26 June, 1596 - Crack Me This Nut

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

Henslowe writes: y^e 23 of June 1596 ...  R at cracke me this nvtt ... xij^s

In modern English: [26^th] June, 1596 ...  Received at Crack Me This Nut ... 12 shillings

Dessert Still Life by Georg Flegel (1566-1638)

Today, for the last time, the Admiral's Men returned to Crack Me This Nut. We know nothing about the content of this lost play, but you can read more about it in the entry for 5th September, 1595.

This is the final recorded performance of Crack Me This Nut in Henslowe's records of performance. The play premiered 10 months ago, in September, 1595, and has appeared onstage 16 times. It has never been one of the company's biggest hits, but neither has it been notably unpopular. At this point, however, with a fairly sparse audience after a much bigger one a fortnight ago, the company seems to have decided to call it a day.

This isn't the end for Crack Me This Nut, however. Five years from now, in 1601, Henslowe will record paying a tailor for buckram (a kind of stiff cloth) to make a new costume for the play, so the company must have been planning a revival. Those nuts still needed cracking!

What's next?

There will be no blog entry tomorrow because 27th June was a Sunday in 1596 and the players did not perform. Henslowe's Diary ... as a Blog! will thus return on the 28th June for a week that will include a new play. See you then!

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?

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7 June, 1596 - Crack Me This Nut

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

Henslowe writes: y^e 7 of June 1596 ...  m^r pd ... R at cracke me this nvtte ... xxviij^s

In modern English: 7^th June, 1596 ...  Master paid ... Received at Crack Me This Nut ... 28 shillings

Dessert Still Life by Georg Flegel (1566-1638)

Today, the Admiral's Men returned to Crack Me This Nut. We know nothing about the content of this lost play, but you can read more about it in the entry for 5th September, 1595.

The company has waited a month to restage Crack Me This Nut, and, like a lot of performances at the Rose of late, its box office has risen, perhaps as a result of summer sun.

Today's entry also includes a note that Henslowe paid the license for the Rose to the Master of the Revels; you can read more about this in the entry for 8 November, 1595.

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?

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8 May, 1596 - Crack Me This Nut

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

Henslowe writes: y^e 7 of maye 1596 ... R at cracke me this nvtte ... xvij^s

In modern English: [8^th] May, 1596 ... Received at Crack Me This Nut ... 17 shillings

Dessert Still Life by Georg Flegel (1566-1638)

Today, the Admiral's Men returned to Crack Me This Nut. We know nothing about the content of this lost play, but you can read more about it in the entry for 5th September.

The company has not performed Crack Me This Nut since February. As with a lot of the recent revivals, the box office suggests no great excitement or enthusiasm about its return.

What's next?

There will be no blog entry tomorrow because 9 May was a Sunday in 1596 and the players did not perform. Henslowe's Diary ... as a Blog! will thus return on the 10th for a week that will include a new play. See you then!

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!

7 February, 1596 - Crack Me This Nut

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

Henslowe writes: y^e 7 of febreary 1595 ... R at crack me this nvtt ... xix^s


In modern English: 7^th February, [1596] ... Received at Crack Me This Nut ... 19 shillings

Dessert Still Life by Georg Flegel (1566-1638)

Today, the Admiral's Men returned to Crack Me This Nut. We know nothing about the content of this lost play, but you can read more about it in the entry for 5th September.

The company has waited three weeks to revive Crack Me This Nut. Today's box office continues to be unspectacular, but it is still  remaining a reliable potboiler.

What's next?

There will be no blog entry tomorrow because 8 February was a Sunday in 1596 and the players did not perform. Henslowe's Diary ... as a Blog! will thus return on the 9th for a week that will include a new play. See you then!

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!

14 January, 1596 - Crack Me This Nut

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

Henslowe writes: y^e 14 of Jenewary 1595 ... R at cracke me this nvtte ... xxiij^s


In modern English: 14^th January, [1596] ... Received at Crack Me This Nut ... 23 shillings

Dessert Still Life by Georg Flegel (1566-1638)

Today, the Admiral's Men returned to Crack Me This Nut. We know nothing about the content of this lost play, but you can read more about it in the entry for 5th September.

