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Full Description
When we speak of theatre, we think we know what a stage direction is: we tend to think of it as an authorial requirement, devised to be complementary to the spoken text and directed at those who put on a play as to what, when, where, how or why a moment, action or its staging should be completed. This is the general understanding to condition a theatrical convention known as the 'stage direction'. As such, we recognise that the stage direction is directed towards actors, directors, designers, and any others who have a part to play in the practical realisation of the play. And perhaps we think that this has always been the case. However, the term 'stage direction' is not a medieval one, nor does an English medieval equivalent term exist to codify the functions contained in extraneous manuscript notes, requirements, directions or records. The medieval English stage direction does not generally function in this way: it mainly exists as an observed record of earlier performance. There are examples of other functions, but even they are not directed at players or those involved in creating performance.
More than 2000 stage directions from 40 or so plays and cycles have been included in the catalogue of the volume, and over 400 of those have been selected for analysis throughout the work.
The purpose of this research is to examine the theatrical functions of medieval English stage directions as records of earlier performance. Examples of such functions are largely taken from outdoor scriptural plays. This book will be of great interest to students and scholars in theatre, medieval history and literature.
Contents
List of Figures
Acknowledgements
Preface
Prelude
Chapter 1: Observers, Options and Beneficiaries of Stage Directions
Chapter 2: Didacticism
Chapter 3: The Nature of Pretence
Chapter 4: Biblical and Other Narrative Sources
Chapter 5: Spatial Practices
Chapter 6: Characteristics of Playing
Chapter 7: Playing Alone
Chapter 8: Ornaments and Effects
Postlude
Catalogue
A Note by Michael Spence about Latin Translations
List of Plays and their Stage Directions
Calisto and Melebea
The Castle of Perseverance
The Chester Mystery Plays
The Chester Appendix
Christ's Burial
Christ's Resurrection
Conversion of St. Paul
Cornish Creacion of the World
Cornish Origo Mundi
Cornish Passio Domini
Cornish Resurrexio Domini
Cornish St. Meriasek
Cornish St. Kea
Coventry Shearmen and Taylors' Pageant
Coventry Weavers' Pageant
Fulgens and Lucrece
Impacyente Pouerte
Killing of the Children
King Johan
Magnyfycence
Mankind
Mary Magdalen
N.town Plays
Nature
Nature of the Four Elements
The Newcastle Play
Nice Wanton
The Norwich Grocers' Play
The Play of the Sacrament [Croxton]
Play of the Weather (1)
Play of the Weather (2)
The Pride of Life
Terens in Englysh
Thersytes
Three Laws
The Towneley Plays
Wealth and Health
Wisdom
Wit and Science
The York Play
Bibliography
Index
