''Distress'd Innocence; Or, The Princess Of Persia'' is a 1690 tragedy by the English writer Elkanah Settle. It was first performed by the

United Company The United Company was a London theatre company formed in 1682 with the merger of the King's Company and the Duke's Company. Both the Duke's and King's Companies suffered poor attendance during the turmoil of the Popish Plot period, 1678– ...

at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London. Incidental music was composed for the play by

Henry Purcell Henry Purcell (, rare: September 1659 – 21 November 1695) was an English composer. Purcell's style of Baroque music was uniquely English, although it incorporated Italian and French elements. Generally considered among the greatest E ...

. The original cast included John Bowman as Isdigerdes, William Mountfort as Hormidas, George Powell as Theodosius, John Hodgson as Audas, George Bright as Cleontes, Edward Kynaston as Otrantes, Samuel Sandford as Rugildas, John Freeman and

John Verbruggen John Baptista Verbruggen, d. 1708, was an English actor working in London. Verbruggen is first mentioned as a member of the United Company in a Lord Chamberlain's warrant in 1688. His name does not appear in any cast lists until October 1690. Th ...

as Persian Magi, Elizabeth Barry as Orundana,

Anne Bracegirdle Anne Bracegirdle (possibly 167112 September 1748) was an English actress. Biography Bracegirdle was born to Justinian and Martha (born Furniss) Bracegirdle in Northamptonshire. She was baptised in Northampton on 15 November 1671, although her to ...

as Cleomira and Katherine Corey as Doranthe.Van Lennep p.390

References

Bibliography

* Brown, Frank Clyde. ''Elkanah Settle''. University of Chicago Press, 1910. * Van Lennep, W. ''The London Stage, 1660-1800: Volume One, 1660-1700''. Southern Illinois University Press, 1960. 1690 plays West End plays Tragedy plays Plays by Elkanah Settle {{17thC-play-stub