The Wife Of Bath (play)
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''The Wife of Bath'' is a 1713 comedy play by the British writer
John Gay John Gay (30 June 1685 – 4 December 1732) was an English poet and dramatist and member of the Scriblerus Club. He is best remembered for ''The Beggar's Opera'' (1728), a ballad opera. The characters, including Captain Macheath and Polly Peach ...
. It was inspired by '' The Wife of Bath's Tale'' by
Geoffrey Chaucer Geoffrey Chaucer ( ; – 25 October 1400) was an English poet, author, and civil servant best known for ''The Canterbury Tales''. He has been called the "father of English literature", or, alternatively, the "father of English poetry". He w ...
. The play marked a conscious switch by Gay towards an apolitical and distant past, after his contemporary work ''The Mohocks'' had faced controversy and censorship the previous year. Robert Wilks, a celebrated actor and manager of the Drury Lane Theatre, appeared as Chaucer. The title role of the wife was played by Margaret Bicknell with Mary Porter as Myrtilla and the cast rounded out by William Bullock, Lacy Ryan, Christopher Bullock, William Pinkethman, Susanna Mountfort and Henry Norris. It had been expected to premiere in April 1713, but was delayed by the lengthy run of
Joseph Addison Joseph Addison (1 May 1672 – 17 May 1719) was an English essayist, poet, playwright, and politician. He was the eldest son of Lancelot Addison. His name is usually remembered alongside that of his long-standing friend Richard Steele, with w ...
's '' Cato'' which had been widely acclaimed. When it was finally able to be staged, it lasted for only two nights. However a publisher Bernard Lintot paid £25 for the
copyright A copyright is a type of intellectual property that gives its owner the exclusive legal right to copy, distribute, adapt, display, and perform a creative work, usually for a limited time. The creative work may be in a literary, artistic, ...
to the work, while
Richard Steele Sir Richard Steele ( – 1 September 1729) was an Anglo-Irish writer, playwright and politician best known as the co-founder of the magazine ''The Spectator (1711), The Spectator'' alongside his close friend Joseph Addison. Early life Steel ...
had been enthusiastic after seeing it in rehearsals. The epilogue was likely to have been written by Gay's friend and fellow
Tory A Tory () is an individual who supports a political philosophy known as Toryism, based on a British version of traditionalist conservatism which upholds the established social order as it has evolved through the history of Great Britain. The To ...
Alexander Pope Alexander Pope (21 May 1688 Old Style and New Style dates, O.S. – 30 May 1744) was an English poet, translator, and satirist of the Age of Enlightenment, Enlightenment era who is considered one of the most prominent English poets of the early ...
. On 19 January 1730 the play, substantially rewritten by Gay who was now celebrated for his '' The Beggar's Opera'', opened at the Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre. The cast featured John Hippisley and Jane Egleton, who has both appeared in ''The Beggar's Opera''. Other cast members included Thomas Chapman, Anthony Boheme, William Milward,
Charles Hulett Charles Hulett (c.1700-1735) was a British stage actor. His name is sometimes written as Charles Hulet. Hulett was the son of John Hulett, a Yeomen of the Guard and Steward (office), Steward to the George Compton, 4th Earl of Northampton, Earl of ...
and Elizabeth Younger. It ran for three nights and this time Lintot paid £75 for the copyright to print it for sale. However, the play was never revived.Winton pp. 146–147


References


Bibliography

* Burling, William J. ''A Checklist of New Plays and Entertainments on the London Stage, 1700–1737''. Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press, 1992. * Winton, Calhoun. ''John Gay and the London Theatre''. University Press of Kentucky, 2014. 1713 plays West End plays Plays by John Gay Plays based on The Canterbury Tales {{1710s-play-stub