Cosmo

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Historical Records

Performance Records (Henslowe's "diary")

Two records of performance survive in Henslowe’s accounts for early 1592 (new style):

Fol. 8/ Greg I, 15

Res at the comodey of cosmo the 12 of Jenewary 1593

xxxxiiijs

Res at cossmo the 23 of Jeneway 1593

xxiiijs

Theatrical Provenance

"Cosmo," also "The Comedy of Cosmo," was performed at the Rose playhouse by Lord Strange's company during the winter season of 1592-3.

Probable Genre(s)

Comedy

Possible Narrative and Dramatic Sources or Analogues

Information welcome.

References to the Play

None known.

Critical Commentary

Greg, II, #25, p. 157 thought "Cosmo" was "[m]ost probably the same as" the play introduced a week earlier on 7 January and called "th gelyous comodey." He was persuaded to that opinion because "The Jealous Comedy" had been marked with Henslowe's enigmatic "ne," which almost always indicates a new play (or, a play new to the performing company's repertory) but had no apparent additional performances. Hinting at a subject for the play, Greg suggested that the name of the play "should perhaps be:" "Cosimo."

Wiggins, Catalogue, #946 is tempted but not convinced by the identification of "Cosmo" with "The Jealous Comedy" for Greg's reason of the unusual solo performance of the later "ne" play.

Manley and MacLean resist the lumping of "Cosmo" and "The Jealous Comedy" (125, 127).

For What It's Worth

It is curious but perhaps not significant that "The Jealous Comedy" and "Cosmo" returned identical receipts to Henslowe at their initial performances (44s).

Works Cited

Site created and maintained by Roslyn L. Knutson, Professor Emerita, University of Arkansas at Little Rock; 3 July 2020.