WeRead Powered by ReaderPub
Shakespeare and the Stage / With a Complete List of Theatrical Terms Used by Shakespeare in His Plays and Poems, Arranged in Alphabetical Order, & Explanatory Notes cover

Shakespeare and the Stage / With a Complete List of Theatrical Terms Used by Shakespeare in His Plays and Poems, Arranged in Alphabetical Order, & Explanatory Notes

Chapter 62: HENRY IV PART II
By Maurice Jonas
Open in WeRead

Explore more books like this:

History - BritishHistory - Early Modern (c. 1450-1750)Plays/Films/Dramas

About This Book

A historical and practical study of dramatic performance and stagecraft that traces how medieval religious spectacles gave way to secular comedy and tragedy, examines inn-yard presentations and purpose-built playhouses, and surveys company organization, acting practice, court performances, and theatrical allusions. The work describes theatre architecture, audience arrangements, production practices, and contemporary documents and illustrations, and concludes with an alphabetically arranged glossary of stage terms associated with Shakespeare, each entry supplied with explanatory notes to clarify period usage and theatrical meaning.

HENRY IV
PART II

I was then Sir Dagonet in Arthur’s show.

III, 1, 300.

Apart from dramatic performances, there existed in Shakespeare’s time several societies, which occasionally presented spectacular shows elaborately prepared, in order to amuse a number of spectators. These were sometimes held at the Court, and were generally of the nature of dumb-shows or masques, or formed a kind of pageant. These shows originated from the guilds of mediæval times, in which the craftsmen of the different companies gave an entertainment in the streets of important towns on Corpus Christi and other festival days.

In this particular show, Sir Dagonet is Arthur’s fool in the story of Trestam de Lyonesse. Arthur’s show was an exhibition of archery by a society of 58 members, which styled itself “The Auncient Order Society, and Unitie laudable of Prince Arthur and his Knights Armory of the Round Table,” and took the names of the knights of old romance. The meeting of the society was held at Mile End Green.

ACT. STAGE.

And let this world no longer be a stage
To feed contention in a lingering act.
The rude scene may end.

I, 1, 156.

ACTING. SCENE. ARGUMENT.

For all my reign hath been but as a scene
Acting that argument.

IV, 5, 199.

PLAY.

I was lately here in the end of a displeasing play, to pray your patience for it, and to promise you a better.

Epilogue, line 10.

NINE WORTHIES.

Thou art as valorous as Hector of Troy, and ten times better than the Nine Worthies.

II, 4, 239.

VICE.

And now is this Vice’s dagger become a squire.

III, 2, 343.