André (play)
Encyclopedia
André is a play by William Dunlap
, first produced at the Park Theatre
in New York City
on March 30, 1798 by the Old American Company, published in that same year together with a collection of historic documents relating to the case of Major
John André
, the British officer who was hanged as a spy on October 2, 1780, for his role in the treason of Benedict Arnold
. The play does not go into the historic details, but rather presents a fictionalized account of the American debate over whether to spare or hang him. Only three characters in the play are historic: André himself, George Washington
(referred to throughout the text, except once in a passage inserted between the first two performances, simply as "The General"), and Honora Sneyd, who had been briefly engaged to André ten years earlier under the auspices of Anna Seward
, who had done much to romanticize the affair in her Monody on Major André of 1781. (Actually, Honora Sneyd had died of consumption some months before André's death, and never went to America.)
Despite the fictionalization, the play genuinely shows the anguish felt by many on the American side over the necessity to hang the brilliant and charming young officer, and is written in unusually good verse for the time.
Apart from its merits, the play is noteworthy as the first American tragedy written on an American subject. Despite being nowadays acknowledged as Dunlap's best piece of work, unfortunately, it was not a great success at the time. Its lack of popularity stemmed from the controversial lionization of the protagonist, André. Moreover, at opening night the crowd rose to its feet in anger and indignation when Bland, a soldier in the play, hurls his cockade
to the ground at the prospect of André being sentenced to death. The controversy was twofold— not only was Bland losing composure over the fate of a British spy but the cockade (worn by Patriots
and then later by the revolutionaries during the French Revolution
to emulate their spirit) being tossed to the floor was interpreted by many as Dunlap attacking the Revolutionary War.
Dunlap later recycled much of it into his pageant-play The Glory of Columbia, Her Yeomanry, a piece resonating with the Populist
tone in theatre at the time, and which continued to be popular for fifty years.
William Dunlap
William Dunlap was a pioneer of the American theater. He was a producer, playwright, and actor, as well as a historian. He managed two of New York's earliest and most prominent theaters, the John Street Theatre and the Park Theatre...
, first produced at the Park Theatre
Park Theatre (Manhattan)
The Park Theatre, originally known as the New Theatre, was a playhouse in New York City, located at 21, 23, and 25 Park Row, about east of Ann Street and backing Theatre Alley. The location, at the north end of the city, overlooked the park that would soon house City Hall...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on March 30, 1798 by the Old American Company, published in that same year together with a collection of historic documents relating to the case of Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
John André
John André
John André was a British army officer hanged as a spy during the American War of Independence. This was due to an incident in which he attempted to assist Benedict Arnold's attempted surrender of the fort at West Point, New York to the British.-Early life:André was born on May 2, 1750 in London to...
, the British officer who was hanged as a spy on October 2, 1780, for his role in the treason of Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold V was a general during the American Revolutionary War. He began the war in the Continental Army but later defected to the British Army. While a general on the American side, he obtained command of the fort at West Point, New York, and plotted to surrender it to the British forces...
. The play does not go into the historic details, but rather presents a fictionalized account of the American debate over whether to spare or hang him. Only three characters in the play are historic: André himself, George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
(referred to throughout the text, except once in a passage inserted between the first two performances, simply as "The General"), and Honora Sneyd, who had been briefly engaged to André ten years earlier under the auspices of Anna Seward
Anna Seward
Anna Seward was an English Romantic poet, often called the Swan of Lichfield.-Life:Seward was the elder daughter of Thomas Seward , prebendary of Lichfield and Salisbury, and author...
, who had done much to romanticize the affair in her Monody on Major André of 1781. (Actually, Honora Sneyd had died of consumption some months before André's death, and never went to America.)
Despite the fictionalization, the play genuinely shows the anguish felt by many on the American side over the necessity to hang the brilliant and charming young officer, and is written in unusually good verse for the time.
Apart from its merits, the play is noteworthy as the first American tragedy written on an American subject. Despite being nowadays acknowledged as Dunlap's best piece of work, unfortunately, it was not a great success at the time. Its lack of popularity stemmed from the controversial lionization of the protagonist, André. Moreover, at opening night the crowd rose to its feet in anger and indignation when Bland, a soldier in the play, hurls his cockade
Cockade
A cockade is a knot of ribbons, or other circular- or oval-shaped symbol of distinctive colors which is usually worn on a hat.-Eighteenth century:...
to the ground at the prospect of André being sentenced to death. The controversy was twofold— not only was Bland losing composure over the fate of a British spy but the cockade (worn by Patriots
Patriot (American Revolution)
Patriots is a name often used to describe the colonists of the British Thirteen United Colonies who rebelled against British control during the American Revolution. It was their leading figures who, in July 1776, declared the United States of America an independent nation...
and then later by the revolutionaries during the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
to emulate their spirit) being tossed to the floor was interpreted by many as Dunlap attacking the Revolutionary War.
Dunlap later recycled much of it into his pageant-play The Glory of Columbia, Her Yeomanry, a piece resonating with the Populist
Populism
Populism can be defined as an ideology, political philosophy, or type of discourse. Generally, a common theme compares "the people" against "the elite", and urges social and political system changes. It can also be defined as a rhetorical style employed by members of various political or social...
tone in theatre at the time, and which continued to be popular for fifty years.
External links
- http://pws.prserv.net/jwkennedy/Andre/index.html -- Full text