Cruelty of a Stepmother, The

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Historical Records

Government Documents

Accounts of the Office of the Revels

		{ An Inventyon or playe of the three Systers of Mantua shewen at
		{ Richmond on Se Stephens daie at night enacted by thearle of warwick his
		{ servauntes furnished in this office with sondrey thinges as was requisite for
		{ the same.
		{ The historie of
		{ Richmond on St Iohns daie at night enacted by the children of the Quenes
		{ maiesties chappell funished in this office with verie manie thinges aptly
		{ fitted for the same.
Histories and		{ An history of the creweltie of A Stepmother shewen at Richmond on
Invencions shewen		{ Innocentes daie at night enacted by the lord Chamberlaynes servauntes
within the tyme		{ furnished in this office with sondrey thinges.
aforesaid vj.		{ A Morrall of the marryage of Mynde and Measure shewen at Rich-
viz.		{ mond on the sondaie next after Newe yeares daie enacted by the children
		{ of Pawles funished somethinges in this office.
		{ A pastorell or historie of A Greeke maide shewen at Richmond on the
		{ sondaie next after Newe yeares daie enacted by the Earle of Leicester his
		{ servauntes furnished with some thinges in this office.
		{ The historie of the Rape of the second Helene shewen at Richmond on
		{ Twelf daie at night well furnished in this office with manie thinges for them.

Theatrical Provenance

The Chamberlain's men (Sussex's men) played in the provinces in the mid-1570s; therefore, their repertory offerings at court in these years are most likely to have been taken on the road also. They probably played in London as well but no specific stage has been identified with them.

Probable Genre(s)

Tragedy? Harbage; also Wiggins, Catalogue #653

Possible Narrative and Dramatic Sources or Analogues

None known.

References to the Play

None known.

Critical Commentary

Information welcome.

For What It's Worth

In addition to documenting the performance of the play itself at court, the records from the Office of the Revels include payment for the conveyance of theatrical material:

vijs for }

cariadge of the stuffe from the courte by water the 28th of Decem- }

ber that served in my Lord Chamberleynes men plaie — iijs vjd.        }

Works Cited

Site created and maintained by Roslyn L. Knutson; Last updated by Rlknutson on 27 March 2023 19:46:47