‎ARCHER SHEE, Martin‎
‎Alasco: A Tragedy, in five acts, excluded from the stage by the authority of the Lord Chamberlain.‎

‎London Sherwood, Jones, and Co. 1824 q‎

Reference : 5117

‎First Edition. Original hardback drab boards, with more recent paper quarter paper backing. Attractive book plate of Mary Clarkson Bagby (born Mary Clarkson- Allen in 1896, in Baltimore, U.S.A) to the front. Mary lived in various locations due to her husband's diplomatic and military career, including a notable period in China after World War I. This book obviously remained in the family, as it also bears the name Mary G. Duyvendak - Allen written to the front in neat ink handwriting. Internally clean. Bound in after Preface is a single leaf manuscript copy of a letter from George Colman dated February 1824, citing its inclusion in the memoirs of Sir William Knighton, 1838. This must have been bound in when the book was rebacked. lvi, [ii], [4], [1] - 169 [1]. 16. (Sherwood New Works dated January 1824) pp. 240 x 150 mm (9œ x 6 inches). Martin Archer Shee was an Irish-born painter and writer. This play was first performed in 1824 at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, London. Set in Poland, it centres on the character Alasco, a Polish nobleman involved in a dramatic struggle against tyranny, persecution, and oppression. The play is notable not just for its content but for the controversy surrounding its production. The Lord Chamberlain, who was responsible for licensing plays in Britain, initially refused to license this play for performance at Drury Lane Theatre due to its perceived political radicalism and revolutionary themes. This decision was likely influenced by the authorities' fear of plays that might incite unrest or challenge the established order, especially in the wake of the French Revolution and ongoing political agitation in Europe. The refusal to license Alasco sparked public debate about censorship and the limits of artistic expression. Eventually, the play was performed at Covent Garden after some changes were made to the text. The incident highlighted the tension between creative freedom and government control in the early 19th century. In summary, Alasco is remembered as a tragedy that became a symbol of the struggles over censorship and free expression in British theatre history. .‎