Morris Barnett

Morris Barnett (1800–1856) was a British actor, comedian, and dramatist who built a career across the stages of England, France, and eventually North America. Born into a Jewish family, he was raised with a musical education, and his early adult years were spent in Paris before he committed to a career in the theatre.

Barnett began his stage work as a comedian, first at Brighton and then at Bath, before Alfred Bunn engaged him for Drury Lane Theatre in 1833. His debut at that venue produced an immediate success: his portrayal of Tom Drops in Douglas Jerrold's comedy The Schoolfellows established his reputation. He further demonstrated his range in Capers and Coronets, and in 1837 he wrote and performed the title role in Monsieur Jacques, a musical piece that generated considerable excitement at the St. James's Theatre. His skill in depicting French characters earned him a distinction that few contemporaries could match.

Following a period focused primarily on literary work, Barnett returned to the stage at the Princess's Theatre, where his performance as Old Guard in the piece of that name drew widespread notice. He subsequently joined the editorial staffs of the Morning Post and the Era, serving as musical critic for both publications over a span of nearly seven years.

As a dramatist, Barnett earned particular recognition for The Serious Family, a comedy he adapted from the French play Le Mari à la Campagne. His other written works include Lilian Gervais, a three-act drama adapted from the French play Marie Simon by J. E. Alboize de Pujol and Édouard Déaddé; Married and Un-married; The Bold Dragoons; Circumstantial Evidence; and Mrs G. of the Golden Pippin, a petite opera.

In September 1854, Barnett departed for the United States, giving a series of farewell performances at the Adelphi Theatre before his crossing. That same year he appeared on Broadway in Monsieur Jacques, the work he had originally written and performed decades earlier in London. The American venture proved difficult, however, as prolonged illness prevented him from fully pursuing his work. Barnett died on 18 March 1856 in Montreal.