The Unhappy Favourite facts for kids

The Unhappy Favourite; Or, The Earl Of Essex is a play written in 1681 by an English writer named John Banks. It's a type of play called a tragedy, which means it has a sad ending. The story is about the fall from power of the Earl of Essex. He was a very important person and a close friend to Queen Elizabeth I. The play shows how he lost his special place and what happened after a big event called Essex's Rebellion.

About the Play

This play, The Unhappy Favourite, tells a dramatic story from Tudor England. It focuses on the life of the Earl of Essex, a powerful figure in Queen Elizabeth I's court. He was a "royal favourite," meaning he was very close to the Queen and had a lot of influence.

Story of Essex

The play explores the challenges faced by the Earl of Essex. He was a trusted advisor and friend to Queen Elizabeth I. However, their relationship became difficult over time. The play shows how political disagreements and a rebellion led to his downfall. This means he lost his power and his special connection with the Queen.

First Performances

The play first opened in May 1681. It was performed by a group called the King's Company. The show took place at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London. This theater was a very famous place for plays at the time.

Famous Actors

Many talented actors were part of the first performances. Thomas Clark played the main role of The Earl of Essex. Other important actors included Philip Griffin as the Earl of Southampton. Michael Mohun played Burleigh, and Thomas Disney was Sir Walter Raleigh. The female roles were also played by well-known actresses. Anne Marshall played Queen Elizabeth, and Sarah Cooke was the Countess of Rutland. Mary Corbett played the Countess of Nottingham.

Royal Audience

A very special performance of the play happened later. King Charles II and his wife, Catherine of Braganza, attended the show. For this special event, a famous writer named John Dryden wrote a unique introduction, called a prologue.

Lasting Popularity

When the play was published in 1682, John Banks dedicated it to Princess Anne. She was the king's niece and later became Queen of Great Britain. The play was very popular and was performed many times over the next hundred years. In 1731, another writer named James Ralph wrote his own play called The Fall of the Earl of Essex. He used many ideas from Banks's original play.