Find more facts and information on our topic page about Caius Marius

Caius Marius

The Oxford Companion to American Theatre

Caius Marius (1831), a tragedy by Richard Penn Smith. [Arch Street Theatre (Philadelphia), in repertory.] The rapid rise to power of the low‐born Roman general Caius Marius ( Edwin Forrest) irks the patrician Sylla ( Robert C. Maywood) and Metellus ( Thomas Archer), both of whom had helped him but now perceive him as a rabble‐rouser and an ingrate. A battle for control ensues, couched in terms of a class struggle. At one point, when mobs endanger Sylla, Caius Marius offers him the sanctuary of his home. In the end, however, after Caius has slain Metellus and Sylla's army is at Rome's gates, Caius's beloved and loving slave girl, Martha ( Mrs. Sharpe), prevents Caius's humiliating defeat by joining him in drinking a cup of poisoned wine. A subplot details the doomed love of Caius Marius's son, Granius (Mr. Smith), for Metellus's daughter, Metella ( Mrs. Rowbotham). Many contemporary critics felt this blank‐verse tragedy was Smith's best play, but the public was unresponsive, so after a few additional performances in New York, Boston, and possibly elsewhere, Forrest dropped the piece. It was apparently not revived until 1858, when F. B. Conway headed the cast at Philadelphia's Walnut Street Theatre in two performances mounted as a memorial to Smith. The text was lost for nearly a century. Rediscovered, it was published in 1968.

Find more facts and information related to the .
© The Oxford Companion to American Theatre 2004, originally published by Oxford University Press 2004.

Related newspaper, magazine, and trade journal articles from HighBeam Research

(Including press releases, facts, information, and biographies)

	Playing in the street; A rebirth in street theatre has been sweeping Britain since 1998. Tim Abrahams takes a look at Scotland's offering, Big In Falkirk ; ...it was a grand example. Since then street theatre festivals have sprung up across England...Falkirk this year, the diversity of street theatre is obvious. Scott Palmer is the director...us to sit alongside the more obvious street theatre of the festival." Anyone who saw last... Read more
	Street Theatre in Bethune ; Due to the internationally renowned street theatre Festival d'Aurillac, increased funding...has seen a generalized growth of street theatre companies in France, and the establishment of street theatre as a major cultural element in France... Read more
	Hogmanay Reviews: Hogmanay Street Theatre ; Hogmanay Street Theatre *** WATCHING international street theatre in Edinburgh at Hogmanay is a tantalising business...sexual pole-dancing female insect - and the veteran street theatre group K de Calle, glittering silver creatures who... Read more
	WALNUT STREET THEATRE PROMOTES FAMILY UNITY ; ...The 07-09-2004 Philadelphia's Walnut Street Theatre is a vital entertainment and community...offering of "Hello, Dolly!," the Walnut Street Theatre is the only facility of its kind to...Scofield all debuted at the Walnut Street Theatre. "Most people see the big shows on... Read more
	Death to street theatre ; ...and other practitioners of terrible street theatre descend on Edinburgh like locusts on...entertainment types started out in street theatre. Eddie Izzard, for example, once worked...harrowing and pass an ordinance forbidding street theatre during the month of August on pain... Read more
	STREET THEATRE SHOW ; YOUNGSTERS created a street theatre show yesterday as preparations...Geisha Girls production during the street theatre section of the festival, in the...workshops at Darlington Arts Centre. Street theatre events are taking place tomorrow... Read more
	HEIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION; Sibling rivalry reaches new levels as grand- scale street theatre makes it Big In Falkirk. Andrew Burnet larges it ; ...animations" of nva and the European street theatre imported by Edinburgh's Hogmanay. Now...Boilerhouse is making its large- scale street theatre debut with Sister Sister. A multi-media...Pinson, who dismisses some spectacular street theatre as "eye-candy". "In Boilerhouse's work... Read more
	Street theatre group wins cash backing ; ...Arts Council towards developing new street theatre. Its latest production will be based...City Council to run the circus and street theatre stage at the Harbour Festival, which...showcased 60 local artists as part of the street theatre programme. It included local companies... Read more
	Puppets for street theatre ; ...Europe have come together in a new street theatre piece by freelance Nelson artist and...provide something new in the way of street theatre for the festival and, after submitting...obtained a Creative New Zealand grant for street theatre. Merry's new piece is based on wooden... Read more
	Street theatre brings fun ; Street theatre is a common form of fun and funky entertainment in cities throughout...Stoke-based performance company Still Life productions breathed life into the street theatre much to the amusement of children and bemusement of adults. Still Life... Read more

For more facts and information, see all related premium articles

Related entries from encyclopedias, dictionaries, and thesauruses

	Victorinus Afer, Caius Marius Victorinus Afer, Caius Marius (or Victorinus Afer, Fabius Marius) (4th cent.), rhetor and theologian. A native of Africa, he taught in Rome. He became a Christian, resigned his rhetorship in 362 (an event which excited comment and influenced St... Read more
	Caius Marius ...Pontus turned into civil war; Sulla won, and Marius fled Rome. When Sulla went off to fight, Marius, now allied with the consul Cinna, returned and slaughtered (88 BC) his opponents. Marius was a great general, whose military reforms... Read more
	Julius Caesar (Caius Julius Caesar), 100? BC-44 BC, Roman statesman...the patronage of his uncle by marriage, Caius Marius . In 82 BC, when Caesar refused to obey...head of the popular party. His praise of Marius and Cinna made him popular with the people... Read more
	Victorinus (Caius Marius Victorinus Afer) , fl. 361, Roman grammarian, b. Africa. He became renowned as a teacher of rhetoric in Rome and as an advocate... Read more
	Catulus ...Rome, of the Lutatian gens. Caius Lutatius Catulus was consul...colleague in the consulship was Marius , with whom he went north to...retreat before the Cimbri until Marius returned from Gaul. The two...Vercelli in 101 BC He later opposed Marius in the Social War and favored... Read more

See all related entries