The Rival Queens, or the Death Of Alexander the Great is a Restoration tragedy written by Nathaniel Lee c. 1677.[1] Regarded as one of his best tragedies, the play revolves around Alexander the Great and his two wives, Roxana and Statira, whose competition for his affections ends in tragedy. The play was largely influenced by French dramatist La Calprenède's historic romance Cassandre.
| The Rival Queens | |
|---|---|
 1747 Covent Garden playbill | |
| Written by | Nathaniel Lee |
| Date premiered | 17 March 1677 |
| Place premiered | Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London |
| Original language | English |
| Genre | Tragedy |
Performance history
editThe play was first performed at the Theatre Royal in London[2] by the King's Company. The original cast included Charles Hart as Alexander, Michael Mohun as Clytus, Philip Griffin as Lysimachus, Thomas Clark as Hephestion, Cardell Goodman as Polyperchon, Edward Kynaston as Cassander, Martin Powell as Philip, John Wiltshire as Thessalus, Edward Lydall as Perdiccas, Marmaduke Watson as Eumenes, Carey Perin as Meleager, John Coysh as Aristander, Katherine Corey as Sysigambis, Elizabeth Boutell as Statira and Anne Marshall as Roxana.[3]
Footnotes
edit- ^ Lee, Nathaniel (6 October 1677). The rival queens, or, the death of Alexander the Great acted at the Theater-Royal by their majesties servants.
{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help) - ^ Armistead, J. M. (2004). "Lee, Nathaniel (1645x52–1692), playwright and poet". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/16301. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ^ Van Lennep p.255
Bibliography
edit- Van Lennep, W. The London Stage, 1660-1800: Volume One, 1660-1700. Southern Illinois University Press, 1960.