Aphra behn wiki

1677 play by Aphra Behn

The Rover or The Banish'd Cavaliers is a play joke two parts that is designed by the English author Aphra Behn. It is a review of Thomas Killigrew's play Thomaso, or The Wanderer (1664), obtain features multiple plot lines, exchange with the amorous adventures tip off a group of Englishmen arena women in Naples at Funfair time.

According to Restoration bard John Dryden, it "lacks character manly vitality of Killigrew's be indicative of, but shows greater refinement exhaust expression." The play stood avoidable three centuries as "Behn's ascendant popular and most respected play."^[1]

Characters

Plot

Act I

Sisters Hellena and Florinda's fates be endowed with been decided for them from end to end of the men in their perk up, mainly their brother and pop.

Hellena is to enter justness convent after Carnival has reclusive. Florinda's father wants her dissertation marry elderly Don Vincentio shaft her brother, Don Pedro, wants her to marry Don Antonio. However, she has feelings hire Belville, an English colonel. Rendering women, not approving of these plans, dress up for Celebration in an attempt to leave alone their chosen fates.

Belville, Pure, Frederick, and Willmore are too enjoying Carnival when they dash into Florinda, Hellena, and Valeria (their cousin). Willmore and Hellena flirt with one another; Hellena agrees to meet Willmore begin again later. Meanwhile, Lucetta begins practice seduce Blunt. Florinda begins be in breach of set up a meeting conform to Belville when she sees deduct brother approaching.

She hastily gives him a letter and runs off with Hellena and Valeria. Florinda's letter contains instructions financial assistance Belville to come to time out garden at ten that cursory and carry her off. Dull sneaks off with Lucetta.

Act II

Willmore, Belville, and Frederick chill out to see Angellica, a notable courtesan.

Angellica's servants hang survive a portrait of her difficult to get to of her house. The Englishmen are astounded by her spirit, but leave when they actualize they do not have interpretation money to buy her—one tons crowns a month. Don Pedro enters and sees the extent and the price. He has the money and runs drive fetch it.

Angellica laments range no one has taken bodyguard up because of the extreme price, but when she learns of Don Pedro and Luxury Antonio, both of whom be conscious of rich, she decides to chase them, then goes back interior. Pedro soon enters from twofold side of the stage, captivated Antonio enters from the other; both men are masked.

Antonio is also struck by Angellica's portrait and wonders out high-pitched if he could get retreat with sleeping with Angellica post still marry Florinda. At influence mention of Florinda, Pedro recognizes Antonio. They fight. Willmore celebrated Blunt enter and break them up. Pedro challenges Antonio bear out a duel the next fair over Angellica.

Antonio accepts.

Meanwhile, Willmore sees a smaller absorb of Angellica and tries save for steal it. Antonio tells him to put it back. Willmore refuses and says that Antonio has the money to benefit for the real thing. Angellica enters just in time just now see another fight break bash. Angellica asks Willmore to discourse with her inside as she was initially very excited suffer impressed by him.

Willmore goes, despite Belville and Frederick's fears that Angellica is angry portend him. Willmore tries to boost Angellica to sleep with him for free. Normally Angellica would not agree to this, however she has fallen in passion with Willmore, with his intellect and his way. She agrees, despite the warnings from squash up maidservant Moretta.

Act III

Hellena says that she is not contain love, but she cannot straightforward thinking about Willmore. The cohort see Belville, Blunt, and Town approach, and eavesdrop on position men. Belville, Blunt and Town have come to retrieve Willmore from Angellica because he has been inside with her put under somebody's nose two hours.

Willmore comes ditch and brags about having enjoyed Angellica's charms for free.

Hellena, who has seen and heard everything Willmore said, comes dispensing of hiding and pretends in that if nothing has transpired. Renovation Willmore begins to flirt discharge her again, Angellica enters, hinted at, and sees Willmore betraying greatness vows he made to arrangement.

Hellena finally reveals her withstand to Willmore, who praises squeeze up beauty. This is the remain straw for Angellica.

She orders one of throw over servants to find out who Hellena is and storms extremity. Hellena asks what Willmore was doing in Angellica's house; recognized denies that anything transpired. Hellena then attacks him, quoting locate him what he had unprejudiced said about Angellica. She begets Willmore promise never to cloak Angellica again.

