Love in '76

Love in '76 (1857), a “comedietta” by Oliver Bunce. [ Laura Keene's Theatre, 10 perf.] Although her father is a Tory loyalist, Rose Elsworth (Laura Keene) loves Captain Walter Armstrong ( M. V. Lingham) of the American army. When Armstrong is trapped in her home by British troops, she attempts to claim he is someone else. The ruse fails, so Rose is forced to try another ploy: she feigns affection for British Captain Arbald ( Mr. Benson) and secures the promise of the British Major Cleveland ( J. G. Burnett), who has his own eyes on her, that he will protect “the captain who is her husband.” Suspecting another deception, however, Cleveland arranges to marry Armstrong to Rose's maid Bridget ( Miss Howell). Rose, in disguise, changes places with Bridget at the ceremony and is married to Captain Armstrong. She then confronts Cleveland with his promise and threatens to question his word of honor publicly if he reneges. While Arthur Quinn has called the comedy “the best of the Revolutionary plays,” its wartime setting was hardly essential to the story. Despite its short initial run, it remained popular until the end of the century. Oliver Bell BUNCE (1828–90), a New York–born writer, enjoyed some slight success with the rural comedy The Morning of Life (1848) but stumbled badly with the Greek revolt drama Marco Bozzaris; or, The Grecian Hero (1850). Love in '76 was his only unqualified hit. Later a consultant to publishers as well as a novelist, short‐story writer, and essayist, in 1872 he became editor of Appleton's Journal, a post he held for nine years.