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Overview

Synopsis

A group of players have assembled to perform a nice, normal play entitled “The London Merchant.” Unfortunately, one of the audience members objects to watching another play about the English elite, and instead demands that his apprentice, Ralph, be brought on stage to perform the role of a grocer - not just any grocer, but a grocer who becomes a knight. While the players proceed to present their original play, following a pair of lovers who wish to elope against their parents’ wills, Ralph - urged by his doting audience - interrupts with the fanciful adventures of the so-called Knight of the Burning Pestle. The two plays limp on side-by-side, featuring knights who are actually bartenders, giants who are actually barbers, cunning schemes, faked deaths, ghosts, and even a dramatic closing battle scene that serves no purpose at all.

The Knight of the Burning Pestle was first performed at Blackfriars Theatre in 1607, and is considered the earliest true parody play in English. Poking fun at out-of-date chivalric romances, the play is also filled with in-jokes about playwrights of the day, their audiences, and the business of making theatre in general. Often compared to Don Quixote de la Mancha by modern readers, The Knight of the Burning Pestle is a metatheatrical comedy full of fanciful adventure as well as many of the hallmarks of Elizabethan drama.

Show Information

Category
Play
Age Guidance
Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
Number of Acts
5
First Produced
1607
Genres
Parody, Farce, Satire, Comedy
Settings
Period, Multiple Settings, Unit/Single Set
Time & Place
London and the surrounds, 16th C.
Cast Size
large
Orchestra Size
None
Dancing
None
Licensor
None/royalty-free
Ideal For
College/University, Community Theatre, Diverse Cast, Large Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult, Child, Early Teen, Late Teen Characters

Context

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Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Ralph

Lead

Male

Non-singer

Citizen

Lead

Male

Non-singer

Wife

Lead

Female

Non-singer

Jasper

Lead

Male

Non-singer

Luce

Lead

Female

Non-singer

Mistress Merrythought

Supporting

Female

Non-singer

Humphrey

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Venturewell

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Merrythought

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

George

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Tapster

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Host

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Barber

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Pompiona

Featured

Female

Non-singer

Boy

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Speaker of the Prologue

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Tim

Ensemble

Male

Non-singer

Ensemble (6)

Ensemble

Either Gender

Non-singer

Songs

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A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

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Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

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Quizzes

Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Quote Analysis

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