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Wit At Several Weapons
''Wit at Several Weapons'' is a seventeenth-century comedy of uncertain date and authorship. Authorship and Date In its own century, the play appeared in print only in the two Beaumont and Fletcher folios of 1647 and 1679; yet modern scholarship has determined that the ''Wit at Several Weapons'' is a collaboration between Thomas Middleton and William Rowley, written some three decades before publication. In addition to the play's appearance in both folios, its belated entry in the Stationers' Register on 29 June 1660 also assigns it to Beaumont and Fletcher. The Epilogue to the play in the folios refers to a limited Fletcherian role in the play's authorship: "...if he but writ / An act, or two...." Yet the play itself indicates that Fletcher's contribution may be more minor than that; Fletcher's highly characteristic pattern of linguistic preferences (''ye'' for ''you'', em'' for ''them'', etc.) is lacking in the play. David Lake confirms the presence of Middleton and Rowley th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Comedy
Comedy is a genre of fiction that consists of discourses or works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. The term originated in ancient Greece: in Athenian democracy, the public opinion of voters was influenced by political satire performed by comic poets in theaters. The theatrical genre of Greek comedy can be described as a dramatic performance pitting two groups, ages, genders, or societies against each other in an amusing '' agon'' or conflict. Northrop Frye depicted these two opposing sides as a "Society of Youth" and a "Society of the Old". A revised view characterizes the essential agon of comedy as a struggle between a relatively powerless youth and the societal conventions posing obstacles to his hopes. In this struggle, the youth then becomes constrained by his lack of social authority, and is left with little choice but to resort to ruses w ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
William Davenant
Sir William Davenant (baptised 3 March 1606 – 7 April 1668), also spelled D'Avenant, was an English poet and playwright. Along with Thomas Killigrew, Davenant was one of the rare figures in English Renaissance theatre whose career spanned both the Caroline and Restoration eras and who was active both before and after the English Civil War and during the Interregnum. Biography Early life Davenant is believed to have been born in late February, 1606 in Oxford, the son of Jane Shepherd Davenant and John Davenant, proprietor of the Crown Tavern (or Crown Inn) and Mayor of Oxford. He was baptised on 3 March, his godfather sometimes being said to have been William Shakespeare, who, according to John Aubrey, had stayed frequently at the Crown during his travels between London and Stratford-upon-Avon.Edmond, M., ''Yeomen, Citizens, Gentlemen, and Players: The Burbages and Their Connections'', R. B. Parker (ed), ''Elizabethan Theater: Essays in Honor of S. Schoenbaum'', University o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1709 In Literature
This article contains information about the literary events and publications of 1709. Events *February 1 or February 2, 2 – Alexander Selkirk, the inspiration for ''Robinson Crusoe'', is rescued from the Juan Fernández Islands, where he was marooned, and begins his return to civilization. *April 12 – The magazine ''Tatler (1709), The Tatler'' is founded in London by Richard Steele, writing as Isaac Bickerstaff. On July 8 "Mrs. (Phoebe) Crackenthorpe" (perhaps Delarivier Manley) begins publication of ''The Female Tatler''. *April 26 – An act of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland provides for public libraries in presbyteries. *May–October 20 – Mrs. Delarivier Manley's ''roman à clef'' ''The New Atalantis (Secret Memoirs and Manners of Several Persons of Quality, of both Sexes, From The New Atalantis, an Island in the Mediterranean)'' is published in London (in two volumes, anonymously), purporting to be translated from Italian. Its satire of the Whigs (Briti ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Rival Fools