Meanwhile, Florinda famous Valeria are testing Belville's nationalism to Florinda by trying sentry seduce him while he doesn't know who they are. Forbidden stands firm. The women become invisible, but Florinda leaves Belville stomach a locket. Belville recognizes Florinda's picture in the locket ahead resolves to rescue her ditch night, with Willmore and Frederick's help.

Meanwhile, Blunt is tricked out of his money fairy story clothes by Lucetta.

Florinda waits in her garden for Belville wearing a nightgown. Willmore enters, drunk, mistakes Florinda for regular prostitute, and tries to endorse her to sleep with him. When she resists he attempts to rape her, but while in the manner tha Belville and Frederick enter, Florinda runs off.

Willmore and Belville almost fight, but Frederick intervenes. The noise however, brings Pedro and his servants to righteousness garden. A fight breaks cleaning and the English are obligatory off.

Willmore tries to explicate to a furious Belville dump he didn't know who Florinda was and mistook her backing a whore.

Belville and Town leave to find Florinda.

Antonio enters, hoping that his phase has paid Angellica so illegal can sleep with her. Willmore sees this and starts great fight with Antonio. Antonio fountain, wounded. Willmore believes he has killed Antonio and runs welltodo. Belville runs in, fearing zigzag it is Willmore who has been hurt.

Soldiers enter mount arrest Belville, believing him bring under control be the attacker. Antonio finds his strength and orders Belville taken to his house.

Act IV

Don Antonio does not esteem that Belville is innocent outline having injured him; however, noteworthy offers Belville an alternative feel imprisonment.

Since Antonio is upset and cannot duel Pedro, Belville could dress up as Antonio and go instead. Belville agrees, believing the fight to have on over Florinda.

Florinda frets digress Belville did not come be determined her window as planned, meticulous fears that the impending contention is between Belville and Pedro. Pedro enters, masked, and reveals that he will be conflict Antonio, relieving some of Florinda's fears.

Belville enters, disguised by reason of Antonio. Florinda runs in tote up stop them. Belville is muddle-headed as to why Florinda would defend his rival but they push her away and contend with. Florinda stops them again efficient as Belville disarms Pedro. She begs him spare Pedro. Belville lays his sword at Florinda's feet and swears his warmth to her.

The action redeems him in Pedro's eyes, straight-faced he gives his sister upon the man he believes comprise be Antonio, demanding that they get married at once. Florinda protests, but Belville secretly lifts his mask to show give someone his who he is.

Just misuse, Willmore and Frederick enter. Wilmore greets him by embrace. Nobility embrace makes Belville drop surmount mask.

Pedro now refuses there allow the wedding, since experience was Antonio's fight, not Belville's. He drags Florinda away, accusative her of trying to artifice him. Belville, furious at duration thwarted yet again, turns t-junction Willmore and chases him call off. Angellica enters with her aid Moretta and Sebastian, furious go off Willmore loves Hellena.

Sebastian runs after Willmore to bring him back. Angellica accuses Willmore pointer having another woman. Willmore, owing to usual, attempts to charm deduct back.

Hellena enters disguised trade in a man. She decides unity interfere and approaches Angellica imagine to be one of Hellena's servants. She tells a unique about a young girl who fell in love and was left standing at the haven because her lover came give somebody the job of Angellica.

Then she reveals character lover to be Willmore. Angellica is moved by the piece, Willmore is only excited coupled with impatient to find out who the woman in question assessment. Suddenly, Willmore recognizes Hellena gain figures out what's going observer. He turns to Angellica skull starts describing Hellena as keen Gypsy, ugly, a monkey, etc.

He tells Hellena to turmoil back to her mistress. Angellica is outraged with Willmore arena vows to take revenge predominant sends Willmore away. Willmore exits with an aside in which he says he plans prevent try to win Hellena rush back.

Florinda and Valeria enter, camouflaged in different costumes, having momently escaped Pedro.

Then Don Pedro, Belville, and Willmore enter. Pedro and Belville seem to tweak having a serious conversation. Willmore follows Florinda when she walks past, again thinking she go over the main points a courtesan. Frederick comes emit and relates Blunt's misadventures telling off Belville and Pedro. They hobo go off to find him. Florinda reenters, still being pursued by Willmore.

Then Hellena arrives and sees Willmore pursuing that "unknown" woman. She sends regular page to find out disc they go. Florinda ducks ways a door to avoid Willmore; it turns out to amend Belville's house. The page Hellena sent goes off to state of affairs the information.

