''The Rajah; or Wyncot's Ward'' is a play by William Young which debuted at the

Madison Square Theatre The Madison Square Theatre was a Broadway theatre in Manhattan, on the south side of 24th Street between Sixth Avenue and Broadway (which intersects Fifth Avenue near that point). It was built in 1863, operated as a theater from 1865 to 1908, an ...

in New York on June 5, 1883. The play is a romantic comedy where a hapless man becomes the guardian of his uncle's adopted daughter, and eventually wins her love.Burt, Daniel S
The Chronology of American Literature
p. 264 (2004) Produced by

Daniel Frohman Daniel Frohman (August 22, 1851 – December 26, 1940) was an American theatrical producer and manager, and an early film producer. Biography Frohman was born to a Jewish family in Sandusky, Ohio. His parents were Henry (1826–1899) and Ba ...

at the Madison Square Theatre, it was panned by critics but had a successful run of 256 nights, before also being successful on the road.The Drama
''The Critic'', p. 274-75 (June 9, 1883)Strang, Lewis Clinton
Players and Plays of the Last Quarter Century, Vol. II
p. 142 (1902)(6 June 1883)
"The Rajah." (review)
''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'' (critical and amusing review)(6 June 1883)
The Rajah (review)
''

New York Tribune The ''New-York Tribune'' (from 1914: ''New York Tribune'') was an American newspaper founded in 1841 by editor Horace Greeley. It bore the moniker ''New-York Daily Tribune'' from 1842 to 1866 before returning to its original name. From the 1840s ...

'', p. 4, col. 6(19 August 1883)
The Madison Square Theatre
''

'' (reporting that the continued success of the play is delaying any replacements, as well as road performances) The play was Young's greatest success as a playwright; his other major success was the play adaptation of '' Ben Hur'' in 1899.

Photographs

''The Rajah'' was one of the earliest plays of which successful photographs were taken. Photographer Benjamin Falk took eight pictures, which were made available for sale. For the 100th performance of the play on September 11, 1883, a souvenir with all eight images was created. Among the set are photographs of the much-praised woodland scenery created by John Mazzanovich.Shields, Daniel S
Seeing the Stage
Broadway Photographs (University of South Carolina), Retrieved 17 April 2014(10 June 1886)
John Mazzanovich's Death. The Well Known Scenic Artist's Short But Varied Career
''

'' (Obituary for Mazzanovich notes that "some of the best known of his later works, done in connection with his partner and pupil, Homer F. Emens, were the ... beautiful brook scene in 'The Rajah'...")

Opening cast

*Harold Wyncot (the Rajah) ...

George Clarke George Clarke (7 May 1661 – 22 October 1736), of All Souls, Oxford, was an English architect, print collector and Tory politician who sat in the English and British House of Commons between 1702 and 1736. Life The son of Sir William Clark ...

*Gladys Wyncot ... Rillie Deaves (also later played by

Marie Burroughs Marie Burroughs (born Lillie Arrington; September 26, 1866 – March 4, 1926) was an American stage actress in the late 19th century. She played prominent roles in many plays, although she never became a first-tier star. Career Burroughs ...

) *Joseph Jeckyll ... William J. Le Moyne *Emilia Jeckyll ... Enid Leslie (also later played by Marion Elmore) *Richard Jocelyn ... Thomas Whiffen *Mr. Jon ... Joseph Frankau *Mrs. Pringle ... Blanche Whiffen *Buttons ...

Alfred Klein Alfred Asher Klein (May 12, 1861 – February 21, 1904)Record of Current Events
'' ...

(Klein had to fall into a "brook" of water in the third act) *Cragin ... Max FreemanPlay advertisement with cast listing
''The Critic'', p. 276 (June 16, 1883)Brown, T. Allston

419 (1903)

Adaptations

''The Rajah'' was adapted to film at least once; an Edison one reel production with

Marc McDermott Marcus McDermott (also credited as Marc MacDermott; 24 July 1871 – 5 January 1929) was an Australian actor who starred on Broadway and in over 180 American films from 1909 until his death.Nick Murphy at the Forgotten Australian Actors webs ...

playing the title role was released on February 14, 1911.Catalog of Copyright Entries, Part IV for 1911
p. 82 (1911) (directory listing)

References

External links

*
The Rajah: An Original Comedy in Four Acts
full text on Google books
100th performance souvenir - September 11, 1883
David A. Hanson Collection of the History of Photomechanical Reproduction {{DEFAULTSORT:Rajah, The 1883 plays