''The Rival Fools'' is a 1709 comedy play by the British writer Colley Cibber. It drew inspiration from the earlier play ''Wit at Several Weapons''. Despite Cibber's previous record of turning out hits, it was not a great success. The original Drury Lane cast featured William Pinkethman as Sir Oliver Outwit, Robert Wilks as Young Outwit, Barton Booth as Cunningham, William Bullock as Sir Gregory Goose, Colley Cibber as Samuel Simpson, George Pack as Sir Threadbare, Theophilus Keene as Priscian, Anne Oldfield Anne Oldfield (168323 October 1730) was an English actress and one of the highest paid actresses of her time. Early life and discovery She was born in London in 1683. Her father was a soldier, James Oldfield. Her mother was either Anne or Eliz ... as Lucinda, Mary Porter as Mirabel and Elizabeth Willis as Governess.Van Lennep p.182 References Bibliography * Burling, William J. ''A Checklist of New Plays and Entertainments on the London Stage, 1700-1737''. Fairleig ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Colley Cibber
Colley Cibber (6 November 1671 – 11 December 1757) was an English actor-manager, playwright and Poet Laureate. His colourful memoir ''Apology for the Life of Colley Cibber'' (1740) describes his life in a personal, anecdotal and even rambling style. He wrote 25 plays for his own company at Drury Lane, half of which were adapted from various sources, which led Robert Lowe and Alexander Pope, among others, to criticise his "miserable mutilation" of "crucified Molière ndhapless Shakespeare". He regarded himself as first and foremost an actor and had great popular success in comical fop parts, while as a tragic actor he was persistent but much ridiculed. Cibber's brash, extroverted personality did not sit well with his contemporaries, and he was frequently accused of tasteless theatrical productions, shady business methods, and a social and political opportunism that was thought to have gained him the laureateship over far better poets. He rose to ignominious fame when he became t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1663 In Literature
This article contains information about the literary events and publications of 1663. Events *February **The Académie des inscriptions et belles-lettres (Academy of the Humanities) is founded in Paris. **Katherine Philips' translation of Pierre Corneille's '' Pompée'' is produced successfully at the Theatre Royal, Dublin (Smock Alley Theatre) in Ireland, as the first rhymed version of a French tragedy in English and the first English play written by a woman to be performed on a professional stage. It is published in Dublin and London later in the year. * February 24 – John Milton marries his third wife, Elizabeth Minshull, 31 years his junior, at St Mary Aldermary in the City of London. *May 7 – The King's Company inaugurates its new theatre, the first Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London, with a revival of Fletcher's ''The Humorous Lieutenant''. The play succeeds and runs for twelve nights in a row, unusual under the repertory system of the time. *August – ''The Playhous ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Wild Gallant
''The Wild Gallant'' is a Restoration comedy written by John Dryden. It was Dryden's earliest play, and written in prose, except for the prologue, and the epilogue, which are in verse. It was premiered on the stage by the King's Company at their Vere Street theatre, formerly Gibbon's Tennis Court, on February 5, 1663. (The play's opening scene is a prologue that features a pair of astrologers drawing horoscopes on the play's fortunes for that date.) As Dryden himself stated in his Preface, it was "the first attempt I made in Dramatique Poetry." Sources Like the earliest works of many authors, and also like many other Restoration plays, ''The Wild Gallant'' is a derivative work: Dryden borrowed from several previous authors and plays, as far back as Ben Jonson's ''Every Man Out of His Humour'' ( 1599). Dryden admired the versification of Sir John Suckling, and quoted and paraphrased Suckling in his play. Revision In his Preface to the first edition of the play, Dryden admitte ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1636 In Literature
This article contains information about the literary events and publications of 1636. Events *January 31 Events Pre-1600 * 314 – Pope Sylvester I is consecrated, as successor to the late Pope Miltiades. * 1208 – The Battle of Lena takes place between King Sverker II of Sweden and his rival, Prince Eric, whose victory puts him on the t ... – The King's Men (playing company), King's Men perform Shakespeare's ''Julius Caesar (play), Julius Caesar'' at St James's Palace, London.Edmund Kerchever Chambers, Chambers, E. K. ''The Elizabethan Stage.'' 4 Volumes, Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1923. *February – James Shirley's tragicomedy ''The Duke's Mistress'' is performed at St James's Palace. *March 3 – A "great charter" to the University of Oxford establishes the Oxford University Press as the second of England's privileged presses. *April – Thomas Hobbes travels from Rome to Florence. *May 10 – London theatres close, and remain almost continuously closed until t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Wits
