Square Play, The: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 06:41, 11 March 2014

Historical Records

Bodleian MS.Eng.hist./c.476/fol.134 is described, in the library catalogue, simply as a "Prologue to the Square Play". For the catalogue itself see here: [[1]]. It consists of a prose prologue addressed to an unnamed nobleman in which "poor Amintas" apologies for the entertainment he is about to offer with the aid of his "silly boys".

Theatrical Provenance

Acted by schoolboys in front of a nobleman

Probable Genre(s)

Pastoral? (Reference to Amintas) Or not a play at all? (as suggested by Nichols)

Possible Narrative and Dramatic Sources or Analogues

References to the Play

None known

Critical Commentary

At first glance, this appeared to be a completely unknown lost play. However, it is listed by Harbage in his Supplementary List II, who dates it 1570-1590, and the text of the prologue was published by J.G.N[ichols] in Notes and Queries in 1860. Nichols doubts that it was necessarily a play, thinking it might merely have been an exhibition of skill with quarterstaves.

For What It's Worth

Information welcome.

Works Cited

N., J. G., "A Prologue to Square Play", Notes and Queries 2nd series 10 (1860) 127-8.

Site created and maintained by Matthew Steggle, Sheffield Hallam University; updated 11 March 2014.

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 Bodleian MS.Eng.hist./c.476/fol.134 is described, in the library catalogue, simply as a "Prologue to the Square Play".  For the catalogue itself see here:
 [[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=161-herrick&cid=11-1#11-1]].  It consists of a prose prologue addressed to an unnamed nobleman in which "poor Amintas" apologies for the entertainment he is about to offer with the aid of his "silly boys".
 ==Theatrical Provenance==
@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 ==Probable Genre(s)==
-Pastoral?  (References to Amintas) Or not a play at all? (as suggested by Nichols)
+Pastoral?  (Reference to Amintas) Or not a play at all? (as suggested by Nichols)
 ==Possible Narrative and Dramatic Sources or Analogues==
-Unknown
 ==References to the Play==
@@ Line 24: / Line 22: @@
 ==Critical Commentary==
-At first glance, this appears to be a completely unknown lost play.  However, it is listed by Harbage in his Supplementary List II, who dates it 1570-1590, and the text of the prologue was published by J.G.N[ichols] in ''Notes and Queries'' in 1860.  Nichols doubts that it was necessarily a play, thinking it might merely have been an exhibition of skil
+At first glance, this appeared to be a completely unknown lost play.  However, it is listed by Harbage in his Supplementary List II, who dates it 1570-1590, and the text of the prologue was published by J.G.N[ichols] in ''Notes and Queries'' in 1860.  Nichols doubts that it was necessarily a play, thinking it might merely have been an exhibition of skill with quarterstaves.
 ==For What It's Worth==
-<Enter any miscellaneous points that may be relevant, but don't fit into the above categories. This is the best place for highly conjectural thoughts.>
+Information welcome.
 ==Works Cited==
-<List all texts cited throughout the entry, except those staple texts whose full bibliographical details have been provided in the masterlist of Works Cited found on the sidebar menu.>
+N., J. G., "A Prologue to Square Play", ''Notes and Queries'' 2nd series 10 (1860) 127-8.
-J. G. N., "A Prologue to Square Play", Notes and Queries 2nd series 10 (1860) 127-8.
-<If you haven't done so already, also add here any key words that will help categorise this play. Use the following format, repeating as necessary: [[category:example]]>
-Site created and maintained by [[your name]], affiliation; updated DD Month YYYY.
+Site created and maintained by [[Matthew Steggle]], Sheffield Hallam University; updated 11 March 2014.
-[[category:all]][[category:your name]]
+[[category:all]][[category:Matthew Steggle]][[category:Unknown]]