond his means. In 1767 returned to London to play at the
Haymarket Theatre, then under the management of Foote. As his second
wife, he married in 1768 the actress Mrs Dancer (1734â€"1801), and he
and Mrs Barry played under Garrick's management, Barry appearing in
1767, after ten years absence from the London stage, in Othello, his
greatest part. In 1774 they both moved to Covent Garden, where Barry
remained until his death.
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