Boss of Billingsgate, The

Theatrical Provenance

The Admiral's men bought the play in March 1603, just as the playhouses were to be closed to observe the death of Queen Elizabeth; the company could not have known then that the playhouses would remain closed most of 1603 and into 1604 because of outbreaks of the plague. There is no evidence to indicate whether The Boss of Billingsgate entered, then remained in the company's active repertory over this stretch of time.

Probable Genre(s)

Neither Harbage nor Wiggins hazards a guess.

Possible Narrative and Dramatic Sources or Analogues

Information welcome.

Critical Commentary

Wiggins points out that the title refers to a fountain. He opines that the narrative could have addressed the origin of the fountain ("as a legacy from Mayor Richard Whittington") or told "a number of interlocking stories" related to the fountain and its geographical location (#1396).

For What It's Worth

Site created and maintained by Christopher Matusiak, updated 7 March 2011.