Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 61.djvu/287

 in Farquhar's ‘Constant Couple,’ the conspicuous success of which the author attributed to him, and in December was the original Agamemnon in ‘Achilles, or Iphigenia in Aulis,’ adapted by Boyer from Racine. In 1700 his original parts were Pedro in the ‘Pilgrim’ (altered by Farquhar from Fletcher), Freeman in Burnaby's ‘Reformed Wife,’ and Captain Bellair in ‘Courtship à la Mode;’ in 1701, Carlos in ‘Love makes a Man,’ Railton in Baker's ‘Humour of the Age,’ Paris in the ‘Virgin Prophetess, or the Fate of Troy,’ Sir Harry Wildair in Farquhar's piece so named, and Duke of Lorrain in Mrs. Trotter's ‘Unhappy Penitent;’ in 1702 Almerick in the ‘Generous Conqueror,’ Campley in the ‘Funeral,’ Young Mirabel in the ‘Inconstant,’ Lionel in the ‘Modish Husband,’ Don Pedro in the ‘False Friend,’ and Elder Wouldbe in the ‘Twin Rivals’; and in 1703 Reynard in ‘Tunbridge Walks,’ Frederick in D'Urfey's ‘Old Mode and the New,’ Bellmie in ‘Love's Contrivance, or Le Médecin malgré lui,’ Wilding in ‘Vice Reclaimed,’ and Julio in the ‘Patriot.’ He also played Wilmore in the ‘Rover,’ Mosca in the ‘Fox,’ and Oroonoko. In the season of 1703–4 he was on 2 Dec. the first Young Bookwit in Steele's ‘Lying Lover;’ on 26 Jan. Andramont in ‘Love the Leveller,’ by ‘G. B.;’ and on 6 March Norfolk in Banks's ‘Albion Queens.’ He also played Amintor in the ‘Maid's Tragedy,’ Alexander in the ‘Rival Queens,’ Arbaces in ‘A King and No King,’ Celadon in ‘Secret Love,’ and, at court, Dolabella in ‘Love for Love’ and Peregrine Wary in ‘Sir Solomon, or the Cautious Coxcomb;’ 1704–5 saw him as Goswin in the ‘Royal Merchant’ and Theodore in the ‘Loyal Subject,’ and 1705–6 as Valentinian. The following original parts were also played during the two seasons: on 7 Dec. 1704 Sir Charles Easy in the ‘Careless Husband,’ on 23 April Captain Clerimont in the ‘Tender Husband,’ on 30 Oct. Bloom in ‘Hampstead Heath,’ on 20 Nov. Sir James Courtly in the ‘Basset Table,’ on 3 Dec. Perolla in ‘Perolla and Izadora,’ on 8 April 1706 Captain Plume in the ‘Recruiting Officer,’ and, some time in 1706, Farewell in the ‘Fashionable Lover.’

Owen Swiney or MacSwinny [q. v.] opened the Haymarket on 15 Oct. 1706, his company having been strengthened by a detachment of actors from Drury Lane. Among these was Wilks, who made his first appearance on the 26th as the Prince of Wales in the ‘First Part of King Henry IV.’ Here he remained two years, playing Hamlet, Antony in ‘Julius Cæsar,’ Macduff, Lorenzo in the ‘Spanish Friar,’ Moneses, the Copper Captain, Essex, Colonel Careless in the ‘Committee,’ Dorimant in the ‘Man of the Mode,’ Jaffier, Marius Junior in ‘Caius Marius,’ Truewit in the ‘Silent Woman,’ Castalio, Jupiter in ‘Amphitryon,’ Cortez in the ‘Indian Empress,’ Vincent in the ‘Jovial Crew,’ and other parts. The characters he originated included Belvil in the ‘Platonic Lady’ on 25 Nov. 1706, Abdalla in Mrs. Manley's ‘Almyna’ on 16 Dec., Palamede in ‘Marriage à la Mode’ on 4 Feb. 1707, Archer in the ‘Beaux' Stratagem’ on 8 March, Careless in the ‘Double Gallant’ on 1 Nov., Aribert in Rowe's ‘Royal Convert’ on 25 Nov., and Lord Wronglove in the ‘Lady's Last Stake’ on 13 Dec. The theatre being then devoted to opera, Wilks appeared at Drury Lane as Hamlet on 15 Jan. 1708. A round of comic characters, with some few serious parts, was assigned him, and he was, 31 May 1708, the original Artaban in Theobald's ‘Persian Princess,’ on 4 Dec. Colonel Blenheim in Baker's ‘Fine Lady's Airs,’ on 11 Jan. 1709 Young Oldwit in ‘Rival Fools’ (adapted by Cibber from Fletcher's ‘Wit at several Weapons’), L. Icilius in Dennis's ‘Appius and Virginia,’ and on 12 May Sir George Airey in Mrs. Centlivre's ‘Busy Body.’ In answer to complaints from the principal actors of the meagre salaries allowed them, the patentees put forth statements, according to which Wilks's receipts, including his benefit, came to 299l. 1s. 5d. He was allowed 50s. a week as stage manager. Wilks, with Cibber, Dogget, and Mrs. Oldfield, now joined Swiney in the management of the Haymarket. The house opened on 20 Sept. 1709 with Betterton as Hamlet. On the 22nd Wilks played Plume in the ‘Recruiting Officer.’ On 12 Dec. he was the first Faithful in Mrs. Centlivre's ‘Man's Bewitched,’ and on 20 April 1710 Lothario in Charles Johnson's ‘Force of Friendship.’ He played also Othello, Henry VI in ‘Richard III,’ and many other parts.

The companies reuniting at Drury Lane, Wilks created there the rôles of Colonel Ravelin in ‘Marplot,’ 30 Dec. 1710; Rashlove in ‘Injured Love,’ 7 April 1711; Volatil in the ‘Wife's Relief,’ altered from Shirley by C. Johnson, 12 Nov.; Colonel Bastion in Mrs. Centlivre's ‘Perplexed Lovers,’ 19 Jan. 1712; Aranes in C. Johnson's ‘Successful Pirate,’ 7 Nov.; Major Young Fox in Charles Shadwell's ‘Humours of the Army,’ 29 Jan. 1713; Juba in ‘Cato,’ 14 April; Chaucer in Gay's ‘Wife of Bath;’ Agamemnon in C. Johnson's ‘Victim,’ translated from Racine, 5 Jan. 1714; Dumont in ‘Jane Shore,’ 2 Feb.; Don Felix in the ‘Wonder,’ 27 April; Modely in the ‘Country