by Jinny Webber | Mar 21, 2020 | Actors in plague time, Gender fluidity, Sex and Gender in Shakespeare's England |
Ferdinand Stanley, Lord Strange “I thought I would say this poem tomorrow for the contest,” Nashe said. “But it occurs to me something more bawdy will better suit, and I have just the thing: the sad tale of Tomalin and his Frances. It’s called ‘The Choice of...
by Jinny Webber | Mar 20, 2020 | Actors in plague time, Christopher Marlowe, Gender fluidity, Sex and Gender in Shakespeare's England |
John Donne Awake early, I slipped out of bed, full of anticipation and a shadow of worry. In the kitchen Ella gave me apricots, bread, and a slice of ham. “I’m off for a bit of exploring,” I said, keeping my voice light. “I shall return before dinner.” Just before I...
by Jinny Webber | Mar 19, 2020 | Actors in plague time, Christopher Marlowe, Gender fluidity |
Tom Nashe “Good fortune that my father took you into North’s Men, Sander,” Jack said. Every topic seemed charged, but I had to brave it, oblivious as Jack seemed. “Remember your old friend Martin?” Mag asked. I shuddered at the name: I’d hardly call him friend! If I...
by Jinny Webber | Mar 18, 2020 | Actors in plague time, Gender fluidity, Sex and Gender in Shakespeare's England |
Will Kemp Love is a spirit all compact of fire, Not gross to sink, but light, and will aspire. “Venus and Adonis” Chapter XX June 1592 Raspberries and fresh cream were set out on the breakfast table. When I glanced at Kit, he winked back. I did my best to return a...
by Jinny Webber | Mar 17, 2020 | Actors in plague time, Boy actors on Shakespeare's stage, Christopher Marlowe, Gender fluidity |
Boy Actor At supper, Jack proposed a toast to my birthday. He pulled me into a jig, with Kemp making three. Shakespeare and Tom Nashe pounded on the table and Kit drank my health. They started reading Sir Philip Sidney’s poems as Kemp tried to drown them out singing...
by Jinny Webber | Mar 16, 2020 | Actors in plague time, Christopher Marlowe, Gender fluidity, Sex and Gender in Shakespeare's England |
Christopher Marlowe Spread thy close curtain, love-performing night Romeo and Juliet Chapter XIX Midsummer 1592 We rolled into Audley Inn late on the long June evening before my birthday. Bird songs rose amidst the fragrance of cut grass and summer roses on air so...
by Jinny Webber | Mar 16, 2020 | Actors in plague time, Christopher Marlowe, Gender fluidity |
Fetid grey hung over the city on the June morning of our departure. Our farewells to Pope and the household fit the haste and pain of the times: quick embraces and prayers for safe return. Satchels on our shoulders and Jack’s precious lute in hand, we hurried to meet...
by Jinny Webber | Mar 15, 2020 | Actors in plague time, Christopher Marlowe, Gender fluidity |
Adapted from The Secret Player, ©Jinny Webber, