Performance History
editScholars believe the Admiral’s Men first performed The Shoemaker’s Holiday in 1599 at the Rose Theatre and then later before the royal court. During Dekker's lifetime, the only surviving performance record of The Shoemaker's Holiday is in 1600 on New Year's Day as part of Queen Elizabeth I's annual Christmas celebrations and entertainment.[1][2][3]
There are six surviving editions of the play's publication during Dekker's lifetime.[4] The first edition was published in 1600 by the printer Valentine Simmes.[4] The first edition prefaces the play with an "Epistle to the Professors of the Gentle Craft," and the Prologue was spoken before Queen Elizabeth. Philip Henslowe's Diary records a payment of £3 to "Thomas Dickers" for the play.[3][4]
In April 1898, a Harvard University fraternity performed an abridged version with attention to accurate costuming, music, and dance.[5]
In November 1912, at Brinkerhoff Theatre, the Philolexian Society of Columbia University presented a humorous, parodic interpretation with all males performing men and women roles.[6]
In January 1938, Director Orson Welles' of Mercury Theatre in NYC, NY brought significant attention to The Shoemaker's Holiday with his abridged version and directing. Some critics gave the production highly favorable reviews while others criticized the extreme humor.[7][8][9][10][11] Welles' production of The Shoemaker's Holiday was offered "in repertory" with his previous show, Julius Caesar.[12][13]
In 1967, Director Douglass Campbell of Guthrie Theater Company in Minneapolis, MN presented an adaptation with an instrumental score composed by Dominick Argento. Campbell inserted an extra scene of Ralph singing "How Does My Jane?"[14]
In 1970, the play was translated by Dan Almagor and directed by David William to celebrate the rebuilding of the Habima Theatre.[15]
The Shoemaker's Holiday has been a part of many Shakespearean festivals celebrating Elizabethan theatre.[16][17][18][19]
In February 2005, Peter Dobbins as artistic director of Storm Theatre presented a performance in contrast to Welles' comedic abridgment. The Wall Street Journal favorably reviewed the production for both its comedic and somber moments.[20]
In 2015, the Royal Shakespeare Company produced The Shoemaker's Holiday at the Swan, Stratford-upon-Avon to highly acclaimed reviews.[21][22] Critics praised director Phillip Breen for reinterpreting scenes and evoking contemporary issues of war trauma and oppression.[23][24][25]
In 2016, the Baltimore Shakespeare Factory produced the play with contemporary music such as "Blue Suede Shoes" by Elvis Presley. Reviewers described the show as a light-hearted, comedic interpretation with exceptional costuming.[26][27]
Other Media Forms
editA BBC World Theatre Radio play adaptation was aired in the early sixties.[28][29][30]
In 1967, there was a short-lived musical version.[31]
In December 1974, New York University's Queens College of Music presented a drama and dance ballad opera adaptation by lyricist John Olon and with music by Argento.[32]
In April 2015, Willing Suspension Productions, Boston University's Renaissance theater group, performed and filmed a freely viewable performance.[33]
References
edit- ^ Britain), Royal Historical Society (Great (1881). Transactions of the Royal Historical Society. Society.
- ^ Dekker, Thomas (1990). Parr, Parr (ed.). The Shoemaker's Holiday (2nd ed.). London: A&C Black. pp. xxvi–xxviii. ISBN 0393900622.
- ^ a b Dekker, Thomas (2014-05-29). The Shoemaker's Holiday. A&C Black. ISBN 9781408144213.
- ^ a b c DEEP: Database of Early English Playbooks. Ed. Alan B. Farmer and Zachary Lesser. Created 2007. Accessed . <http://deep.sas.upenn.edu>.
