Abraham

Edmund Campion (1575)

Historical Records

Performance Records

The performance of the play is recorded in Georgius Varus' Historia collegii S. J. Pragensis ad St. clementem Annorum 1555 -1610 (National Library of the Czech Republic, MS I.A.1), fol. 115v:




"nobilem in theatrum actionem dedit Campianus, qua Ambrahami sacrificium in filio Isaaco inter patris secum ipso pugnantis affectus ingeniose exhibuit."

Theatrical Provenance

Performed at the Jesuit College of St. Clements, Prague in September 1575.

Probable Genre(s)

Biblical.

Possible Narrative and Dramatic Sources or Analogues

God's instruction to Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac as a test of faith (Genesis 22).

Critical Commentary

Wiggins 584 notes that "[t]he performance of the actor playing Abraham was much admired for its pathos", and suggests that the play may have been performed "in connection with the coronation of King Rudolf II on Thursday 22 September".

For What It's Worth

Information welcome.

Works Cited

Varus, Georgius et al, Historia Collegii S. J. Pragensis ad St. Clementem Annorum 1555 - 1610 (University of Prague ms). Manuscriptorium


Site created by David McInnis, University of Melbourne; updated 09 Dec 2014.