Disguises

Anon. (1595)


Historical Records

Henslowe's Diary

F. 13 (Greg I.25)

ye 2 of octob[er] 1595 ………. ne R[d] at the desgysses ………. xxxxiijs
ye 10 of octob[er] 1595 ………. R[d] at the desgyses ………. xxixs
ye 16 of octob[er] 1595 ………. R[d] at the desgysses ………. xs
ye 27 of octob[er] 1595 ………. R[d] at the desgyses ………. xixs
ye 30 of octob[er] 1595 ………. R[d] at the desgysses ………. xxixs


F. 14 (Greg, I.27)

ye 10 of novmb[er] ………. R[d] at desgysses ………. xvs



Theatrical Provenance

Disguises was the fourth play with Henslowe's enigmatic "ne" offered at the Rose by the Admiral's players in the fall season of 1595. Its receipts averaged 24s. per performance.

Probable Genre(s)

Comedy ? (Harbage)

Possible Narrative and Dramatic Sources or Analogues

None known.

References to the Play

None known.

Critical Commentary

As is the case with many lost plays, scholars have suggested that Disguises is Henslowe's title for some other lost or extant play.

Collier considered it a new play, but entertained the possibility that it might have had connections with "the species of dramatic entertainment" called "'a disguising'"; he also suggested that it might have anticipated plays such as George Chapman's Blind Beggar of Alexandria, in which "one actor assumed several characters" (Diary, p. 59).
Fleay thought the play "the original version" of Chapman's extant May Day (BCED, 2.304), but at his entry for May Day he did not explain his reasoning (BCED, 1.51).
Greg repeated Fleay's suggestion of May Day, but expressed no enthusiasm for the link because the extant text of Chapman's play shows "no trace of revision" (II. Item 78, p. 177).
Adams?
Harbage, apparently following Adams, links Disguises with the lost Disguises or love in disguise, a pettycoat voyage attributed to Thomas Dekker on Abraham Hill's list of early plays in manuscript.
Gurr argues that Disguises is Henslowe's title for the extant Look About You.



For What It's Worth



Works Cited

Adams
Collier
Gurr

Site created and maintained by Roslyn L. Knutson, Professor Emerita; updated 7 February 2012.