The original Drury Lane cast included Theophilus Cibber as George Barnwell, Roger Bridgewater as Thorowgood, William Mills as Trueman, Jane Cibber as Maria and Charlotte Charke as Lucy.[8]
The London Merchant was staged ninety-six times from 1731 to 1741.[9] Although not performed as frequently as the most famous play of the period, John Gay's The Beggar's Opera, The London Merchant was extremely popular with English theatergoers of the time, it was later performed regularly until 1819 at the Christmas and Easter holidays as a cautionary entertainment for apprentices.[10] Lillo's play was so popular that it was performed for Queen Caroline and George II by request on a number of occasions, the Queen requesting a copy of the script.[11] In more recent years the Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds staged the play in 2010.
On November 14, 1751, George Washington saw a production of the play in Bridgetown, Barbados, during the only international trip of his life. He remarked in his diary after watching the play, "The character of Barnwell and several others were said to be well perform'd."[12] Historians believe this the first play that Washington ever saw performed.[13]
