Although it only ran for four nights and was never revived, Susanna Centlivre's sixth play,

(1705), is, theatrically speaking, a good play, with a well-constructed plot, captivatingly mimetic language, and a gallery of lively contemporary humours. Some of the issues it deals with came increasingly to the fore in later years, such as the question of women's role when outside the “Lady's Province”. It was probably the work of a highly motivated author who contravened some of her established practices in writing it and felt it necessary to write a second play on apparently the same topic as her earlier play of the same year,

. As in

the theme of the necessary reform of the gambler is proposed, but it is dealt with in an entirely original way and,…

1880 words

Citation: Carraro, Laura Favero. "The Basset Table". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 30 June 2002 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=9997, accessed 23 November 2024.]