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Overview

Synopsis

Ben Jonson’s experimental and controversial Jacobean comedy takes place at Bartholomew Fair--a popular retreat for Londoners that opened annually for four days each summer from the 12th to the 19th century. The fair attracted every class of people in London (from lords to prostitutes) and was the type of place where one could buy the best meat in town, while also watching a public execution.

The play opens in the house of Mr. John Littlewit, a would-be playwright and notary. He and his friends, Quarlous and Winwife, seek the favor of Dame Purecraft, the mother of Mrs. Littlewit, who happens to be a Puritan and wealthy widow. However, Dame Purecraft has her own agenda, as she is currently in romantic talks with Zeal-of-the-Land Busy. Littlewit schemes for ways to break up Mr. Busy and Dame Purecraft, while mindlessly signing off marriage certificates for the various people who drift through his house. Littlewit decides to visit Bartholomew Fair to watch a puppet show that he produced and he convinces both Zeal-of-the-Land Busy and Dame Purecraft to join him and his friends.

At Bartholomew Fair, Adam Overdo bemoans the amoral atmosphere he sees all around him. However both he, and the various London residents who visit the attraction, gradually fall under the fair’s corruptive influence. While Quarlous and Winwife fight over Overdo's beautiful young ward, Grace Wellborn, and Littlewit and Overdo's wives are mistaken for prostitutes, Littlewit’s puppet show finally begins. Led by Lant Leatherhead, the Hobbi-horse seller), the show is soon interrupted by Mr. Overdo, who claims that the play is immoral as the puppets are not wearing gender appropriate clothes. In response, the puppets lift up their clothes to reveal that they don’t have genitals. Shocked, Mr. Overdo reveals that he is actually a Justice of the Peace and he recites all of the crimes he has witnessed at the fair. However, when his wife vomits all over him after drinking too much, he decides to turn a blind eye. Instead, the “Fair” concludes with the everyone venturing to Mr. Overdo’s house for dinner.

Show Information

Book
Ben Jonson
Category
Play
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
5
First Produced
1614
Genres
Comedy, Satire
Settings
Period, Multiple Settings
Time & Place
London, Seventeenth century
Cast Size
large
Licensor
None/royalty-free
Ideal For
College/University, Large Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Young Adult, Mature Adult, Late Teen Characters

Context


Plot


Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

John Littlewit

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Win Littlewit

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Dame Purecraft

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Quarlous

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Winwife

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Zeal-of-the-Land Busy

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Adam Overdo

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Dame Overdo

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Grace Wellborn

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Bartholomew Cokes

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Humphrey Wasp

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Ezekiel Edgworth

Featured

Male

Spoken

Lantern Leatherhead

Featured

Male

Spoken

Joan Trash

Featured

Female

Spoken

Nightingale

Featured

Male

Spoken

Ursula

Featured

Female

Spoken

Mooncalf

Featured

Male

Spoken

Jordan Knockem

Featured

Male

Spoken

Val Cutting

Featured

Male

Spoken

Captain Whit

Featured

Male

Spoken

Punk Alice

Featured

Female

Spoken

Ensemble

Ensemble

Either Gender

Spoken, Silent

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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Videos

Quizzes

Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Quote Analysis

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Guide Written By:

Alexandra Appleton

Alexandra Appleton

Writer, editor and theatre researcher