A little known 18th century play is a lost Shakespeare, the Daily Telegraph reveals. According to experts, “Double Falsehood”, penned in 1727 by Lewis Theobald, is indeed - as its author then claimed - an adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Cardenio”, performed twice in 1613 and then lost. Dismissed as a hoax in its time, a scholar has confirmed “its authenticity from historical evidence and analysis of the text.” The claim is backed by the Arden Shakespeare series, which is publishing Theobald’s work. The Royal Shakespeare Company is also working towards a reconstruction of the original, which includes typical Shakespearean fare of sword fights, cross-dressing and a blood-bath finale.
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