Bernard, John

Bernard, John (1756–1828), comic actor. The English low comedian was an established favorite at Covent Garden by the time Thomas Wignell signed him in 1797 to appear in America. Bernard became a leading artist in Philadelphia and Boston, then in 1810 he became one of the earliest major performers to make an extended tour of all American theatrical cities. He returned to Boston in 1816 and gave his final performance shortly before sailing for England in 1819. Although his repertory included such classic roles as Sir Peter Teazle, Puff, and Gratiano, he was most admired for his playing of comic parts in now‐forgotten plays, such as Nipperkin in The Rival Soldiers and Sheva in The Jew. After his death his Retrospections of the Stage was edited by his Boston‐born son, William Bayle BERNARD (1807–75), who became a well‐known London drama critic and playwright. Many of his early works had American settings and enjoyed some popularity in this country as well as in England. These included Casco Bay (1832), The Kentuckian (1833), The Nervous Man (1833), and a version of Rip Van Winkle (1834) for J. H. Hackett.