The Second Mrs Tanqueray

"The Second Mrs. Tanqueray" is a problem play by Sir Arthur Wing Pinero. It adopts the "Woman with a past" plot, popular in nineteenth century melodrama.

History

In the original production, the leading role was played by Mrs Patrick Campbell, who became a star on the strength of her performance. It was first performed in 1893 and one of the most successful dramatic works of its day.

References in Popular Culture

The play is referred to in Hilaire Belloc's cautionary verse 'Matilda'. '... "It happened that a few weeks later / Her aunt went off to the theatre / To see that interesting play / The Second Mrs. Tanqueray. / She had refused to take her niece / to hear this entertaining piece: / A deprivation just and wise / To punish her for telling lies" ...' The humour of this reference lies in the fact that the play is of a serious nature, ending in suicide - and therefore entirely unsuitable for Matilda in any case: the aunt was herself lying to Matilda about why she was not permitted to accompany her. It is understood that adults know the difference between a good lie and a bad one. The joke is therefore at the expense of the depressingly grim subject of the play, and is for the benefit of the adult reader of Belloc's poem. The aunt is therefore revealed as a person of social conscience, both because she attends the theatre to see a serious play on a contemporary (feminist) theme, and because she protects her niece from any suspicion of the nastiness which attaches to its subject. So Belloc shows that Matilda's attention-seeking behaviour is a form of spoilt, wilful mischief rather than the result of an improperly nurtured upbringing.