2 December, 1596 - The Blind Beggar of Alexandria

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

Henslowe writes: y^e 2 of desembȝ 1596 ... R at the beager ... xx^s

In modern English: 2^nd December, 1596 ... Received at The Beggar ... 20 shillings

Beggars in Alexandria; an undated photograph
from Brooklyn Museum's Lantern Slide Collection

Today, the Admiral's Men revived The Blind Beggar of Alexandria, a comedy by George Chapman about a master of disguise. You can read more about this play in the entry for 12 February.

After a mysterious short hiatus, the company has returned with The Blind Beggar, which had once been a sure-fire hit, but which today receives only a smallish audience. 

What's next?

There will be no blog entry tomorrow, as for unknown reasons Henslowe records no performance. Henslowe's Diary ... as a Blog! will thus return on the 4th December, whereupon we will finally see a new play at 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?

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