Congreve, William

Congreve, William (1670–1729), English playwright, the greatest writer of Restoration comedy. Born in England, he was educated in Ireland. In 1693 he had his first play, The Old Bachelor, produced at Drury Lane with a fine cast headed by Betterton and Mrs Bracegirdle. It was well received and was quickly followed by The Double Dealer (1694), played by the same company. This was less successful, perhaps because of its convoluted plot. When in 1695 Betterton seceded from Drury Lane his first production was Congreve's Love for Love, the latter's most successful play and one which calls for a high degree of skill in the acting. Congreve's one tragedy The Mourning Bride (1697) failed to please the critics, though it was a success with the public and the players, the part of Almeria, first played by Bracegirdle, being long a favourite with tragedy queens. Congreve's last and perhaps best play was The Way of the World (1700); it was at first poorly received, and a combination of pique, laziness, and ill health kept the author thereafter out of the theatre. He died of injuries received when his coach overturned on the way to Bath, and was buried in Westminster Abbey. Congreve's three best-known comedies continue to hold the stage. Gielgud played Valentine in Love for Love in 1943–4; Millamant in The Way of the World has been played by several notable actresses including Edith Evans (1924), Geraldine McEwan (1969), Maggie Smith (1976, 1984), and Judi Dench (1978).