Schedule of Meetings 2010/11

19 Oct. Playing Spaces and Theatre Architecture (Host: Derek Dunne)

2 Nov. Death and the Afterlife (Host: Andrew Power)

16 Nov. Animals (Host: Darragh Greene)

30 Nov. Proverbs, Emblems, and Homespun Wisdom

13 Dec. Christmas Pageant: The Atheist's Tragedy, directed by Rory Loughnane

-------Christmas Break--------

18 Jan. The Bedroom, and Other Domestic Interiors (Host: Emily O'Brien)

1 Feb. Repertory and Casting (Host: Andrew Power)

15 Feb. Bedlam: Insanity, Hysteria, and Mental Illness (Valentine’s Day Special—Host: Kate Roddy)

1 Mar. Genius and Inspiration (Host: Ane Sappington)

15 Mar. The Printed Image: Woodcuts and Engravings (Host: Kate Harvey)

29 Mar. Fifteen Minutes of Fame: Short-Lived Trends and One-Hit Wonders (Host: Edel Semple)

12 Apr. Disease, Surgery, and Remedies (Host: Edel Semple)

26 Apr. Play Reading: Cola's Fury, directed by Stephen Kelly

3 May Private Communication and Conspiracy

17 May Music and Ballads

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from Lines on the Mermaid Tavern

I have heard that on a day
Mine host’s sign-board flew away,
Nobody knew whither, till
An astrologer’s old quill
To a sheepskin gave the story,
Said he saw you in your glory,
Underneath a new old-sign
Sipping beverage divine,
And pledging with contented smack
The Mermaid in the Zodiac.
- John Keats (1795–1821)

On Ben Jonson and a Country Man

Ben Johnson in a tavern once began
Rudely to talk to a plain Country man.
And thus it was, Thou dull laborious Moyle
That I beleeve wert made for nought but toyle
For every Acre of thy Land I have
Twenty of wit: Such Acres Sir, are brave,
Replyed the Country man: What great Mistakers
Have we been of your wealth, Mr Wise-Acres.
- Thomas Jordan (from Jewels of Ingenuity. 1660?)

The Sun which doth the greatest comfort bring

...what things have we seen
Done at the Mermaid: heard words that have been
So nimble, so full of subtil flame …
Then when there hath been thrown
Wit able enough to justifie the Town
For three days past, wit that might warrant be
For the whole City to talk foolishly
Till that were cancell'd, and when that was gone,
We left and Air behind us which alone,
Was able to make the two next Companies
Right witty; though but downright fools, more wise.
- Beaumont's epistle to Jonson (1605?)