Deformed, the; or, Woman's Trial

Deformed, the; or, Woman's Trial (1830), a play by Robert Penn Smith. [Chestnut Street Theatre (Philadelphia), 4 perf.] Adorni ( Mr. Maywood) is so physically deformed he cannot understand why his wife, Eugenia ( Mrs. Rowbotham), loves him. He prevails on his friend Claudio ( Mr. Forbes) to test her fidelity, then turns on Claudio and has him condemned to death. At the last minute he recognizes how blindly jealous he has been, so he prepares to take Claudio's place at the execution. But the Duke of Florence ( Mr. Wemyss) pardons Adorni. The United States Gazette began its notice by welcoming a serious new drama into a season given over to musical spectacles and frivolous comedies, a perennial critical cry. It continued, “The character of the Deformed is entirely new, and we believe unique in the whole range of the drama. . . . There are so many bold traits in this character, such as entitle Mr. Smith to a distinguished rank as a dramatic observer.” The play is an early example of the intermittent fascination that American playwrights have had for freaks and disabled people, a fascination still evident in plays such as The Elephant Man, The Miracle Worker, and Children of a Lesser God. The play was revived as late as 1839.