The company has waited a fortnight to revive Crack Me This Nut. Today's box office is not particularly impressive, but much better than the tiny one it received last time.

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?

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2 January, 1596 - Crack Me This Nut

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

Henslowe writes: y^e 2 of Jenewary 1595 ... R at cracke me this nvtt ... ix^s


In modern English: 2^nd January, [1596] ... Received at Crack Me This Nut ... 9 shillings

Dessert Still Life by Georg Flegel (1566-1638)

Today, the Admiral's Men returned to Crack Me This Nut. We know nothing about the content of this lost play, but you can read more about it in the entry for 5th September.

After yesterday's very successful performance of The Seven Days of the Week on New Year's Day, one might have expected today's performance to be well-attended too; in fact, this is a catastrophically small audience, suggesting that the average Londoner was back at work, with no time for festive theatregoing.

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?

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6 December, 1595 - Crack Me This Nut

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

Henslowe writes: y^e 6 of desembȝ 1595 ... R at Crack me this nvtt ... xv shillings


In modern English: 6^th December, 1595 ... Received at Crack Me This Nut ... 15 shillings

Dessert Still Life by Georg Flegel (1566-1638)

Today, the Admiral's Men returned to Crack Me This Nut. We know nothing about the content of this lost play, but you can read more about it in the entry for 5th September.

The company has waited a week and a half to revive Crack Me This Nut. It box office had plateaued at around 25 shillings for a while, but has now started to decline.

What's next?

There will be no blog entry tomorrow because 7 December was a Sunday in 1595 and the players did not perform. Henslowe's Diary ... as a Blog! will thus return on the 8th - see you then!

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?

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18 November, 1595 - Crack Me This Nut

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

Henslowe writes: y^e 18 of novmbȝ 1595 ... R at cracke me this nvtte ... xxiiij shillings


In modern English: 18^th November, 1595 ... Received at Crack Me This Nut ... 24 shillings

Dessert Still Life by Georg Flegel (1566-1638)

Today, the Admiral's Men returned to Crack Me This Nut. We know nothing about the content of this lost play, but you can read more about it in the entry for 5th September.

The company is easing up on its performances of this once very popular play, now waiting a fortnight to revive it. The box office remains static, a sign that Crack Me This Nut still has some life in it.

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!

6 November, 1595 - Crack Me This Nut

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

Henslowe writes: y^e 5 of novmbȝ 1595 ... R at cracke me this nvtt ... xxiiij shillings


In modern English: [6^th] November, 1595 ... Received at Crack Me This Nut ... 24 shillings

Dessert Still Life by Georg Flegel (1566-1638)

Today, the Admiral's Men returned to Crack Me This Nut. We know nothing about the content of this lost play, but you can read more about it in the entry for 5th September.

After performing Crack Me This Nut twice in one week, the company has waited a week and a half before performing it again. The box office remains somewhat low, but remains at a consistent level, and is not showing the decline that most plays suffer.

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!

25 October, 1595 - Crack Me This Nut

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

Henslowe writes: y^e 24 of octobȝ 1595 ... R at cracke me this nvtte ... xxiij shillings


In modern English: [25^th] October, 1595 ... Received at Crack Me This Nut ... 23 shillings

Dessert Still Life by Georg Flegel (1566-1638)

Today, the Admiral's Men returned to Crack Me This Nut. We know nothing about the content of this lost play, but you can read more about it in the entry for 5th September.

Amazingly, the company has performed Crack Me This Nut twice in one week, something they very rarely do. It has returned the same box office as last time, suggesting that the play has a small but faithful following.

What's next?

There will be no blog entry tomorrow because 26th October was a Sunday in 1595 and the players did no perform. Henslowe's Diary ... as a Blog! will thus return on the 27th for a week that will include a new play. See you then!

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!

