The original London cast featured William Thomas Lewis as Doricourt, John Quick as Hardy, Charles Lee Lewes as Flutter, Richard Wroughton as Sir George Touchwood, Francis Aickin as Saville, John Whitfield as Villers, Thomas Robson as Courtall, James Thompson as First Gentleman, Ralph Wewitzer as French Servant, James Fearon as Porter, Elizabeth Younge as Letitia Hardy, Isabella Mattocks as Mrs Racket, Elizabeth Hartley as Lady Frances Touchwood and Mary Morton as Miss Ogle.
Despite immense popularity in its time, The Belle's Stratagem was withdrawn by Richard Brinsley Sheridan when he took over management of Drury Lane from Garrick.[9] Although presented a number of times during the 19th century in both England and the United States,[3] it was rarely performed by major theaters throughout recent history.
It was revived in an off-Broadway showcase production by Prospect Theater Company in New York City in 2003,[10] in a major production by the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in 2005,[4] and in 2011 received its first British production since 1888.[9] It was presented at Southwark Playhouse, London, by Red Handed Theatre Company, directed by Jessica Swale.
