Cibber, Colley

Cibber, Colley (1671–1757), English actor, theatre manager, and playwright. He went on the stage against the wishes of his family, and with few advantages of voice or person soon became an excellent comedian, being particularly admired in the fops of Restoration comedy (such as Lord Foppington in Vanbrugh's The Relapse, 1696) and of his own plays. In 1696 his first play Love's Last Shift; or, The Fool in Fashion was successfully produced at Drury Lane. Striking a happy balance between the Restoration comedy of manners and the new vogue for sentiment and morality, this play is now considered the first sentimental comedy. In tragedy Cibber was less successful, though he achieved notoriety with his adaptation of Shakespeare's Richard III (1700), which remained the standard acting text until well into the 19th century. She Would and She Would Not; or, The Kind Impostor (1702) and The Careless Husband (1704) consolidated his reputation as a writer of comedies. A snob and a social climber. Cibber moved only on the fringe of the company he depicted; yet for over a century his comedies were taken as representative of English high society.

The greater part of Cibber's working life was spent at Drury Lane, first as actor, then from 1711 as joint manager with Doggett and Wilks and later Barton Booth. Although he was in many ways a good manager, he was decidedly unpopular. Tactless, rude, conceited, and supremely self-confident, he was savagely ridiculed, notably by Pope in The Dunciad, by Dr Johnson, and by Fielding in several of his plays and his novel Joseph Andrews. Cibber was good at doctoring other authors' work, as can be judged by his adaptation of Molière's Tartuffe as The Non-Juror (1717) and his completion of Vanbrugh's A Journey to London as The Provoked Husband (1728). In 1730 Cibber was appointed Poet Laureate, which caused no little dismay. He is best remembered now for his Apology for the Life of Mr Colley Cibber, Comedian (1740), which contains some admirable descriptions of Restoration acting.

His son Theophilus (1703–58) was a wild and undisciplined character who made his first appearance on the stage at 16. He seemed at first to have the makings of a good actor, particularly in such parts as Ancient Pistol in Henry IV, Part Two, but his imprudence and extravagance were his undoing. He was for a time manager of Drury Lane in succession to his father, but soon forfeited all respect by his insolence and complacency. Theophilus's sister Charlotte (1713–c.1760) was as eccentric and unpredictable as her brother. As Mrs Charlotte Charke she spent much of her time and energy in attempting unsuccessfully to run theatrical enterprises in opposition to her father, who disowned her.

Theophilus's second wife, whom he treated shamefully, was Susanna Arne (1714–66), sister of Dr Arne, the composer. She was an excellent actress, particularly in tragic roles such as the title-role in Aaron Hill's Zara (1736). She was also good in comedy, making her last appearance as Lady Brute in Vanbrugh's The Provoked Wife.