Staged Reading of The Tryal (1798)

A rehearsed reading of Joanna Baillie’s The Tryal (1798) presented by University of Essex.

The Tryal, from the first volume of Joanna Baillie’s larger Series of Plays on the Passions (1798-1812/1836), is a comedy on the absurdity of love. It features two young women, Agnes and Mariane, who secretly trade places. Portionless Mariane acts the part of her wealthy cousin in a bid to torment suitors interested in Agnes only for her wealth. In turn, Agnes pretends not only to be poor but also an increasingly obnoxious shrew, in hopes of ascertaining the authenticity one Mr Harwood’s attentions.

This is a highly self-aware play. As Catherine Burroughs notes, at one level this is a play about amateur theatre performed in private, domestic spaces. But it is also a play about scientific experimentation: the women submit several men to various test or indeed “tryals” in the medical-scientific sense in order to separate pure from adulterated love.

Though Baillie was highly acclaimed in her time—both Walter Scott and Lord Byron were fans—she had limited success staging her work. This reading brings to life a text Baillie was unable to produce in her own day. Those interested in the history of British theatre (especially Georgian theatre), women playwrights, and/or the treatment of passions are sure to find this reading, directed by Robert Price, an enlightening and diverting experience. The play is suitable for all ages.