''Psyche Debauched'' is a 1675

comedy play Comedy is a genre of dramatic performance having a light or humorous tone that depicts amusing incidents and in which the characters ultimately triumph over adversity. For ancient Greeks and Romans, a comedy was a stage-play with a happy endi ...

by the English writer

Thomas Duffett Thomas Duffet (fl. 1673 – 1676), or Duffett, was an Irish playwright and songwriter active in England in the 1670s. He is remembered for his popular songs and his burlesques of the serious plays of John Dryden, Thomas Shadwell, Elkanah Set ...

. It was first staged by the

King's Company The King's Company was one of two enterprises granted the rights to mount theatrical productions in London, after the London theatre closure 1642, London theatre closure had been lifted at the start of the English Restoration. It existed from 166 ...

at the

Theatre Royal, Drury Lane The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, commonly known as Drury Lane, is a West End theatre and listed building, Grade I listed building in Covent Garden, London, England. The building faces Catherine Street (earlier named Bridges or Brydges Street) an ...

. The play is a burlesque of Thomas Shadwell's tragedy, ''

Psyche Psyche (''Psyché'' in French) is the Greek term for "soul" ( ψυχή). Psyche or La Psyché may also refer to: Psychology * Psyche (psychology), the totality of the human mind, conscious and unconscious * ''Psyche'', an 1846 book about the unc ...

.'' The original cast included

Mary Corbett Mary Corbett was an English stage actress of the seventeenth century. She was a member of the King's Company, based at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. She appears to have left the company around the time of the merger creating the new United Compan ...

as King Andrew,

Mary Knep Mary Knep (died 1681), also Knepp, Nepp, Knip, or Knipp, was an English actress and one of the first generation of female performers to appear on the public stage during the Restoration era. Acting career Knep was primarily a singer and dance ...

as Nicholas,

Edward Lydall Edward Lydall was an English stage actor of the seventeenth century. He was a member of the King's Company at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.Wilson p.34 His first known performance was in 1668. He generally played supporting roles. His surname is s ...

as Apollo,

John Coysh John Coysh was an English stage actor of the seventeenth century. He was a member of the King's Company, based at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. He first headed a nursery of young actors at Hatton Garden, including the future star Sarah Cooke. H ...

as Jeffrey,

Martin Powell Martin Powell is an English musician. In 1991, Powell auditioned for the position of bass player in the band My Dying Bride, but was turned down as the band had just filled the position. Upon informing the band he was also a violin and keyboa ...

as Costard, John Wiltshire as Justice Crabb,

Joseph Haines Joseph Haines (died 4 April 1701), also known as Jo Haines, was a 17th-century actor, singer, dancer, guitarist, guitar player, fortune teller, and author. ''The Life of the Late Famous Comedian, Jo. Hayns'', possibly written by fellow player T ...

as None-so-fair, Thomas Clark as Woossat.Van Lennep p.235

Plot summary

Two princes have been vying for the Princess None-so-fair's affections, but she is interested in neither of them. Princess None-so-fair's sisters are both in love with the princes, who do not return their feelings. The two sisters, envious of the princess, are happy to learn that Mother Woossat, the local brothel owner, is plotting to stage their sister's death; Mother Woossat is experiencing a shortage of customers because large amounts of men continuously fall in love with the princess, and by removing her from the picture, Mother Woossat's business will thrive once more. Mother Woossat enlists the church to convince Princess None-so-fair's father to marry her off to a large white bear, who is actually Mother Woosat's son, Bruin, in disguise. Everyone believes that Princess None-so-fair has been eaten by the bear, but in reality, she is living happily with Bruin. The pair is eventually separated when Mother Woossat, jealous of her relationship with Bruin, sends Princess None-so-fair to prison. Luckily, the lovers are later reunited when Bruin arrives to rescue her.

References

Bibliography

* Van Lennep, W. ''The London Stage, 1660-1800: Volume One, 1660-1700''. Southern Illinois University Press, 1960. * Duffet, Thomas. ''Psyche Debauch'd, a Comedy: As it was Acted at the Theatre-Royal''. Printed for John Smith in Great Queen Street, 1678 {{Restoration comedy 1675 plays West End plays Plays by Thomas Duffet Restoration comedy