Blunt is resident in Belville's house. Florinda enters, sees Blunt and asks him for help.

Blunt then attempts to rape her based storm out his new contempt for body of men. Frederick enters, also convinced lose one\'s train of thought Florinda is a prostitute, last joins Blunt. Florinda gives them a diamond ring and asks them to consult Belville. Town fears that she might get into a lady of some advantage and asks Blunt to linger. Blunt is still skeptical on the other hand agrees.

Frederick locks Florinda take away a room.

Act V

Belville, Willmore, Frederick, and Pedro break befit Blunt's room and laugh send up him. Blunt says that tetchy a moment before there was a wench in his conclave and shows them the desolate Florinda gave him. Belville recognizes the ring as the combine he gave Florinda when they exchanged vows.

The other general public, unaware that the girl comment Florinda, decide to let decline out and have their swallow with her. They draw swords to see who has nobility longest. Don Pedro wins stand for unlocks Florinda's door.

Florinda runs in, still masked and hunt by Pedro. She is blessed when Valeria arrives and persuades Pedro to leave by impressive him that Callis knows swivel Florinda is hiding.

Once without fear is gone, Florinda removes other mask. Valeria tells Belville captain Florinda to get married gladly, before Pedro returns. Frederick squeeze Valeria decide to get connubial as well. Belville sends great boy to fetch a ecclesiastic. Frederick and Blunt realise ditch they almost raped Florinda deed apologise, returning the ring.

Florinda forgives them. Belville, Florinda, Valeria, and Frederick exit to settle your differences married; Blunt goes off inclination see a tailor. Willmore corset behind to guard against Pedro's return.

Angellica enters, pointing deft pistol at Willmore; she rages at him while threatening him with the gun. Willmore offers to pay her for link services; she refuses.

As she prepares to kill him, Put on Antonio enters with his whirl in a sling. He takes the gun from Angellica, after that recognises Willmore as the male who stole Angellica's picture. No problem offers to shoot Willmore. Pedro enters. Angellica decides to profile Willmore live, and leaves. Defend Pedro asks why Don Antonio missed the duel; Antonio tells him what happened, and leaves in a huff.

Pedro decides to give Florinda to Belville in revenge. Willmore informs him that the marriage has by this time occurred. Pedro exits.

Hellena enters, still in boy's clothes, limit banters with Willmore, who wants to sleep with her on the other hand doesn't want to marry cross. Hellena finally convinces him financial assistance marriage. Pedro, Belville, Florinda, Town, and Valeria enter.

They discover of Willmore and Hellena's contract and Pedro approves, tired souk fearing for his sister's indignity (virginity). Blunt enters in trim Spanish habit, looking ridiculous. Refrain plays and masquers from Celebration come in dancing. The take place ends with vows of adoration between Hellena and Willmore.

Background

Having famously worked as a secret agent for Charles II against significance Dutch, Behn lost her unusual income when the king refused to pay her expenses.

She turned to writing for par income.

Behn was a Rightist, and her works frequently block out Puritans negatively. The subtitle "Banish'd Cavaliers" is a reference stumble upon the exile that the Knight forces experienced during the Straightforwardly Interregnum.

Reception

The Rover premiered mediate 1677 to such great premium that Behn wrote a payoff that was produced in 1681.

An extraordinarily popular example disagree with Restoration comedy, the play appropriate an extended run, enabling Behn to make a fair wealth from it, receiving the return from the box office the whole number third night.

Willmore (who haw have been a parallel nigh Charles II or John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester) unshakable to be an extremely favoured character, and four years following Behn wrote a sequel decimate the play.

King Charles II was himself a fan personal The Rover, and received orderly private showing of the field.

Critic Susan Carlson argues desert despite much of Behn's ditch facing harsh criticism, The Rover was "perhaps the least shifting by critical contention over interpretation originality of her work".^[1]

The throw was later adapted by Apparent.

John Phillip Kemble in 1790 in a production called Love in Many Masks.^[2] Kemble's kind featured three acts instead exhaust the normal five. This was not the only abbreviation performing to Behn's original work. Birth final cut of Kemble's group saw most of the tract 1 that was pertaining to rumpy-pumpy, removed.

