Taylor, Tom (1817–80), English dramatist, whose first play,
A Trip to Kissingen (1844), was produced by the
Keeleys at the Lyceum. A prolific writer, and for some time editor of
Punch, he continued his output of plays until about two years before his death. The best known of his works are probably
To Parents and Guardians (1846);
Masks and Faces (1852), a comedy on the life of Peg
Woffington written in collaboration with Charles
Reade and frequently revived;
Still Waters Run Deep (1855), based on a French novel and remarkable in its time for its frank discussion of sex;
Our American Cousin (1858), first produced in New York and noteworthy because of the appearance in it of E. A.
Sothern as Lord Dundreary;
The Overland Route (1860);
The Ticket-of-Leave Man (1863), a melodrama on a contemporary theme of low life which had much influence on such later works as H. A.
Jones and Herman's
The Silver King; and two plays written in collaboration,
New Men and Old Acres (1869) and
Arkwright's Wife (1873). Taylor was himself an enthusiastic amateur actor, playing at
Dickens's private theatre in Tavistock House and being one of the leading members of the Canterbury Old Stagers. He had little originality, borrowing his material freely from many sources, but his excellent stagecraft and skilful handling of contemporary themes make him interesting as a forerunner of T. W.
Robertson.
