beau–brummell:beau–brummell: Late 18th century Anglo-Irish actress and courtesan, Dorothea Jordan (1
beau–brummell:beau–brummell: Late 18th century Anglo-Irish actress and courtesan, Dorothea Jordan (1761-1816), in a select few of her ‘breeches’ roles 1. as Hypolita in Colley Cibber’s 1748 comedy ‘She Would and She Would Not.’ Hypolita disguises herself as a young soldier in order to follow her beau to Madrid. 2. as Rosalind, disguised as Ganymede, in Shakespeare’s 1599 comedy ‘As You Like It’ 3. as Sir. Harry Wildair from George Farquhar’s 1699 romp ‘The Constant Couple.’ This particular play often had actors playing characters of a different gender to their own, and the rakish and swaggering charmer, Sir. Harry Wildair, by far the play’s most popular character (even inspiring a sequel about him) was often played by an actress in fancy male attire. 4. as Viola, disguised as Cesario, in Shakespeare’s circa. 1601 comedy ‘Twelfth Night’ 5. Also as Viola from Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.Currently reading a fantastic bio about her by Claire Tomalin! Fun fact: the spectacles in the first portrait? They aren’t a prop. Dora was extremely short sighted (same!) and eventually had to use spectacles almost all the time. -- source link