English drama - Bio-bibliography - Early works to 1800

The companion to the play-house: or, an historical account of all the dramatic writers (and their works) that have appeared in Great Britain and Ireland , from the commencement of our theatrical exhibitions, down to the present year 1764. Composed in the form of a dictionary, For the more readily turning to any particular Author, or Performance. In Two Volumes. ... Contains, A Critical and Historical Account of every Tragedy, Comedy, Farce, &c. in the English Language. The respective Merits of each Piece; and of the Actors who performed the principal Characters, are particularly examined and pointed out. ... Contains, The Lives and Productions of every Dramatic Writer for the English or Irish Theatres, including not only all those Memoirs that have been formerly writeen, but also a great Number of new Lives and curious Anecdotes never before communicated to the Public. - Also the Lives of our most celebrated Actors, who were likewise Authors of any Theatrical Composition from Shakespear and Johnson, down to the present Times.