Histriomastix (play)
Encyclopedia
Histriomastix, or The Player Whipped is a late Elizabethan play, written by the satirist John Marston
and acted in 1599
. It was previously thought that the play was likely acted by the Children of Paul's
, one of the companies of boy actors
active at the time; but more recent research suggests that Histriomastix was performed at the 1598-9 Christmas revels of the Middle Temple
. (Plays acted at the Inns of Court
could take an approach opposite to that of the professionals, maximizing rather than minimizing the number of roles to make room for enthusiastic amateurs. Without doubling, a production of Histriomastix could accommodate as many as 120 performers. The play's rich texture of legal humor also suggests an Inns of Court performance.)
The play was entered into the Stationers' Register
on Oct. 31, 1610
, and first published in the same year by the bookseller Thomas Thorpe
. The first edition is anonymous, though Marston's connection with the play is accepted unanimously — though scholars and critics have disputed the extent of Marston's authorship, some holding that Marston revised an older play that originated around 1589.
The play is a moral allegory
about human nature, which shows, through a series of symbolic scenes, how society is led into war and destruction through pride, greed, and sloth. Among other specific targets of satire (like women), the play targets professional actors (as the subtitle indicates) — which is consistent with the view that it was acted by nonprofessionals. The earlier version of the play, if indeed it existed, may have been a work performed at one of the Universities or Inns of Court.
The play was the opening installment in the War of the Theatres
of 1599–1601. Ben Jonson
, Marston's rival in that controversy, is lampooned as the character Chrisoganus.
John Marston
John Marston was an English poet, playwright and satirist during the late Elizabethan and Jacobean periods...
and acted in 1599
1599 in literature
-Events:* Undated - Opening of the Globe Theatre.*June 4 - Middleton's Microcynicon and Marston's Scourge of Villainy are publicly burned, as ecclesiastical authorities crack down on the craze for satire of the past year. The Bishop of London and the Archbishop of Canterbury tighten their...
. It was previously thought that the play was likely acted by the Children of Paul's
Children of Paul's
The Children of Paul's was the name of a troupe of boy actors in Elizabethan and Jacobean London. Along with the Children of the Chapel, the Children of Paul's were the most important of the companies of boy players that constituted a distinctive feature of English Renaissance theatre.St...
, one of the companies of boy actors
Boy player
Boy player is a common term for the adolescent males employed by Medieval and English Renaissance playing companies. Some boy players worked for the mainstream companies and performed the female roles, as women did not perform on the English stage in this period...
active at the time; but more recent research suggests that Histriomastix was performed at the 1598-9 Christmas revels of the Middle Temple
Middle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn...
. (Plays acted at the Inns of Court
Inns of Court
The Inns of Court in London are the professional associations for barristers in England and Wales. All such barristers must belong to one such association. They have supervisory and disciplinary functions over their members. The Inns also provide libraries, dining facilities and professional...
could take an approach opposite to that of the professionals, maximizing rather than minimizing the number of roles to make room for enthusiastic amateurs. Without doubling, a production of Histriomastix could accommodate as many as 120 performers. The play's rich texture of legal humor also suggests an Inns of Court performance.)
The play was entered into the Stationers' Register
Stationers' Register
The Stationers' Register was a record book maintained by the Stationers' Company of London. The company is a trade guild given a royal charter in 1557 to regulate the various professions associated with the publishing industry, including printers, bookbinders, booksellers, and publishers in England...
on Oct. 31, 1610
1610 in literature
The year 1610 in literature involved some significant events.-Events:*Thomas Bodley makes an agreement with the Stationers' Company of London to put a copy of every book registered with them into his new Bodleian.-New books:...
, and first published in the same year by the bookseller Thomas Thorpe
Thomas Thorpe
Thomas Thorpe was an English publisher, most famous for publishing Shakespeare's sonnets and several works by Christopher Marlowe and Ben Jonson. His publication of the sonnets has long been controversial...
. The first edition is anonymous, though Marston's connection with the play is accepted unanimously — though scholars and critics have disputed the extent of Marston's authorship, some holding that Marston revised an older play that originated around 1589.
The play is a moral allegory
Allegory
Allegory is a demonstrative form of representation explaining meaning other than the words that are spoken. Allegory communicates its message by means of symbolic figures, actions or symbolic representation...
about human nature, which shows, through a series of symbolic scenes, how society is led into war and destruction through pride, greed, and sloth. Among other specific targets of satire (like women), the play targets professional actors (as the subtitle indicates) — which is consistent with the view that it was acted by nonprofessionals. The earlier version of the play, if indeed it existed, may have been a work performed at one of the Universities or Inns of Court.
The play was the opening installment in the War of the Theatres
War of the Theatres
The War of the Theatres is the name commonly applied to a controversy from the later Elizabethan theatre; Thomas Dekker termed it the Poetomachia....
of 1599–1601. Ben Jonson
Ben Jonson
Benjamin Jonson was an English Renaissance dramatist, poet and actor. A contemporary of William Shakespeare, he is best known for his satirical plays, particularly Volpone, The Alchemist, and Bartholomew Fair, which are considered his best, and his lyric poems...
, Marston's rival in that controversy, is lampooned as the character Chrisoganus.