20 July, 1596 - Pythagoras

Here's what the Admiral's Men performed at the Rose playhouse on this day, 424 years ago...

Henslowe writes: y^e 14 of July 1596 ... R at pethagores ... xxij^s 

In modern English: [20^th] July, 1596 ... Received at Pythagoras ... 22 shillings

Pythagoras as portrayed in Raphael's
The School of Athens (1509-11)

Today, for the last time, the Admiral's Men staged Pythagoras, their lost play about the Greek philosopher. You can read more about this play in the entry for 16 January

The company has waited over a month to return Pythagoras to the stage. The box office is holding steady, but this is the play's final record in Henslowe's Diary; it would seem that they have decided to call it a day.

Pythagoras was introduced back in January and has received twelve performances since then. It has been one of the more solid performers at the Rose, never receiving spectacular box office but never doing very poorly either; it is thus surprising to see it go.

Henslowe links

• Transcript of this page of the Diary (from W.W. Greg's 1904 edition)
• Facsimile of this page of the Diary (from the Henslowe-Alleyn Digitisation Project)

Comments?

Did I make a mistake? Do you have a question? Have you anything to add? Please post a comment below!