The Obsession: When stalking led to murder.
You might think that falling in love with a star of stage or screen and relentlessly chasing after them is a recent development. If so, you would be wrong.
The true tale of Captain Richard Hill and his obsession with stage star Mrs Anne Bracegirdle took place more than three hundred years ago and was a scandal which resulted in death and dishonour. It took place at a time when the well-positioned in London were widely known for their debauchery and indebtedness. The lascivious Charles II, following the restoration of the monarchy, set the tone. He rapidly gained a justifiable reputation for his relentless pursuit of mistresses and the many bastard offspring he spawned.
The London theatres were, at this time, crucial hubs of social contact. The many plays written for the stage were a magnet for those seeking one form of pleasure or another. Less significant as places of culture.
Captain Hill and his plot.
Captain Richard Hill was a privileged teenager who had purchased himself a position in the army. As an under-used officer, he was just one of many who spent time loitering in the London taverns or enjoying the plays on offer. Without doubt he was not the only audience member who was enamoured of the charms of performers.
