Scribd
Upload
158 views1 page

The Vampire (Primer)

The document provides a dramaturgical primer for the 1820 play "The Vampire" by James Planche. It summarizes that Planche was a 19th century English dramatist known for his historically accurate costuming and research. "The Vampire" was one of Planche's many plays and was influenced by Gothic literature. It featured the first portrayal of vampires as charming rather than monstrous. The play tells the story of Lady Margaret who marries a vampire named Ruthven despite having a vision warning her against it.

Uploaded by

Scout Cox
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
158 views1 page

The Vampire (Primer)

The document provides a dramaturgical primer for the 1820 play "The Vampire" by James Planche. It summarizes that Planche was a 19th century English dramatist known for his historically accurate costuming and research. "The Vampire" was one of Planche's many plays and was influenced by Gothic literature. It featured the first portrayal of vampires as charming rather than monstrous. The play tells the story of Lady Margaret who marries a vampire named Ruthven despite having a vision warning her against it.

Uploaded by

Scout Cox
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 1

 

THE VAMPIRE 
THEA-251-04 
12/4/18 
 
 
DRAMATURGICAL PRIMER 
 
 
On the playwright: 
 
● Written  by  English  antiquarian,  dramatist,  costume  designer,  and 
officer  of  arms  ​
James  Planche​,  born  in  ​1796​.  He  was  something  of  a 
proto-dramaturg,  carrying  out  significant  amounts of research on his 
works in the name of historical accuracy. 
 
● At  the  time  of  his  death  in  ​
1880​,  he  had  collaborated  on  ​176  ​
plays 
in  a  variety  of  genres,  including  farce,  melodrama,  and  opera.  He 
also ​produced o​ver 100 papers and articles​on various topics. 
 
● He  was  responsible  for  introducing  ​ historically-accurate  costuming 
into  19th  century  British  theatre,  as  opposed  to  dressing  actors  in 
clothes similar to those of the day. 
 
 
On the play: 
 
● Was  the  first  instance  of  vampires  being  portrayed  in  theatre  as 
charming  and  elegant​ ,  rather  than  as  reanimated,  vagrant 
blood-junkies. Brought H ​igh Gothic influences​into theatre. 
 
● Was  a  commissioned  work  for  the  then-manager  of  ​ London’s  Lyceum 
Theatre​,  where  it  premiered  in  ​
1820​.  It  was  based  on  a  French  play 
by  Charles  Nodier,  which  was  based  on  a  short  story  by  John  William 
Polidori (all versions by similar names). 
 
● The  Vampire  takes  place  in  Scotland,  19th century. Lady Margaret has 
a  vision  warning  her  that  she  will  marry  a  vampire,  and  flees  from 
the  vampire  in  her  vision.  The  next  day,  a  suitor  comes  by  for 
Margaret.  However,  while  Margaret  and  Ronald  are  expecting  their 
deceased  friend’s  brother,  it’s  actually  the  deceased:  a  man  named 
Ruthven  who  died  some  time  prior,  supposedly  protecting  Ronald.  As 
it  turns  out,  Ruthven’s  body  has  been  remodeled  into  a  sweet  rental 
for  reincarnated  vampire  soul,  Cromal.  Basically,  Margaret  still 
marries  him  even  though  he looks like the demon from her dream, then 
Ruthven  gets  shot  trying  to prey on a younger woman and tells Ronald 
he  is  dying.  Ronald  then  tells  Lady  Margaret  this,  at  which  point 
Ruthven  returns,  assuredly  undead.  This confirms Ronald’s suspicions 
that  Ruthven  was  a  vampire,  and  he  tries  to  warn  his  daughter,  but 
she’s  already  under  Ruthven’s  spell.  Ronald  and  friends  interrupt 
the  wedding  ceremony,  however,  the  moon  sets  and,  with  a  strike  of 
thunder, Ruthven vanishes. 

You might also like