31 May, 1596 - Pythagoras

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

Henslowe writes: y^e 31 of maye whittsen mvnday ... R at pethageres ... iij^ll 

In modern English: 31^st May, Whitsun Monday ... Received at Pythagoras ... 
£3

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

It's a holiday! In 1596, May 31 is Whit Monday, the first day of Whitsuntide: a multi-day holiday celebrating the beginning of summer. Many Londoners would have had free time and would have been in a festive mood.  On this special day, the Admiral's Men have revived Pythagoras, their lost play about the Greek philosopher. You can read more about this play in the entry for 16 January

Sure enough, today's performance received splendid box office. Pythagoras has been getting mixed box office in its last few outings, but today a huge crowd has arrived to see the adventures of the Greek philospher. This is the first genuine full house since the Rose re-opened in April, and the players must be thrilled.

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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29 May, 1596 - Chinon of England

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

Henslowe writes: y^e 27 of maye 1596 ... R at chynone ... ix^s

In modern English: [29^th] May, 1596 ... Received at Chinon ... 9 shillings

The Knights of the Round
Table, from the Compilation
arthurienne de Micheau
Gonnot (1470)

Today, the Admiral's Men revived Chinon of England, their lost Arthurian drama about a fool who becomes a knight. You can read more about this play in the entry for 3 January.

It has been a week and a half since the company last performed Chinon, and the play's box office has been on a roller-coaster ride of late. After improve greatly last time, it has plunged into the depths today. You never know what you're going to get with this play.

What's next?

There will be no blog entry tomorrow because 30th May was a Sunday in 1596 and players did not perform. Henslowe's Diary ... as a Blog! will thus return on the 31st for the beginning of a holiday week. 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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28 May, 1596 - Harry V

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

Henslowe writes: y^e 26 of maye 1596 ... R at hary the 5 ... xxiij^s 

In modern English: [28^th] May, 1596 ... Received at Harry V ... 23 shillings

King Henry V, posthumous portrait
(late 16th or early 17th century)

Today, the Admiral's Men performed Harry V, their play about King Henry V of England, who, according to legend, gave up a dissolute lifestyle and led his country to victory against the French at the Battle of Agincourt before his untimely death. You can read more about this play in the entry for 28 November.

Although not particularly impressive in its own right, the box office for Harry V is higher than its last outing a month ago. There have been signs this week that audiences are growing for some plays, perhaps as the weather gets warmer.


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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27 May, 1596 - The First Part of Tamar Cam

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

Henslowe writes: y^e 25 of maye 1596 ... R at  tambercame ... xx^s

In modern English: [27^th] May, 1596 ... Received at Tamar Cam ... 20 shillings

Today, the Admiral's Men revived Tamar Cam, a lost play that told of war and wizardry during the exploits of the Mongol conqueror Hulagu Khan; you can read more about it in the entry for 28th April 1592.

The company has waited only a week to bring back Tamar Cam but today's performance is a disappointment. Previously, the play had been receiving impressively large audiences, but now the box office has suddenly declined by more than half.

Persian illustration of Hulagu Khan (the likely inspiration for Tamar Cam) and his Christian wife

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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26 May, 1596 - Fortunatus

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

Henslowe writes: y^e 24 of maye 15956 ... R at ffortunatus ... xiiij^s 

In modern English: [26^th] May, 1596 ... Received at Fortunatus ... 14 shillings

Fortunatus receives the magic purse from
Lady Fortune (from the 1509 novel)

Today, the Admiral's Men revived Fortunatus, which was probably the first of a two-part play, and was the precursor of Thomas Dekker's Old Fortunatus; it told the story of a man who miraculously acquires infinite wealth. You can read more about it in the entry for 3rd February.

The players have waited two weeks to revive Fortunatus, and the box office continues to decline gradually.

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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25 May, 1596 - Phocas

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

Henslowe writes: y^e 23 of maye 1596 ... R at tragedie of ffocasse ... xxxix^s

In modern English: [25^th] May, 1596 ... Received at Tragedy of Phocas ... 39 shillings

Phocas depicted in Richard
Rainoldes' Chronicle of all the
Noble Emperors of the Romans (1571)

Today, the Admiral's Men returned to Phocas, their tragedy about an army officer who became Byzantine emperor and ruled as a tyrant. You can read more about this play in the entry for 20 May.

This is the second performance of Phocas, and the company will be cautiously pleased with its box office, which is above the average for the Rose.

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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24 May, 1596 - Pythagoras

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

Henslowe writes: y^e 22 of maye 1596 ... m^r pd ... R at pethageros ... xxvij^s 

In modern English: [24^th] May, 1596 ... Master paid ... Received at Pythagoras ... 27 shillings

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

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

The players have waited three weeks to revive Pythagoras. Interestingly, over the last few performances the box office for this play has been rising slightly, rather than falling, an unusual thing to see in the Diary.

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?

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