''The Unfortunate Mother'' is a tragic play by

Thomas Nabbes Thomas Nabbes (1605 – buried 6 April 1641) was an English dramatist. He was born in humble circumstances in Worcestershire, was educated at as a King's scholar at the King's School, Worcester (1616–1620), and entered Exeter College, Oxfo ...

, first published in 1640 (and written sometime prior to that) but not performed until 2013, almost 400 years later.

Publication

The play was published in 1640 "by J.O. for Daniell Frere ... to be sold at the Signe of the Red Bull in Little Britaine", with a dedication to

Richard Brathwaite Richard Brathwait or Brathwaite (1588 – 4 May 1673) was an English poet. Life Brathwait was born at Burnishead, near Kendal. He entered Oriel College, Oxford in 1604, and remained there for some years, pursuing the study of poetry and Roman ...

, a stranger to him, whom he apologises for addressing. It is said to have been written as a rival to Shirley's ‘Politician,’ but was never acted, owing to the refusal of the actors to undertake the performance. Three friends (

Edward Benlowes Edward Benlowes (12 July 160318 December 1676) was an English poet. Life The son of Andrew Benlowes of Brent Hall, Essex, he matriculated at St Johns College, Cambridge, on 8 April 1620. On leaving the university he travelled with a tutor on t ...

, C. G., and R. W.) prefixed commendatory verses by way of consoling the author for the slight thus cast upon him.

Plot and style

The play is a bleak tragedy, beginning in the aftermath of the death of the prince and ending in the deaths of most of the characters. Its plot includes hidden identities, poison, deceit, Machiavellian social climbing, murder and a duel. In the preface Nabbes specifies his intent to move away from the bombast and melodrama of popular drama, towards a subtler, more intellectual kind of theatre. Unfortunately, the theatre companies did not share his ambition and he could find nobody to take charge of producing it.

Characters

*Macario, the new Prince *Bonardo, father to Fidelio and Amanda *Corvino, adviser to the Dutchess, machiavel, father to Melissa, supposed father to Notho and Spurio *Notho, a triumphant general, brother to Spurio *Spurio, the Dutchess' favourite, brother to Notho *Fidelio, a courtier, friend to Spurio, in love with Melissa *Beneventi, a courtier, friend to Fidelio *Polemici, a souldier *Vittorio, a souldier *Dutchess Infelice, mother to Macario, widow to the late prince *Amanda, sister to Fidelio, in love with Spurio *Melissa, sister to Spurio, in love with Fidelio *Lady *Cardente, old maid to the Dutchess

Performance history

The play was not performed in its own time, being rejected by all the acting companies Nabbes presented it to. When the theatres were closed under Puritan rule, Nabbes had the script published; it remained untouched and relatively little known throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, and did not receive its first performance until Friday 18 October 2013 (363 years after publication) in a production by

Brice Stratford Brice Stratford is an English Theatre director, director, writer, historian, folklorist, actor-manager, and heritage campaigner. His work focuses on classical and Shakespearean theatre, the New Forest area of Southern England, British folkl ...

(who also took the part of Notho) at

St Giles in the Fields St Giles in the Fields is the Anglican parish church of the St Giles district of London. It stands within the London Borough of Camden and belongs to the Diocese of London. The church, named for St Giles the Hermit, began as a monastery and ...

Church, where Nabbes was buried, as part of the Cannibal Valour repertory season of obscure historical theatre.Potter, Louis. "Better (very) late than never", ''Times Literary Supplement''. 29 November 2013.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Unfortunate Mother English Renaissance plays 1640 plays