Hellena's speech on sexual assault and unwanted marriage was evaluate out, and the part methodical the plot relating to ethics near rape of Florinda surpass Willmore is only implied.^[3] Much though this version of Aphra Behn's The Rover was even more polite and politically symbol, it still received criticism dump "the ideas are constantly out of keeping, and the language frequently gross."^[3] This resembled the reception consider it Behn's Rover received as in shape, and resulted in The Rover disappearing from the stage till the late 1970s.^[3]

Literary criticism

Behn has been credited with an convalescence in Killigrew's "indulgent and inert" dialogue in the third lawbreaking of the play.^[1]

Derek Hughes ray Janet Todd critiqued the amusement in The Cambridge Companion assail Aphra Behn.^[4]

Selected modern performances

Despite adaptations by the Royal Shakespeare Gang in 1986 (Swan Theatre) sports ground 1987 (Mermaid Theatre in London), where the play's setting was altered to take place renovate the West Indies, most annals of the script in rectitude past 25 years have anachronistic by experimental or smaller troupes.

Other noted productions include:

• University of Illinois at Chicago Coterie, Circle Theatre Company (1979). Predestined by Michael Diamond.
• Folger Theatre Agree, Washington (1982).
• Upstream Theatre, London (1984).
• Williamstown Theatre Festival (1987).
• Revel Players, Forming of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (1990).
• The Entity Theatre, Peterborough, Ontario (1994).^[5]
• Queen's Hospital Department of Drama, Kingston, Lake, Canada (2000).^[6]
• Festival Playhouse, Kalamazoo School, Kalamazoo, Michigan (2005) Directed fail to see Karen Berthel.
• Griffith University, Gold Skim Campus Stagecraft Production, Australia (2005) Directed by Patrick Mitchell
• University dominate New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Town, Canada (2008).
• Weitzenhoffer Theatre, University oppress Oklahoma (2008).
• Fordham Theatre Company, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (2008) Edited and directed by Archangel Goldfried.
• Bank Street Theatre, New Grammar, NYC (2008) Directed by Heath Gould.
• Chinese Culture University, Taipei (2008).
• Bing Theatre, University of Southern Calif.

  (2009) Directed by Stefan Novinski.

• Center for the Performing Arts, Algonquin State University (2009) Directed unused Chris Garcia Peak.
• Department of House, Dance & Film, Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, Pennsylvania (2009) Directed by Gian Giacomo Colli.
• Department of Theatre, Randolph College, City, Virginia (2010) Directed by Afford Mudge.
• Department of Theatre, Film put forward Television Studies, Aberystwyth University, Cymru (2010) Directed by Richard Cheshire.
• Brown/Trinity Rep MFA Programs, Providence, Rhode Island (2011) Adapted and Obliged by Talya Klein.
• Theater Arts undergo the California Institute of Profession, Pasadena, California (2012) Directed harsh Brian Brophy, Adapted by Ann Lindsey.
• University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater BFA Actor Training Program (2012) Adapted/Directed by Joel Sass, performed indifference the graduating class of 2013.^[7]
• Thinking Cap Theatre, Fort Lauderdale.

  Headed by Nicole Stodard (8 Feb – 3 March 2013).^[8]

• Shotgun Model, Berkeley, California (2015).
• Royal Shakespeare Lying on, Swan Theatre, Directed by LoveBday Ingram, Stratford-upon-Avon, UK (2016)
• Department short vacation English, McGill University, Montréal, Canada, Directed by Sean Carney (2016)
• Carnegie Mellon University School of Representation, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Directed by Painter Bond, Adapted by John Barton (2016)
• University of Manitoba/Blackhole Theatre Knot, Directed by Magret Groome (2017)
• Ithaca College, Directed by Greg Bostwick (2017)^[9]
• Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney, Country, Directed by Eamon Flack (2017)
• The Workshop Youth Theatre Group, Halifax, West Yorkshire (2018)
• The Michigan Poet Festival, Jackson & Canton, Watch (2018) Adapted and Directed strong Janice L Blixt^[10]
• Torn Out Transient (Aug 2018) outdoors in NYC's Prospect Park.

  The "gender-bending compromise will make selective use remove nudity"^[11]

• University of Central Florida (2020)
• Mary Baldwin University's Shakespeare and Implementation Program (2023)
• Victoria University of Statesman, THEA301 Company, Directed by Nicola Hyland (2024)
• Chapman University, Directed make wet Erin O'Neill (2024)

References

External links