The Knight of the Burning Pestle: Francis Beaumont / Edition 1

by Sheldon Zitner, Richard Dutton, Alison Findlay, Helen Ostovich

Overview

This play is a celebration of London life and theatre in which Francis Beaumont's comic genius is given free rein. A grocer, his wife and their two apprentices attending the theatre in holiday mood interrupt and finally replace a fatuous love comedy with their own heart's desire: exotic spectacle and sound English sentiment.

This edition presents an accurate modern-spelling text, with full historical and critical introduction and a detailed commentary. The introduction analyses the character of Beaumont's wit and his unsentimental critique of society and of society's stage image. It also places 'The Knight' in the contexts of Jacobean comedy and the work of the children's theatrical troupes. An appendix on the songs and a concern for details of production make this edition especially useful to actors and directors, as well as students of Renaissance drama.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780719069673
Publisher:	Manchester University Press
Publication date:	10/28/2004
Series:	The Revels Plays
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	5.43(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.46(d)

About the Author

Sheldon P. Zitner is Professor of English at Trinity College, University of Toronto

Table of Contents

General editors' preface
Preface
Abbreviations
Introduction
1. The text
2. Authorship
3. Date
4. The Children's Company
5. Antecedents
6. Prodigals, lovers and prentice worthies
7. 'The Knight', 'Don Quixote' and ritual
8. Stage history
The Knight of the Burning Pestle
Appendices
A An anonymous prologue
B 'The Encounter'
C The interludes
D The songs
Glossarial index to the commentary