Vera; or, The Nihilists
Oscar Wilde
Wilde's first play is a political melodrama set in Russia. It centers on Vera a young woman who joins a group of Nihilists to avenge her brother. She is tasked with assassinating the Tsar but falls in love with the Tsarevitch who secretly harbors liberal sympathies. The play examines the conflict between revolutionary duty and personal love while providing a critique of autocratic rule and the cycle of political violence.
Vera Sabouroff: A revolutionary torn between her cause and her heart. Prince Paul: The reform-minded heir to the throne. The Tsar: The oppressive ruler of Russia.
First Performance: 1883, at Union Square Theatre, New York
Initially unsuccessful and closed after a short run; critics found the political themes confusing at the time.
Original Actors: Marie Prescott