Bartholomew Fair

This specific production does not yet have a description, but the play itself does:

Bartholomew Fayre: A Comedy is a comedy in five acts by Ben Jonson, the last written of his four great comedies. It was first staged on October 31, 1614 at the Hope Theatre by the Lady Elizabeth’s Men. Written four years after The Alchemist, five after Epicoene, or the Silent Woman, and nine after Volpone, it is in some respects the most experimental of these plays.

Cast & Crew

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Observations

  1. On 8th June 1661 at 10:06 a.m., Samuel Pepys noted:

    I went to the Theatre and there saw Bartholomew Faire, the first time it was acted now a-days. It is a most admirable play and well acted, but too much prophane and abusive.

  2. On 27th June 1661 at 3:00 p.m., Samuel Pepys noted:

    At noon home, and then with my Lady Batten, Mrs. Rebecca Allen, Mrs. Thompson, &c., two coaches of us, we went and saw “Bartholomew Fayre” acted very well

  3. On 7th September 1661 at 11:00 p.m., Samuel Pepys noted:

    We seated ourselves close by the King, and Duke of York, and Madame Palmer, which was great content; and, indeed, I can never enough admire her beauty. And here was “Bartholomew Fayre,” with the puppet-show, acted to-day, which had not been these forty years (it being so satyricall against Puritanism, they durst not till now, which is strange they should already dare to do it, and the King do countenance it), but I do never a whit like it the better for the puppets, but rather the worse.

  4. On 12th November 1661 at 11:00 p.m., Samuel Pepys noted:

    My wife and I to “Bartholomew Fayre,” with puppets which I had seen once before, and the play without puppets often, but though I love the play as much as ever I did, yet I do not like the puppets at all, but think it to be a lessening to it.

  5. On 2nd August 1664 at 11:00 p.m., Samuel Pepys noted:

    Thence to the King’s play-house, and there saw “Bartholomew Fayre,” which do still please me; and is, as it is acted, the best comedy in the world, I believe. I chanced to sit by Tom Killigrew, who tells me that he is setting up a Nursery; that is, is going to build a house in Moorefields, wherein he will have common plays acted.

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