The Gladiator

The Gladiator is a tragic melodrama in five acts written by Robert Montgomery Bird originally starring Edwin Forrest. It first premiered on September 26, 1831, at the Park Theatre in New York City. Background This theatrical piece was written at the request of Edwin Forrest, an American actor seeking to further his career. He wanted to solidify his fame by acquiring the rights to perform in plays customized to highlight his talents and physical attributes so he devised a contest to encouraged dramaturgs to author new works in return for a cash price. Metamora; or, The Last of the Wampanoags, a play by John Augustus Stone won Forrest's inaugural play prize in 1829. A huge success, Metamora inspired Forrest to continue offering the prize. Robert Montgomery Bird, a doctor without "an all-consuming passion for medicine," hearing of the prize, penned and submitted his first play, the blank verse tragedy Pelopidas, or The Fall of the Polemarchs. Although Pelopidas won the prize, it was not produced or published until 1919, possibly because Pelopidas does not dominate the action of his play in the way Metamora managed and therefore failed to show off Forrest's abilities adequately. However, Forrest found it well written and encouraged a second submission by Bird. The following year, Bird won Forrest's prize a second time with that play that would become his most impactful, The Gladiator. Bird's brother Henry, in a letter advised Robert to continue with The Gladiator as Spartacus was "altogether more suited to Forrest's Roman figure & actions." In fact, it turned out to be the perfect vehicle to showcase Forrest's “muscular acting style” . Thanks to The Gladiator, Forrest became “the most famous American actor of his day”. Characters Marcus Licinius Crassus – A Roman praetor. Lucius Gellius – A consul. Scropha – A quaestor. Jovius – A centurion. Mummius – Lieutenant to Crassius. Batiatus Lentulus – A Capuan lanista. Bracchius – A Roman Lanista. Florus – Son of Lentulus. Spartacus – A Thracian gladiator. Phasarius – Spartacus' brother. Ænomaiis – A gladiator from Gaul. Crixus – A German gladiator. boy – Son to Spartacus. Julia – Niece of Crassus. Senona – Wife of Spartacus. Citizens, soldiers, etc. Synopsis