Vera or The Nihilists: A melodramatic tragedy by Oscar Wilde loosely based on the life of Vera Zasulich

Vera or The Nihilists By Oscar WildeVera or The Nihilists is a play by Oscar Wilde. It is a melodramatic tragedy set in Russia and is loosely based on the life of Vera Zasulich. It was Wildes first play and the first to be performed. In 1880 with only a few copies privately printed arrangements were made with noted actresses for a production in the United Kingdom but this never materialized. The first public performance was in New York City in 1883 at the Union Square Theatre based on revisions made by Wilde while lecturing in America in 1882. The play was not a success and folded after only one week.It is rarely revived.At the time of writing the reform-minded Tsar Alexander II was involved in a struggle with revolutionaries who sought to assassinate him (and eventually succeeded). Though none of Wildes characters correspond to actual Russian people of the time the above situation was well-known both to Wilde and to the audience for which he was writing. It has been suggested that the plot was inspired by true events. In 1878 three years before the plays completion Vera Zasulich shot the Governor of St Petersburg Trepov. Wilde described himself as a Socialist although Ellmann describes his Socialism as more a general hatred of tyranny than a specific political belief.Marie Prescott and her husband Mr Perzel purchased the rights to perform the play and she was the leading actress in its first performance at the Union Square Theatre. Wilde travelled to America for the second time in his life specifically to oversee the production.The play was withdrawn after one week. Mr Perzel stated to newspapers the play is withdrawn simply because it did not pay citing that he had lost $2500 on the piece the previous week. He also implied that he had hoped Wilde himself would lecture between the acts allowing him to capitalise on Wildes popularity as a public speaker.Peter Sabouroff (an Innkeeper).Vera Sabouroff (his Daughter).Michael (a Peasant).Dmitri Sabouroff.Colonel Kotemkin.Ivan the Czar.Prince Paul Maraloffski (Prime Minister of Russia).Prince Petrovitch.Count Rouvaloff.Marquis de Poivrard.Baron Raff.General Kotemkin.A Page.A Colonel of the Guard.Peter Tchernavitch President of the Nihilists.Michael.Alexis Ivanacievitch known as a Student of Medicine.