The Playhouse to Be Let
Encyclopedia
The Playhouse to be Let is a Restoration
stage play, a dramatic anthology of short pieces by Sir William Davenant
that was acted in August 1663
at the theatre at Lincoln's Inn Fields
, and first published in the 1673
collected edition of Davenant's works. The Playhouse to Be Let is noteworthy for providing the first English translation of a play by Molière
.
wrote, "I know not under what Species to place this Play, it consisting of several Pieces of different Kinds handsomely tackt together...." Davenant exploited the standard five-Act structure of drama in his era to link five separate short plays, both newly written and previously existent:
The material in Act I provides a detailed view of a theatre manager interacting with actors, that throws light upon the theatrical conditions of Davenant's day. The anthology's blend of serious and comic works has caused critics to wonder about authorial intent, and even authorial identity.
, Edward Howard
, and James Howard being his siblings. The Playhouse to Be Let was in fact attributed to Col. Howard during the eighteenth century.
Mandach argues that Davenant, as a practitioner of heroic drama
, was unlikely to have ridiculed it. His argument has in general not persuaded other critics. In the play itself, Davenant writes that "burlesque discovers laughter not in the objects of its hatred, but rather in the objects of its affections."
, the famous 1671
satire by the Duke of Buckingham
and his collaborators.
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
stage play, a dramatic anthology of short pieces by Sir William Davenant
William Davenant
Sir William Davenant , also spelled D'Avenant, was an English poet and playwright. Along with Thomas Killigrew, Davenant was one of the rare figures in English Renaissance theatre whose career spanned both the Caroline and Restoration eras and who was active both before and after the English Civil...
that was acted in August 1663
1663 in literature
The year 1663 in literature involved some significant events.-Events:*February - The Académie des inscriptions et belles-lettres is founded in Paris....
at the theatre at Lincoln's Inn Fields
Lincoln's Inn Fields
Lincoln's Inn Fields is the largest public square in London, UK. It was laid out in the 1630s under the initiative of the speculative builder and contractor William Newton, "the first in a long series of entrepreneurs who took a hand in developing London", as Sir Nikolaus Pevsner observes...
, and first published in the 1673
1673 in literature
The year 1673 in literature involved some significant events.-Events:*With the death of Sir Henry Herbert, Thomas Killigrew is appointed Master of the Revels...
collected edition of Davenant's works. The Playhouse to Be Let is noteworthy for providing the first English translation of a play by Molière
Molière
Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière, was a French playwright and actor who is considered to be one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature...
.
Form and content
Regarding this anthology, the early critic Gerard LangbaineGerard Langbaine
Gerard Langbaine was an English dramatic biographer and critic, best known for his An Account of the English Dramatic Poets , the earliest work to give biographical and critical information on the playwrights of English Renaissance theatre...
wrote, "I know not under what Species to place this Play, it consisting of several Pieces of different Kinds handsomely tackt together...." Davenant exploited the standard five-Act structure of drama in his era to link five separate short plays, both newly written and previously existent:
- Act I provides an Introduction to the items that follow, in which four troupes of actors audition to fill a vacant theatre;
- Act II is a condensation of Molière's 1660 one-act play Sganarelle, translated into French-accented broken English;
- Act III is Davenant's 16591659 in literatureThe year 1659 in literature involved some significant events.-Events:* Andrew Marvell becomes a member of Parliament.* Méric Casaubon edits John Dee's journal of angel magic.-New books:*Richard Baxter - The Holy Commonwealth...
"operatic tableau" The History of Sir Francis DrakeThe History of Sir Francis DrakeThe History of Sir Francis Drake was a hybrid theatrical entertainment, a masque or "operatic tableau" with an English libretto written by Sir William Davenant and music by Matthew Locke. The masque was most likely first performed in 1659 and produced by Davenant...
; - Act IV is Davenant's similar 16581658 in literatureThe year 1658 in literature involved some significant events.-Events:* Molière arrives in Paris to act at the Louvre.* Edward Phillips continues the Chronicle of the Kings of England from the Time of the Romans' Government unto the Death of King James to this date.-New books:* Sir Thomas Browne -...
work The Cruelty of the Spaniards in PeruThe Cruelty of the Spaniards in PeruThe Cruelty of the Spaniards in Peru was an innovative 1658 theatrical presentation, a hybrid entertainment or masque or "operatic show", written and produced by Sir William Davenant...
; - Act V is the "Tragedy Travestie," a burlesque of traditional tragedyTragedyTragedy is a form of art based on human suffering that offers its audience pleasure. While most cultures have developed forms that provoke this paradoxical response, tragedy refers to a specific tradition of drama that has played a unique and important role historically in the self-definition of...
, involving Julius CaesarJulius CaesarGaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman and a distinguished writer of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the gradual transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire....
, Marc Antony, and Cleopatra.
The material in Act I provides a detailed view of a theatre manager interacting with actors, that throws light upon the theatrical conditions of Davenant's day. The anthology's blend of serious and comic works has caused critics to wonder about authorial intent, and even authorial identity.
Authorship
Davenant's authorship of the material in Acts III and IV is not disputed. French scholar André de Mandach attributed to rest of the work to Colonel Henry Howard. Henry Howard was one of four playwriting brothers; Sir Robert HowardRobert Howard (playwright)
Sir Robert Howard was an English playwright and politician, born to Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Berkshire and his wife Elizabeth.-Life:...
, Edward Howard
Edward Howard (playwright)
Edward Howard was an English dramatist and author of the Restoration era. He was the fifth son of Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Berkshire, and one of four playwriting brothers: Sir Robert Howard, Colonel Henry Howard, and James Howard were the others...
, and James Howard being his siblings. The Playhouse to Be Let was in fact attributed to Col. Howard during the eighteenth century.
Mandach argues that Davenant, as a practitioner of heroic drama
Heroic drama
Heroic drama is a type of play popular during the Restoration era in England, distinguished by both its verse structure and its subject matter. The sub-genre of heroic drama evolved through several works of the middle to later 1660s; John Dryden's The Indian Emperour and Roger Boyle's The Black...
, was unlikely to have ridiculed it. His argument has in general not persuaded other critics. In the play itself, Davenant writes that "burlesque discovers laughter not in the objects of its hatred, but rather in the objects of its affections."
Influence
The playlet in Act V of The Playhouse to Be Let has been called "the earliest burlesque dramatic piece in the English language." Davenant's comedy had a direct influence on The RehearsalThe Rehearsal
The Rehearsal may refer to:* The Rehearsal , 1672, by George Villiers.* The Rehearsal , 1974, about the Greek junta.* The Rehearsal , 2008, by Eleanor Catton.* The Rehearsal, a short film....
, the famous 1671
1671 in literature
The year 1671 in literature involved some significant events.-Events:*Nell Gwyn retires from the stage.*On November 9, the Duke's Company open their new venue, the Dorset Garden Theatre.-New books:...
satire by the Duke of Buckingham
George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham
George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham, 20th Baron de Ros of Helmsley, KG, PC, FRS was an English statesman and poet.- Upbringing and education :...
and his collaborators.