''Ben Nazir, the Saracen'' is an 1827

historical History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbrella term comprising past events as well ...

tragedy by the Irish writer

Thomas Colley Grattan Thomas Colley Grattan (1792 – 4 July 1864) was an Irish novelist, poet, historian and diplomat. Born in Dublin, he was educated for the law, but did not practise. He wrote a few novels, including '' The Heiress of Bruges'' (4 volumes, 1830 ...

. It premiered at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London on 21 May 1827. The original cast included Edmund Kean as Ben Nazir,

Henry John Wallack Henry John Wallack (1790 – 30 August 1870) was a British actor, stage manager, and brother of actor James William Wallack. Wallack was born in London. Wallack's parents were comedians, who performed at the London minor playhouses and in the B ...

as Charles Martel, John Cooper as Eudes, Duke of Aquitaine, Alexander Pope as Clotaire,

Thomas Archer Thomas Archer (1668–1743) was an English Baroque architect, whose work is somewhat overshadowed by that of his contemporaries Sir John Vanbrugh and Nicholas Hawksmoor. His buildings are important as the only ones by an English Baroque architec ...

as Mervan, Henry Southwell as Velid,

Thomas Comer Thomas Comer (1790–1862) was a British stage actor. Comer was born in Bath in Somerset. After appearing in the West End at the Drury Lane and Covent Garden theatres, he emigrated to the United States and established himself as a leading music ...

as Army officer, Benjamin Webster as a Slave, Harriet Smithson as Bathilda and

Sarah West Sarah West (born 1972) is a retired Royal Navy officer, the first woman to be appointed to command a major warship in the Royal Navy. West was born in Lincolnshire and studied mathematics at the University of Hertfordshire before entering Brita ...

as Emerance. Kean was eager for a new play for his relaunch himself on the London stage after being forced to make a tour of America in the wake of the scandal of his affair with Constance Cox. He turned down ''

Alfred the Great Alfred the Great (alt. Ælfred 848/849 – 26 October 899) was King of the West Saxons from 871 to 886, and King of the Anglo-Saxons from 886 until his death in 899. He was the youngest son of King Æthelwulf and his first wife Osburh, who bot ...

'' by

James Sheridan Knowles James Sheridan Knowles (12 May 1784 – 30 November 1862) was an Irish dramatist and actor. Biography Knowles was born in Cork. His father was the lexicographer James Knowles (1759–1840), cousin of Richard Brinsley Sheridan. The family mov ...

and selected ''Ben Nazir'', although its reception was disastrous.Ziter p.59

References

Bibliography

* Kahar, Jeffrey. ''The Cult of Kean''. Routledge, 2017. * Nicoll, Allardyce. ''A History of Early Nineteenth Century Drama 1800-1850''. Cambridge University Press, 1930. * Ziter, Edward. ''The Orient on the Victorian Stage''. Cambridge University Press, 2003. 1827 plays West End plays British plays Irish plays Tragedy plays Historical plays Works by Thomas Colley Grattan {{19thC-play-stub