- ^ CREDITABLY DONE. (1898, Apr 29). Boston Daily Globe (1872-1922) Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/498857852?accountid=14696
- ^ THE WHIP' IS BIG, SMASHING SUCCESS. (1912, Nov 23). New York Times (1857-1922) Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/97321048?accountid=14696
- ^ Mantle, B. (1938, Jan 09). Dekker's 17th century whimsey is given a revival.Chicago Daily Tribune (1923-1963) Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/181919378?accountid=14696
- ^ By, B. A. (1938, Jan 09). MERCURY GOING UP. New York Times (1923-Current File)Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/102692762?accountid=14696
- ^ By, B. A. (1938, Jan 03). THE PLAY. New York Times (1923-Current File) Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/102687062?accountid=14696
- ^ By, A. P. (1938, Jan 11). Time, dekker and priestley. The Christian Science Monitor (1908-Current File) Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/514575185?accountid=14696
- ^ By, I. B. (1938, Jan 23). SHUFFLING THROUGH THE WINNERS. New York Times (1923-Current File) Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/102677304?accountid=14696
- ^ Haller, H. (1938, Jan 16). That repertory idea on broadway again. The Sun (1837-1992) Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/543140879?accountid=14696
- ^ The THEATRE. (1937, Nov 16). Wall Street Journal (1923 - Current File) Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/129743297?accountid=14696
- ^ By WALTER KERR Special to The New,York Times. (1967, Jun 03). Theater: 'shoemaker's holiday' in minneapolis. New York Times (1923-Current File)Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/117369643?accountid=14696
- ^ Kohansky, M. (1970, Apr 10). The shoemakers of habimah. The Jerusalem Post (1950-1988) Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/894433641?accountid=14696
- ^ "Oregon Shakespeare Festival Production History". Retrieved March 5, 2018.
- ^ ARTS AFIELD. (1986, Sep 07). Chicago Tribune (1963-Current File) Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/170800073?accountid=14696
- ^ "Utah Shakespeare Festival Past Festival Performances". Retrieved March 5, 2018.
- ^ By, L. F. (1972, Jun 18). Get ready to laugh. New York Times (1923-Current File)Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/119467365?accountid=14696
- ^ Teachout, T. (2005, Feb 11). WEEKEND JOURNAL; theater -- view: It's spelled W-O-N-D-E-R-F-U-L. Wall Street Journal Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/398963914?accountid=14696
- ^ "British Theatre Review: The Shoemaker's Holiday, Swan Theatre". Retrieved March 5, 2018.
- ^ "The Shoemaker's Holiday, RSC Swan, Stratford-upon-Avon: 'gloriously entertaining'". Retrieved March 5, 2018.
- ^ Price, Eoin (2015-09-15). "The Shoemaker's Holiday by Royal Shakespeare Company (review)". Shakespeare Bulletin. 33 (3): 517–521. doi:10.1353/shb.2015.0042. ISSN 1931-1427. S2CID 191336665.
- ^ Brennan, Clare (2015-01-04). "The Shoemaker's Holiday review – Dekker's 1599 critique feels tremendously contemporary". the Guardian. Retrieved 2018-03-15.
- ^ "The Shoemaker's Holiday (Royal Shakespeare Company) @ The Swan, Stratford-upon-Avon - The Bardathon". The Bardathon. 2015-02-26. Retrieved 2018-03-15.
- ^ "Charm City Fringe Review: 'The Shoemaker's Holiday' at Baltimore Shakespeare Factory - DCMetroTheaterArts". DCMetroTheaterArts. 2016-11-07. Retrieved 2018-03-15.
- ^ "Theatre Review: 'The Shoemaker's Holiday' at Baltimore Shakespeare Factory | Maryland Theatre Guide". mdtheatreguide.com. Retrieved 2018-03-15.
- ^ Other 76 -- no title. (1960, Oct 16). Boston Globe (1960-1986) Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/250992127?accountid=14696
- ^ Other 31 -- no title. (1961, Apr 15). Chicago Daily Tribune (1923-1963) Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/182876164?accountid=14696
- ^ RADIO. (1962, Mar 17). New York Times (1923-Current File) Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/116043579?accountid=14696
- ^ SCOREBOARD. (1967, Mar 12). New York Times (1923-Current File) Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/118111785?accountid=14696
- ^ Thompson, H. (1974, Dec 18). GOING OUT guide. New York Times (1923-Current File) Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/120181941?accountid=14696
- ^ "Fuse Theater Feature: Willing Suspension Productions Celebrates "The Sea Voyage" and a Glorious Anniversary". Retrieved March 5, 2018.