Poor Man’s Paradise, The
Historical Records
Payments
To playwrights in Philip Henslowe's diary
Fol. 63v (Greg I.110)
Lent vnto Thomas downton the 20 aguste } 1599 to lend vnto hawghton in earnest of a } xiijs Boocke called the poore manes paradice the some of }
Fol. 64 (Greg I.111)
Lent vnto Thomas downton the 25 aguste } 1599 to paye [harey chettell] Thomas hawton for his Boocke } xvijs called the poore manes paradice the some of ... }
Theatrical Provenance
The Admiral's Men began payments to William Haughton on "The Poor Man's Paradise" in August 1599 early in their fall season at the Rose; across the way on Maid Lane, the Chamberlain's Men were underway with their fall season at the newly opened Globe.
Probable Genre(s)
Comedy (?) (Harbage)
Possible Narrative and Dramatic Sources or Analogues
None known.
References to the Play
None known.
Critical Commentary
Greg says that "[n]othing is known of this play" (II.205, Item #181).
For What It's Worth
Knutson lists the play as probably completed, on the basis of Henslowe's wording "for his Boocke" in the payment on 25 August 1599 (37n).
Works Cited
Knutson, Roslyn L. “Toe to Toe Across Maid Lane: : Repertorial Competition at the Rose and Globe, 1599-1600,” in June Schlueter and Paul Nelsen (eds) Acts of Criticism: Performance Matters in Shakespeare and His Contemporaries (Madison & Teaneck: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 2005), 21-37.
Site created and maintained by Roslyn L. Knutson, Professor Emerita, University of Arkansas at Little Rock; updated 7 November 2009.