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Apart from its intrinsic merits, the play is noteworthy as the first
American tragedy written on an American subject. However, despite being nowadays acknowledged as Dunlap's best piece of work, it was not a great success at the time. Its lack of popularity stemmed from the controversial lionization
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Despite the fictionalization, the play genuinely shows the anguish felt by many on the
American side over the decision to hang the brilliant and charming young officer, and it is written in unusually supple verse for the 18th century.
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to the ground at the prospect of André being sentenced to death. The controversy was twofold— not only was Bland losing composure over the fate of a
British spy but the cockade (worn by
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of André. Moreover, at opening night, the crowd rose to its feet in anger and indignation when Bland, a soldier in the play, hurled his
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of 1781. (Actually, Honora Sneyd had died of consumption some months before André's death, and never went to
America.)
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to emulate their spirit) being tossed to the floor was interpreted by many as Dunlap attacking the
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tone in theatre at the time, and which continued to be regularly produced for fifty years.
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226:and then later by the revolutionaries during the
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182:in New York City on March 30, 1798, by the
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47:adding citations to reliable sources
244:The Glory of Columbia, Her Yeomanry
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275:http://John-W-Kennedy.name/Andre
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16:Play written by William Dunlap
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318:Plays set in New York (state)
171:André; a Tragedy in Five Acts
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313:American Revolutionary War
178:, first produced at the
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298:Plays by William Dunlap
241:into his pageant-play
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