The Provoked Wife (1697) is the second original comedy written by
John Vanbrugh. The often-repeated claim that Vanbrugh wrote part of his comedy
The Provoked Wife in the
Bastille is based on allusions in a couple of much later memoirs, but is regarded with some doubt by modern scholars (see McCormick). It is different in tone from his first play, the largely farcical
The Relapse, and adapted to the greater acting skills of the new company of actors chosen for its premiere, who walked out not long before in a dispute with management. The actors' cooperative boasted the established star performers of the age, and Vanbrugh tailored
The Provoked Wife to their specialties. While
The Relapse had been robustly phrased to be suitable for amateurs and minor acting talents, he could count on versatile professionals like
Thomas Betterton,
Elizabeth Barry, and the rising young star
Anne Bracegirdle to do justice to characters of depth and nuance.