"Comedies are writ to be spoken, not read: remember the life of these things consists in action" (John Marston. 'To the Equal Reader', The Fawne. 1606.)
The Tavern Society's 'Read, not Dead' series began in late 2008. In performing early modern plays we endeavor to revive and reinvigorate texts and to further our understanding of early modern theatre. Plays are chosen in accordance with the group's research interests and for each performance one Player directs and casts the play. While our initial performances involved minimal props and costumes, each new venture has increased in sophistication. Following early experiments the group has fully adopted the 'parts' system for each performance.
28th October 2008 - Heywood's A Woman Killed With Kindness. (Dir. Emily O' Brien). For this inaugural performance only selected scenes were read.
11th December 2008 - Anon. Arden of Faversham. (Dir. Emily O' Brien). For our official debut the Players acted out selected scenes only.
26th February 2009 - Shirley's The Cardinal (full play). (Dir. Rory Loughnane). For this performance the group introduced the early modern system of player's parts - each actor relied upon a brief cue and their own character's part.
22nd April 2009 - Middleton's A Mad World, My Masters (full play). (Dir. Edel Semple). Once again the Players utilised the parts system. Due to the number of disguise plots and duplicitous characters in Mad World the group found an increased use of costumes and props to be particularly helpful in identifying characters.
18th June 2009 - Bale's King Johan (full play). (Dir. Kate Roddy). Bale's drama is the earliest play the group has performed and propagandist props, name tags, and inventive costumes proved very effective in marking the villains and heroes of the piece.
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)
The Sun which doth the greatest comfort bring
- Beaumont's epistle to Jonson (1605?)
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.