The Prisoner of Zenda

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Prisoner of Zenda, The (1895), a play by Edward E. Rose. [Lyceum Theatre, 112 perf.] Years ago Gilbert, Earl of Rassendyll ( Howard Gould), and Prince Rudolf of Ruritania ( E. H. Sothern) fought a bitter duel. Now, decades later, the families' paths cross again under different circumstances. The current Prince Rudolf (also Sothern) is about to be crowned king, but his brother, Michael, Duke of Streslau ( Arthur R. Lawrence), and Rupert of Hentzau ( Morton Selten) drug him to prevent the ceremony. Rudolf Rassendyll (Sothern), who is the image of the new king, is hastily enlisted to take the king's place. In doing so he falls in love with Princess Flavia ( Grace Kimball), who is to be queen. Rassendyll eventually discovers that the king is being held prisoner at the castle of Zenda and there confronts the conspirators, who are quarreling over a woman. Rupert kills Michael, then flees. Rassendyll restores Rudolf to his rightful place and reluctantly renounces Flavia, who with equal reluctance accepts her destiny. Based on Anthony Hope's famous novel, the play was such a huge hit that when prior commitments required Sothern to end his New York engagement, producer Daniel Frohman brought in a second company. The melodrama toured regularly for many seasons, including a company headed by James K. Hackett, who mounted a major revival in 1908. The work served as the basis for the 1925 Sigmund Romberg operetta Princess Flavia and for a failed Vernon Duke musical, Zenda, in 1963.

Prisoner of Zenda, The, and its sequel Rupert of Hentzau, novels by Anthony Hope (Hawkins), published 1894 and 1898.

They deal with the perilous and romantic adventures of Rudolf Rassendyll, an English gentleman, in Ruritania, where, by impersonating the king (to whom he bears a marked physical resemblance), he defeats a plot to oust him from the throne. He falls in love with the king's betrothed, Princess Flavia, and she with him, but gallantly relinquishes her to the restored king. In the sequel he defeats a plot of the villain Rupert of Hentzau against Flavia, now the unhappy wife of the king, and has another chance of taking the throne and of marrying Flavia. But he is assassinated before his decision is known.