The Provoked Wife (1697) is John Vanbrugh's second comedy, adapted for the specific acting talents of the professional actors in the premiere company. It is noted for its depth and nuance, contrasting with his earlier, more farcical work, "The Relapse".
The Provoked Wife (1697) is John Vanbrugh's second comedy, adapted for the specific acting talents of the professional actors in the premiere company. It is noted for its depth and nuance, contrasting with his earlier, more farcical work, "The Relapse".
| Front | The provoked wife |
|---|---|
| Back | The Provoked Wife (1697) is the second original comedy written by John Vanbrugh. It made its first appearance in Lincoln's Inn Fields in May, 1697. The often-repeated claim that Vanbrugh wrote part of his comedy The Provoked Wife in the Bastille is based on allusions in a couple of much later memoirs, but is regarded with some doubt by modern scholars (see McCormick). It is different in tone from his first play, the largely farcical The Relapse, and adapted to the greater acting skills of the new company of actors chosen for its premiere, who walked out not long before in a dispute with management. The actors' cooperative boasted the established star performers of the age, and Vanbrugh tailored The Provoked Wife to their specialties. While The Relapse had been robustly phrased to be suitable for amateurs and minor acting talents, he could count on versatile professionals like Thomas Betterton, Elizabeth Barry, and the rising young star Anne Bracegirdle to do justice to characters of depth and nuance. |
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