Theophilus Cibber

Theophilus Cibber (November 26, 1703 - 1758) was an English actor, playwright, author, and son of the actor-manager Colley Cibber.

Adultery case scandal

Cibber was married to the singer and actress Susannah Maria Arne, and both were members of the Drury Lane theatre company managed by Cibber's father. In 1737-38 the couple were involved in a notorious lawsuit which drew public attention to the problem of connivance between husband and wife in a wife's adultery. The Cibbers had established a ménage à trois with William Sloper, their lodger, who paid for the rent and full maintenace for all three. Becoming greedy, Cibber sued the lodger for £5,000 damages for criminal conversation, which he described as threatening "his peace of mind, his happiness, and his hopes of posterity". There were witnesses, however, and Sloper's defence counsel demolished Cibber's case: "He takes his money, lets him maintain his family, resigns his wife to him, and then comes to court for justice, for reparation in damages." Counsel concluded that "there is no denomination in coin small enough to give in damages" and the jury concurred, awarding Cibber a nominal £10.

Related Topics:
Susannah Maria Arne - Drury Lane - 1737 - 38 - Lawsuit - Adultery - Ménage à trois - Damages - Criminal conversation

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Next year, when his wife, her lover and their child had all disappeared, Cibber brought an action against the lodger for £10,000 for "detaining" his wife. This time he was awarded £500.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Susannah went to Ireland and a concert season with Handel while the scandal died down, but later returned to have a successful career at Drury Lane, working with David Garrick and becoming famous as a tragic actress.

Related Topics:
Handel - David Garrick - Tragic

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~