Olympio and Eugenio

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Historical Records

Performance Records

Playlists in Philip Henslowe's diary


Fol. 12v (Greg I.24)
ye 4 of septmbʒ 1595 . . . . . . . . . . Rd at olempeo & hengenyo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xviijs


Fol. 13 (Greg I.25)
ye 3 of octobʒ 1595 . . . . . . . . . . . . Rd at olempeo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xvs


Fol. 14 (Greg, I. 27)
ye 22 of novmbʒ 1595 . . . . . . . . . . . Rd at olempo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iiijs vjd


Fol. 14v (Greg, I. 28
ye 18 of febreary 1595 . . . . . . . . . . . Rd at olempeo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xs



Theatrical Provenance

Probable Genre(s)

Unknown

Possible Narrative and Dramatic Sources or Analogues

References to the Play

Critical Commentary


Malone considered "Seleo and Olympo" the same play as "Olympio and Eugenio," declaring that "Seleo ... is in a subsequent entry called Olempo and Hengengs" (p. 296, n.6). He did not therefore list "Olympio and Eugenio" when it first appeared in Henslowe's listings for September 1595.

Collier, at the appearance in the playlists of "olempeo and hengenyo," conceded that this "Olempeo" might be "Seleo and Olympo" and that the spelling of the second name might be "Ingenio." Then, letting frustration get the better of editorial restraint, he added that "it is sometimes hardly possible even to guess, on account of Henslowe's ingeniously corrupt spelling" (p. 56, n.1).

Greg II


Wiggins, Catalogue, #994, #995 reflects the inclination of previous theater historians in leaning toward the merger of "Seleo and Olympo" and "Olympio and Eugenio" being the same play. He finds it persuasive that "Olympio and Eugenio," the later of the two play-titles to appear in Henslowe's lists, is not marked "ne" (suggesting it has been staged previously), but he is troubled by the consistency with which Henslowe spelled "Olympio" for this second-appearing play.

For What It's Worth

Works Cited




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