Robertson, Thomas William, 1829–71, English dramatist and actor; brother of Madge Kendal. After spending several years as an actor, he turned to playwriting, initiating the “cup and saucer” school of drama, which was characterized by its realism and its contemporary, domestic setting. His first successful play, David Garrick (1864), was followed by Society (1865) and Ours (1866). With Caste (1867) he began a close association with Squire Bancroft and his wife, Marie Wilton Bancroft, the actress, and they produced several of his plays. Although Robertson's plays were always criticized as being sentimental and shallow, they were very popular.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: English Literature, 19th cent.: Biographies
