Metamora; or, The Last of the Wampanoags

Metamora; or, The Last of the Wampanoags
Edwin Forrest as Metamora in 1829
Written by	John Augustus Stone
Date premiered	December 15, 1829 (1829-12-15)
Place premiered	Park Theater
Original language	English
Subject	Native Americans
Genre	Drama

Metamora; or, The Last of the Wampanoags is a play written in 1829 by John Augustus Stone. It was first performed December 15, 1829, at the Park Theater in New York City, starring Edwin Forrest.

On November 28, 1828 a contest was posted in the New York Critic by American actor, Edwin Forrest, offering a prize of 500 dollars for an original play which met such criteria as, “a tragedy, in five acts, of which the hero, or principal character, shall be an aboriginal of this country.” Forrest, looking to produce a play suiting his strengths, created the contest as an opportunity to boost his acting career. With his play, Metamora, or the Last of the Wampanoags, playwright and actor John Augustus Stone stood out among his competitors and took home the prize. The play, which opened on December 15, 1829, was an instant hit. Due to a combination of the highly publicized contest, Forrest’s growing celebrity, and the timely subject matter of the play itself, the performances resonated with audiences across the growing country, earning theaters record profits, of which Stone received very little. Although Stone had written many other plays Metamora was by far the most critically acclaimed. After its debut the play quickly spread into various cities where it was continuously performed. During the 19th century there were over seventy-five Indian Dramas written, and even though Metamora shared a very similar plot line as the rest of plays, it was the only one to be successful.

Forrest was born on March 9, 1806 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He gained theatrical fame at an early age for portraying “blackface” African American characters. He excelled in Shakespearian roles, and carried a sense of honor into every role he played. Toward the beginning of his career, the New York and Philadelphia theatre markets were highly competitive, leading Forrest to begin honing his theatrical skills by touring the Western Circuit. After several touring seasons, he made his debut in New York with the role of Othello. This was the defining role, that served as the springboard for the rest of his career. His voice, his stature, his acting, and his looks created a combination that was overwhelming and enticing for audiences, making him one of the greatest actors of his time. It was in 1828 that Forrest began the writing competition for plays with American themes, which of course led to Metamora. The success of the play is credited almost completely to Forrest. As one reviewer claimed, “The play was Forrest’s and the part was Forrest’s“ (Moody 202). Forrest played the role for forty out of its sixty-year run. Many historians believe that the role never truly left him, and that he always carried a piece of the character into every other role he played. After his death several other well-known actors attempted the role, only to result in failure (Moody 202). Forrest went on to continue his theatrical success by touring across America as well as Europe, gaining fame and wealth until his sudden death in 1872. Forrest used his affluence to give and support other actors, theatres, and troupes, and is remembered today with an unparalleled love for the theatre. The Forrest Theatre still stands in Philadelphia in his memory.