Individuals >> Nelson, Annette ( Mrs. Brougham )

Actor.

As the wife of John Brougham, actress Annette Nelson was best known as “Mrs. Brougham.” She performed in several of her husband’s plays, including Love and Murder: A Farce in One Act, Dombey and Son and two productions of The Game of Life. Little else is known about her life or her interactions with the Pfaffians.

References & Biographical Resources

Quelqu'un [Winter, William]. "Dramatic Feuilleton." New-York Saturday Press. 21 Jul. 1860: 3. [more about this work]

Reports that the Nelsons have had a benefit. Alludes to the fact that things did not go well on their benefit night (3). [pages: 3]

Brougham, John. Love and Murder: A Farce, in One Act. To which Are Added, a Description of the Costume---Cast of the Characters---Entrances and Exits--- Relative Positions of the Performers on the Stage, and the Whole of the Stage Business. As Performed at the New York T. New York: Samuel French, 1856. [more about this work]

"Mrs. Brougham" played the role of "Ninette" in the original cast.

Brougham, John. The Game of Life. An Original Comedy, in Five Acts. With Cast of Characters, Stage Business, Costumes, Relative Positions, Etc. Etc. As Performed at Wallack's Theatre. New York: Samuel French, 1856. [more about this work]

"Mrs. Brougham" played "Widow Joybell" in the original cast.

Brougham, John. The Game of Love. An Original Comedy, in Five Acts. To which Are Added, a Description of the Costume---Cast of the Characters---Entrances and Exits---Relative Positions of the Performers on the Stage, and the Whole of the Stage Business, as Performed at W. New York: Samuel French, 1855. [more about this work]

"Mrs. Brougham" played the role of "Mrs. Lawrence De Merfie" in the original cast.

Fitz-Gerald, S. J. Adair. Dickens and the Drama. London: Chapman & Hall, 1910. [more about this work]

"John Brougham provided a four-act drama called 'Dombey and Son' for Burton's Theatre, New York, in 1848, as soon as the work was issued in its completed form, and undertook the part of Major Bagstock and Jack Bunsby himself, while his wife [Annette Nelson] played Susan Nipper" (226). She reprised the role in "Captain Cuttle," a one-act based on Dombey and Son that ran at Burton's Theatre in New York City beginning on January 14th, 1850, and was, according to Fitz-Gerald, "a complete success" (227). [pages: 226-27]

Personne [Wilkins, Edward G. P.]. "Dramatic Feuilleton." New-York Saturday Press. 5 May 1860: 3. [more about this work]

Personne writes that "Mrs. Brougham" has brought out "the Nelson sisters, daughters of the celebrated composer" to positive critical response. Personne, however, finds the performance dull (3). [pages: 3]

Quelqu'un [Winter, William]. "Dramatic Feuilleton." New-York Saturday Press. 8 Sep. 1860: 3. [more about this work]

Referred to as "Mrs. Brougham" (3).