The Provoked Wife (1973)

Intro

A play by John Vanbrugh, performed at the Watford Palace Theatre (21 February - 10 March 1973).

Overview

Restoration comedy The Provoked Wife employs humour to broach the difficult subject of a loveless marriage.

The unhappily married Lady Brute and her niece, Bellinda, are pursued by their admirers, Constant and Heartfree.

The group's eventual discovery by Lady Brute's drunken husband, Sir John, throws the provoked wife's struggles into sharp relief.

Cast

Timothy Davies ... Rasor

Trevor Peacock ... Sir John Brute

Prunella Scales ... Lady Brute

Zoe Wanamaker ... Bellinda, the Brutes` niece

Sheila Reid ... Lady Fancyfull

Vicky Ireland ... Cornet

Paola Dionisotti ... Mademoiselle

Michael Graham Cox ... Heartfree

Paul Freeman ... Constant

Jeremy Nicholas ... Treble

Philip Newman ... Colonel Bully

Philip Newman ... Justice of the Peace

Jeremy Nicholas ... Tailor

Alan Thompson ... Constable

Paul Kelly ... Watch

Crew

Director: David Hare
Designer: Bob Ringwood
Lighting Designer: John T E Baker
Music: Nick and Tony Bicat

Notes

The title of the play, in its archaic spelling, is The Provok'd Wife.

The director of this production, David Hare, later directed Zoe again, in a joint production of two of his own plays, The Bay at Nice and Wrecked Eggs (1986).

Merchandise

The Provoked Wife by John Vanbrugh