Eunuch, The

William Heminge (c.1633-4)? (not lost)

Historical Records

Marriott's List (1653)

Among the twenty-one plays registered on the Stationers' Register by Richard Marriott in late 1653 occurs:

The Eunuch a Tragedy

Theatrical Provenance

Queen Henrietta's Men (as per the 1653 title-page). Morley (265) dates the play to c.1633-4, when the company were playing at the Phoenix-Cockpit, while other critics have suggested it was acted by the company at Salisbury Court after the long plague closure of 1636-7. It was seen into print by "A.T.", possibly the actor Anthony Turner, and Andrew Pennycuicke, actor turned printer.

Probable Genre(s)

Tragedy

Possible Narrative and Dramatic Sources or Analogues

n/a

References to the Play

n/a

Critical Commentary

Bentley, Greg, and, most recently, Carol Morley have convincingly identified this lost play as William Heminge's The Fatal Contract, printed by "J.M.", probably John Marriott, in 1653. See Marriott's List (1653) for details and discussion.

For What It's Worth

Terence's Eunuchus—so called because one of the characters disguises himself as a eunuch—is a comedy.

Works Cited

Heminge, William. The Plays and Poems of William Heminge, ed. Carol A. Morley. Madison: Farleigh Dickinson University Press, 2006.

Site created and maintained by Matthew Steggle: updated 11 December 2009.