16 May, 1597 - Uther Pengragon

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

Henslowe writes: whittsone mvnday | 16 | tt at pendragon ... | 02 | 19

In modern English: Whitsun Monday ... 16^th [May, 1597] ... total at Pendragon ... £2 and 19 shillings [i.e. 59 shillings]

Uther Pendragon and Merlin, from British
Library manuscript Royal 20 A II
(early 14th century)

Hooray, it's a holiday! Today is Whit Monday, the first day of Whitsuntide, a multi-day holiday celebrating the beginning of summer. Londoners are in a festive mood and ready for a bit of fun in the theatre. On this special day, the Admiral's Men have revived Uther Pendragon, their lost play about the father of King Arthur. You can read more about this play in the entry for 29 April.

The company must be delighted by today's performance, which has drawn a huge crowd, almost filling the Rose. They must be particularly pleased to perform Uther Pendragon to such a crowd. Despite being pushed heavily over the last few weeks, the play has not been proving at all popular, so today is a much-needed burst of enthusiasm. The actors are probably revelling 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!

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?

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

15th May, 1592 - Hieronimo

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

Henslowe writes: ^{whittson tyde} R at Jeronymo the 13 maye 1592 ... iij^ll 4^s 

In modern English: Whitsuntide. Received at Hieronimo, 15^th May, 1592 ... £3 and 4 shillings 

Today was an exciting day for Philip Henslowe and Lord Strange's Men. It is the first day of Whitsuntide, a multi-day holiday celebrating the beginning of summer! Many Londoners would have free time and be in a festive mood, so there was the chance of bigger and livelier audiences. 

Woodcut from the 1615 edition of The Spanish Tragedy.

Sure enough, today's performance received splendid box office. The company chose to stage their old standard Hieronimo, which is almost certainly an alternate title for Thomas Kyd's The Spanish Tragedy. You can read more about this play in the entry for 14th March. The performance nearly filled the theatre, showing that the mad revenge of a grieving father could still draw large crowds.

• Tuesday, 14th March - 71 shillings (performed the day after the Comedy)
• Monday, 20th March - 38 shillings (performed as an individual play)
• Friday, 31st March - 60 shillings (Easter Week; performed the day after the Comedy)
• Friday, 7th April - 26 shillings (performed as an individual play)
• Friday, 14th April - 33 shillings (performed as an individual play)
• Monday, 24th April - 28 shillings (performed one working day after the Comedy, but with Sunday interrupting)
• Tuesday, 2nd May - 34 shillings (performed as an individual play)
• Thursday, 11th May - 26 shillings (performed as an individual play)
• Monday, 15th May - 64 shillings (Whitsuntide; performed as an individual 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!