The Cast
The first edition also includes a cast list of the original production. This was a new feature in printed playbooks of the time; the earliest had appeared in the first edition of The Duchess of Malfi in 1623, with others following in The Roman Actor (printed 1629), and The Picture and The Renegado ( both printed 1630).
The cast list for Holland's Leaguer gives this information:
| Role | Actor |
|---|---|
| Philautus, a lord enamored of himself | William Browne |
| Ardelio, his parasite | Ellis Worth |
| Trimalchio, a humorous gallant | Andrew Cane |
| Argutes, an impostor | Matthew Smith |
| Autolicus, his disciple | James Sneller |
| Capritio, a young novice | Henry Gradwell |
| Miscellanio, his tutor | Thomas Bond |
| Snarl, friend to Philautus | Richard Fowler |
| Fidelio, friend to Philautus | Edward May |
| Jeffey, tenant to Philautus | Robert Hunt |
| Triphoena, wife to Philautus | Robert Stratford |
| Faustina, sister to Philautus | Richard Godwin |
| Millicent, daughter to Agurtes | John Wright |
| Margery, her maid | Richard Fouch |
| Quartilla, gentlewoman to Triphoena | Arthur Savill |
| Bawd | Samuel Mannery |
| 2 Whores. Pander. Officers |
In addition to being a popular comic actor, Andrew Cane was a working goldsmith who brought his goldsmith apprentices into the theatre, as boy players filling female roles. In this production, both Arthur Savill and John Wright were such apprentice goldsmith/actors. (Wright and Samuel Mannery would be in Beeston's Boys in 1639.)
William Browne, who played the protagonist Philautus, was the son of Robert Browne and Susan Baskervile. Thomas Bond, who played Miscellanio, was William Browne's brother-in-law.
Read more about this topic: Holland's Leaguer
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