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beginning to end a succession of atmospheric phenomena, which suggest that the Jacobeans had made considerable progress in the art of stage pyrotechnics.[1] The Globe, with its traditional 'blazing star', is left far behind.[2]
The critical points of staging are the recesses below and above. Some kind of recess on the level of the main stage is often required by the King's plays; for action in or before a prison,[3] a cell,[4] a cave,[5] a closet,[6] a study,[7] a tomb,[8] a chapel,[9] a shop;[10] for the revelation of dead bodies or other concealed
- [Footnote: bearing his two brazen pillars, six other Princes, with the other six
labours'.]*
- ↑ G. A. V, 'Pluto drawes hell: the Fates put upon him a burning Roabe, and present him with a Mace, and burning crowne'; S. A. II, 'Jupiter appeares in his glory under a Raine-bow'; IV, 'Thunder, lightnings, Jupiter descends in his maiesty, his Thunderbolt burning'. . . . 'As he toucheth the bed it fires, and all flyes up'; V, 'Fire-workes all over the house'. . . . 'Enter Pluto with a club of fire, a burning crowne, Proserpine, the Judges, the Fates, and a guard of Divels, all with burning weapons'; B. A. II, 'There fals a shower of raine'. Perhaps one should remember the sarcasm of Warning for Fair Women, ind. 51, 'With that a little rosin flasheth forth, Like smoke out of a tobacco pipe, or a boys squib'.
- ↑ Revenger's Tragedy (Dodsley^4), p. 99; it recurs in 2 If You Know Not Me (ed. Pearson), p. 292.
- ↑ T. N. IV. ii; M. for M. IV. iii; Fair Maid of Bristow, sig. E 3; Philaster, V. ii.
- ↑ Tp. V. i. 172, 'Here Prospero discouers Ferdinand and Miranda, playing at Chesse'.
- ↑ Tim. IV. iii.; V. i. 133.
- ↑ M. Wives, I. iv. 40, 'He steps into the Counting-house' (Q_{1}); 2 Maid's Tragedy, 1995, 2030, 'Locks him self in'.
- ↑ M. D. of Edmonton, prol. 34, 'Draw the Curtaines' (s.d.), which disclose Fabel on a couch, with a 'necromanticke chaire' by him; Devil's Charter, I. iv. 325, 'Alexander in his study'; IV. i. 1704, 1847; v. 2421, 2437; V. iv. 2965; vi. 3016, 'Alexander vnbraced betwixt two Cardinalls in his study looking vpon a booke, whilst a groome draweth the Curtaine. . . . They place him in a chayre vpon the stage, a groome setteth a Table before him'. . . . (3068), 'Alexander draweth the Curtaine of his studie where hee discouereth the diuill sitting in his pontificals'; Hen. VIII, II. ii. 63, after action in anteroom, 'Exit Lord Chamberlaine, and the King drawes the Curtaine and sits reading pensiuely'; Catiline, I. i. 15, 'Discouers Catiline in his study'; Duchess of Malfi, V. ii. 221 (a 'cabinet'); cf. Massacre at Paris (Fortune), 434, 'He knocketh, and enter the King of Nauarre and Prince of Condy, with their scholmaisters' (clearly a discovery, rather than an entry).
- ↑ 2 Maid's Tragedy, 1725, 'Enter the Tirant agen at a farder dore, which opened, bringes hym to the Toombe wher the Lady lies buried; the Toombe here discovered ritchly set forthe'; (1891) 'Gouianus kneeles at the Toomb wondrous passionatly'. . . . (1926), 'On a sodayne in a kinde of Noyse like a Wynde, the dores clattering, the Toombstone flies open, and a great light appeares in the midst of the Toombe'.
- ↑ W. T. V. iii; D. of Malfi, III. iv. 1, 'Two Pilgrimes to the Shrine of our Lady of Loretto'.
