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Phaedra

Dramaturgy Notebook
Racine's Phaedra

Steve Jenks
THE3213
Charles Poole
April 20, 2007

TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. Production History Page 3
II. Biographical Notes on the Playwright Page 5
III. Historical Context Page 7
IV. Textual Analysis Page 9
V. Bibliography Page 14

I. Production History
The first production of Phaedra was in 1677 (James 14). Two days after Racine's production launched, Duchesse de Bouillon and Jacques Pardon released their own adaptation of the Euripides piece (Kiger). This new adaptation was more successful than Racine's initially, but his work was eventually deemed the more superior play (Kiger). Originating the role of Phaedra was actress Marie Desmares, who was very well known during her time (Kellogg 17). Other notable Phaedras include Adrienne Couvreur, Sarah Bernhardt, and Maria Casares (12). Couvreur performed the role during a production in which the Duchesse de Bouillon sent a large number of servants to be disruptive during the play in an attempt to ruin the run (12). Couvreur took a stance and decided not to perform for the Duchesse, who was sitting in the audience as well—shortly thereafter the actress was found dead of poisoning (13). Bernhardt once played the role of Phaedra with only one leg after it was amputated at age 70 (13). Casares revived interest in the play when she donned the role in the mid 1950's. Casares was already renowned for her work in film, and thus generated a decent audience.
More recently, the American Repertory Theatre produced Phaedra in the Loeb Theatre in Massachusetts (Past). The production credits from the Past Productions section of their website reads:
Directed by Liz Diamond
Set Design by Riccardo Hernandez
Costume Design by Catherine Zuber
Lighting Design by Michael Chybowski
Sound Design by Christopher Walker
Stage Manager Anne S. King

With an opening cast consisting of:

Theseus – Jonathan Epstein
Phaedra – Randy Danson
Hippolytus – Benjamin...