User:Clprentice/sandbox/Francesca da Rimini (Boker)

Francesca da Rimini is an 1853 tragedy by the American poet, dramatist, and diplomat George Henry Boker. Written in blank verse, it is the first dramatization in English of the adulterous affair between the title character and her brother-in-law Paolo Malatesta and their murder by her husband, first told in Dante's Inferno. It is considered one of the finest early American dramas.

Production history
The first performance was given in 1855 by E.L. Davenport at the Broadway Theatre in New York. It starred Davenport as Lanciotto and Elizabeth Ponisi as Francesca.

A major revival given by Lawrence Barrett in 1882, starring Barrett as Lanciotto, with Otis Skinner as Paolo, Marie Wainwright as Francesca and Louis James as Pepe.

It was revived in 1901 by Skinner, playing the Grand Opera House, Chicago, with Skinner starring as Lanciotto, Aubrey Boucicault as Paolo, Marcia Van Dresser as Francesca and William Norris as Pepe.