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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 89: THE WINTER’S TALE
By Maurice Jonas
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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.

THE WINTER’S TALE

ACT. AUDIENCE. ACTED.

The dignity of this act was worth the audience of Kings and princes,
For by such was it acted.

V, 2, 86.

PART. PLAY. HISS.

Thy Mother plays and I
Play too, but so disgraced a part whose issue
Will hiss me to my grave.

I, 2, 188.

I see the play so lies
That I must bear a part

IV, 4, 670.

PART. PERFORMED.

Good Paulina,
Lead us from hence, where we may leisurely
Each one demand and answer to his part
Performed in this wide gap of time since first
We were dissevered.

V, 3, 151.

MOTION.

Then he compassed a motion of the Prodigal son.

IV, 3, 103.

The puppet or motion showman exclaims in “Bartholomew Fair”: “O, the motions that I, Lanthorn Leatherhead, have given light to in my time.”

PLAY. SCENE.

My care to have you royally appointed as if
The scene you play were mine.

IV, 4, 604.

SPECTATORS.

Though devised
And played to take spectators.

III, 2, 38.

PASTORAL.

I play as I have seen them do
In Whitsun pastorals.

IV, 4, 134.

The reference is to the several kinds of May games which were performed at this season of the year. They consisted of short dramatic pieces of French origin. The earliest known is that of the “Jeu de Robin et Marian,” which was played in 1392. M. Guy quotes it as folk going “desguiziez un Jeu qui l’endit Robin et Marian ainsi qu’il est accoutume de fere chacun an en les foiries de Penthecouste.” These pieces were a mixture of folk song and minstreling, which developed into a kind of primitive drama. The principal characters being represented by Shepherds and Shepherdesses, surrounded by woodland scenery. In Molière’s plays will be found two of these pastoral dramas, “Melicente,” comedie pastorale heroique; another was simply entitled, “Pastorale comique.”

THE
LONDON
Prodigall.

As it was plaide by the Kings Maiesties seruants.

By VVilliam Shakespeare,

LONDON.

Printed by T. C. for Nathaniel Butter, and
are to be sold neere S. Austins gate,
at the signe of the pyde Bull.
1605.

(Original Image)

Title page of an English Play.

ANDROMEDE
TRAGEDIE

Representée auec les Machines sur le Theatre Royal de Bourbon.

A ROVEN,
Chez LAVRENS MAVRRY, prés le Palais.

AVEC PRIVILEGE DV ROY.
M. D C. LI.

Et se vendent A PARIS,
Chez CHARLES DE SERCY, au Palais, dans la Salle Dauphine, à la bonne Foy Couronnée.

(Original Image)

Title page of a French Tragedy by Pierre Corneille, indicating at which Theatre the play was produced, showing a similarity with dramatic title pages of the seventeenth century.

I cannot close this book without mentioning the assistance rendered me respecting the illustrations. As in a previous volume, my friend, Mr. H. Franklin Waghorn, kindly holds himself responsible for the photographic work he has so ably executed. My friend, in order to help me, made many visits to the British Museum on my behalf. The authorities of that marvellous institution graciously permitted Mr. Waghorn to take photographs of any rare books which he desired for my work, for which permission I beg to offer my best thanks. Mr. Fleming, who made the blocks for the facsimiles, has executed his work beyond all praise.