According to the critics, this first performed play of Oscar Wilde's did not go over well with audiences, closing only one short week on stage. To audiences at the timme I can definitely see why the themes didn't resonate, but in our post-Soviet (current-dictatorship) view of Russia Wilde was making some canny observations. It's no secret that the Russian monarchy had gone bad by the close of the 1800s, but it's kind of surprising that Wilde was picking up on the tone of the younger monarch having more Western ideals regarding their crown. This fantasy, of course, did not see any sort of reality until the Russian Revolution and murder of the Tsar and his family. It's surprising in the modern era that the play is rarely revived, but I guess it was too much a product of its time and Wilde's prediction of a violent upheaval was too close to home. It also doesn't help that Wilde balanced the political intrigue (the obvious strong theme of the play) with a pandering (and barfy) love story that ends badly... ( )

So good. Oscar Wilde is amazingly witty ( )

Another weak effort from Wilde. He should have stuck with his drawing room comedies. This "power to the people" thing just didn't cut it. The "betrayal" by the prince never made sense. Why did these people not use their brains? He protects them, kills his evil father, but he's not on their side suddenly? ( )

As Oscar Wilde's first play this is more of a historical curiousity than anything resembling his subsequent great works. A melodrama about a group of Russian nihilists, Vera has some good drama, some witty exchanges, and a decent plot. But it is also a bit odd, heavy handed at times, and hardly scintilating from beginning to end. ( )

As Oscar Wilde's first play this is more of a historical curiousity than anything resembling his subsequent great works. A melodrama about a group of Russian nihilists, Vera has some good drama, some witty exchanges, and a decent plot. But it is also a bit odd, heavy handed at times, and hardly scintilating from beginning to end. ( )