Sale 2503 - Printed & Manuscript African Americana, March 28, 2019

These playbills advertise both of Aldridge’s groundbreaking Covent Garden appearances as Othello, along with many other performances. The 8 April playbill promises a performance two days hence of “Shakespeare’s tragedy of Othello, the part of Othello by Mr. Aldridge (a native of Senegal), known by the appellation of the African Roscius, who has been received with great applause at the Theatres Royal, Dublin, Edinburgh, Bath, and most of the principal provincial theatres. His first appearance on this stage.” In smaller type, his return engagement for Friday was also announced, as Zanga in The Revenge and as Mungo in The Padlock. The 11 April program announces that “in consequence of the enthusiastic reception of Mr. Aldridge (a native of Senegal) and by the unanimous desire of the audience, he will have the honor of repeating the character of Othello, tomorrow evening.” See Hovde, “Ira Aldridge Takes the Stage,” on the Folger Shakespeare Library blog, which is illustrated with a 10 April playbill. None others from Aldridge’s Theatre Royal appearances have been traced at auction or in OCLC.