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| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Title | The Benevolent Planters |
| Author | Bellamy, Thomas |
| Date | 29 Jul 1789 |
| Licence Application Date | 29 Jul 1789 |
| First Performance Date | 5 Aug 1789 |
| Document Type | Play |
| Library/Archive | The Huntington Library |
| Collection Name | John Larpent Plays |
| Reference | LA839 |
| Language | English |
| Document Description | Used as a pro-slavery tool this play features two lovers who are transported from Africa to the West Indies as slaves. They are separated then reunited on the plantation. The suggestion is that their lives are improved by being on the plantation and that the 'benevolent planters' of the title care for the slaves and have their best interests at heart. |
| Theme | Censorship & Politics |
| Theatre | The Little Theatre (or Theatre Royal), Haymarket |
| Theatre Manager | Colman the Younger, George |
| Lord Chamberlain | Cecil, James (1st Marquess of Salisbury) |
| Examiner at time of Licence Application | Larpent, John |
| Genre | Dramatic Piece |
| Acts | One |
| Printed Edition | Printed 1789. |
| Keywords | slavery propaganda West Indies social commentary lovers plantation African |
| Additional Information | Produced as 'The Friends' Aug. 5 and as 'The Benevolent Planters' Aug. 10. Manuscript title,' Slavery but a Name', deleted, and 'The Benevolent Planters' substituted. Includes a prologue, dated July 31, 1789 and the last page is endorsed, Decr. 11, 1788 Mr. Bellamy. The manuscript notice states, for Mrs. Kemble's benefit. The printed and manuscript versions are quite different in all respects. |
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| Copyright | The Huntington Library |