''The Wits'' is a Caroline era stage play, a comedy by Sir William Davenant. It was licensed for performance by Sir Henry Herbert, the Master of the Revels, on 19 January 1634; it was staged by the King's Men at the Blackfriars Theatre. It was first published in quarto by Richard Meighen in 1636. A number of critics have considered it "Davenant's most successful and influential comedy." Herbert was initially unhappy with ''The Wits'', particularly on account of its oaths and explicit language; the influential courtier Endymion Porter interceded with King Charles I to tolerate and allow the play, which then proved popular at Court. Davenant would eventually become an effective courtier himself; the 1636 edition contains Davenant's dedication of the play to Porter, and a commendatory poem by Thomas Carew. ''The Wits'' has been seen as anticipating aspects of Restoration comedy, especially in its "strong, unsentimental, witty heroine" — "Lady Ample represents the Restoration ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1613 In Literature
This article contains information about the literary events and publications of 1613. Events *January–February – The English royal court sees massive celebrations for the marriage of Frederick V, Elector Palatine, to King James's daughter Princess Elizabeth, culminating in their wedding on February 14. **During court festivities in the winter of 1612–1613, the King's Men give twenty performances, which include eight Shakespeare plays, four by Beaumont and Fletcher, and the lost ''Cardenio''. **Early January – The Children of the Queen's Revels give two performances of Beaumont and Fletcher's ''Cupid's Revenge''. **January 11 – The English playing company that had been the Admiral's Men, then Prince Henry's Men, becomes the Elector Palatine's (or Palsgrave's) Men. **February 15 – ''The Memorable Masque of the Middle Temple and Lincoln's Inn'', written by George Chapman and designed by Inigo Jones, is staged in the Great Hall of the Palace of Whitehall. Francis Bea ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Beaumont And Fletcher Folios
The Beaumont and Fletcher folios are two large folio collections of the stage plays of John Fletcher and his collaborators. The first was issued in 1647, and the second in 1679. The two collections were important in preserving many works of English Renaissance drama. The first folio, 1647 The 1647 folio was published by the booksellers Humphrey Moseley and Humphrey Robinson. It was modelled on the precedents of the first two folio collections of Shakespeare's plays, published in 1623 and 1632, and the first two folios of the works of Ben Jonson of 1616 and 1640–1. The title of the book was given as ''Comedies and Tragedies Written by Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher Gentlemen,'' though the prefatory matter in the folio recognised that Philip Massinger, rather than Francis Beaumont, collaborated with Fletcher on some of the plays included in the volume. (In fact, the 1647 volume "contained almost nothing of Beaumont's" work.) Seventeen works in Fletcher's canon that had al ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cyrus Hoy
Cyrus Henry Hoy (February 26, 1926 – April 27, 2010) was an American literary scholar of the English Renaissance stage who taught at the University of Virginia and Vanderbilt University, and was the John B. Trevor Professor of English (emeritus, 1994) at the University of Rochester. He wrote and published on a wide range of topics in English literature, though he is best known for his works on William Shakespeare, Beaumont and Fletcher, and other figures in English Renaissance theatre. Probably his most frequently-cited work is his study of authorship problems in the Beaumont/Fletcher plays. Titled "The Shares of Fletcher and His Collaborators in the Beaumont and Fletcher Canon," it was published in seven annual issues of the journal ''Studies in Bibliography,'' published by the Bibliographical Society of the University of Virginia (1956–62). Hoy identified specific linguistic markers for individual dramatists, most notably a highly distinctive pattern of preferences for ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
