Sethona
| Sethona | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Written by | Alexander Dow |
| Date premiered | 19 February 1774 |
| Place premiered | Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London |
| Original language | English |
| Genre | Tragedy |
| Setting | Ancient Egypt |
Sethona is a 1774 tragedy by the British writer Alexander Dow.[1] It is set in Ancient Egypt at a time when Menes is heir to the crown. The original Drury Lane cast included Spranger Barry as Serapis, Samuel Reddish as Menes, Francis Aickin as Amasis, James Aickin as Orus, John Hayman Packer as Otanes and Ann Street Barry as Sethona. The prologue was written by Richard Cumberland.
Plot[edit]
Act 1[edit]
In the temple of Osiris, Sethona, former fiancee of Menes, is distraught by the situation of Amasis usurping the Egyptian throne and killing Menes and Seraphis and trying to forcefully marry her. Orus, high priest of Osiris comforts her that vision tells him that Egypt would rightfully restored by Menes and his followers. Amasis tries to woo Sethona, promising a lot of things, but Sethona rejects his advances.Meanwhile, Menes is revealed to be alive and well in the temple, who plans a scheme to take back Egypt from Amasis.
Act 2[edit]
At Sethona's apartment, Sethona meets Menes. Menes tells what happened to Sethona, that when he was arrested during their wedding ceremony, he was against his will locked in a cell, but was rescued by Orus.Knowing it was a secret escape unknown to Amasis, Sethona tries to hide Menes to safety, but he is almost caught by an officer.Otanes, having seen this suggests to Menes to abandon Sethona for a greater cause, the abolition of tyranny.Otanes also reveals Seraphis is alive in Ethiopia.But Menes vehemently refuses the offer and he is at risk of being executed.Otanes also suggests Sethona to marry Amasis, but she again refuses, and pledges to retract his execution order, but Amasis refuses to retract.Soon, Amasis chooses to instead banish Menes from his palace.
Act 3[edit]
Back in Sethona's apartment, Menes is joined by Orus, who tries to proceed on his upheaval plan against Amasis during Amasis's nuptial ceremony.He is then joined by Seraphis.Seraphis soon meets Sethona, however, a sudden interruption by Amasis and Otanes breaks the conversation. Amasis is soon informed by Myrtaeus of a revolt built against him led by Menes.Meanwhile Sethona hears Seraphis is slain during the conflict, which makes her worry that Menes is also slain, leading to her distress.Menes is rejoined with Sethona.
Act 4[edit]
In the catacombs, Seraphis is again revealed to be alive, however heavily wounded. He is joined by Otanes, while Seraphis delivers his dying message.Seraphis is antagonized by Myrtaeus.Seraphis is found by Sethona in a tomb.While sethona confesses her love of Menes, it is revealed by her father Seraphis that Menes is his son, which means he is her brother.Sethona faints from the shock that her love relationship was incestual this whole time.Sethona's heart goes cold after knowing the truth.However refuses to part ways with her father.
Act 5[edit]
Sethona even after knowing the truth lives happily ever after now Amasis is away and Egypt being restored.
Review[edit]
Tobias Smollett, spoke negatively of the production saying while the production was lavish enough, it was not enough to hide the defects of the production in the plot.[2]
References[edit]
- ^ Nicoll p.257
- ^ [The Critical Review: Or, Annals of Literature p.209-211]
Bibliography[edit]
- Nicoll, Allardyce. A History of English Drama 1660–1900: Volume III. Cambridge University Press, 2009.
- Hogan, C.B (ed.) The London Stage, 1660–1800: Volume V. Southern Illinois University Press, 1968.
External links[edit]
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