21 October, 1595 - Crack Me This Nut

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

Henslowe writes: y^e 20 of octobȝ 1595 ... R at cracke me this nvtte ... xxj shillings


In modern English: [21^st] October, 1595 ... Received at Crack Me This Nut ... 21 shillings

Dessert Still Life by Georg Flegel (1566-1638)

Today, the Admiral's Men returned to Crack Me This Nut. We know nothing about the content of this lost play, but you can read more about it in the entry for 5th September.

The company has a waited a fortnight before reviving Crack Me This Nut. After the strangely varied box office of the last few performances, this one shows a more predictable slide into mediocrity.

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!

9 October, 1595 - Crack Me This Nut

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

Henslowe writes: y^e 8 of octobȝ 1595 ... R at cracke me this nvtt ... xxvj shillings


In modern English: [9^th] October, 1595 ... Received at Crack Me This Nut ... 26 shillings

Dessert Still Life by Georg Flegel (1566-1638)

Today, the Admiral's Men returned to Crack Me This Nut. We know nothing about the content of this lost play, but you can read more about it in the entry for 5th September.

This is weird: the box office for Crack Me This Nut is a roller-coaster ride. The last performance, only a week and a half ago, packed the theatre, but today the takings a below average for the Rose. Either Londoners don't know what they want, or else it was raining badly today.

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!

29 September, 1595 - Crack Me This Nut

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

Henslowe writes: y^e 278 of septmbȝ 1595 ... R at cracke me this nvtte ... iij^ll  vj^s


In modern English: [29^th] September, 1595 ... Received at Crack Me This Nut ... £3 and 6 shillings

Dessert Still Life by Georg Flegel (1566-1638)

Today, the Admiral's Men returned to Crack Me This Nut. We know nothing about the content of this lost play, but you can read more about it in the entry for 5th September.

After healthy but not spectacular box office for its second and third performances, Crack Me This Nut has suddenly roared back to the 'A' grade, with a packed theatre despite its last performance being only a few days ago. For some reason, Londoners are suddenly very keen to see this play.

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!

25 September, 1595 - Crack Me This Nut

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

Henslowe writes: y^e 24 of septmbȝ 1595 ... R at cracke me this nvtte ... xxxxij^s 

In modern English: [25^th] September, 1595 ... Received at Crack Me This Nut ... 42 shillings

Dessert Still Life by Georg Flegel (1566-1638)

Today, the Admiral's Men returned to their new play, Crack Me This Nut. We know nothing about the content of this lost play, but you can read more about it in the entry for 5th September.

The mysterious Crack Me This Nut continues to be very successful on its third outing, with a healthy audience size.

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!

11 September, 1595 - Crack Me This Nut

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

Henslowe writes: y^e 12 of septmbȝ 1595 ... R at cracke me this nutte ... iij^ll 

In modern English: [11^th] September, 1595 ... Received at Crack Me This Nut ... £3

Dessert Still Life by Georg Flegel (1566-1638)

Today, the Admiral's Men returned to their new play, Crack Me This Nut. We know nothing about the content of this lost play, but you can read more about it in the entry for 5th September.

Whatever its content, Crack Me This Nut has proven a great success - it has followed its very popular premiere with an almost equally popular second night. Could this be the company's latest big hit?

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?

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5 September, 1595 - Crack Me This Nut

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

Henslowe writes: y^e 5 of septmbȝ 1595 ... ne ... R at cracke me this nvtte ... iij^ll j^s 

In modern English: 5^th September, 1595 ... New ... Received at Crack Me This Nut ... £3 and 1 shilling.

Dessert Still Life by Georg Flegel (1566-1638)

Today, the Admiral's Men unveiled another new play! Unfortunately, Crack Me This Nut is lost and its title offers few clues to its content.

The title was proverbial, being related to the phrase "a tough nut to crack" and might suggest that the play was about a difficult problem or task that a character was trying to solve or accomplish.

Whatever its subject matter was, Crack Me This Nut had an excellent premiere that filled the theatre.

FURTHER READING

Crack Me This Nut information

• David McInnis, "Crack Me This Nut", Lost Plays Database (2011). 
• Martin Wiggins, British Drama, 1533-1642: A Catalogue, vol. 3 (Oxford University Press, 2013), entry 1008.

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!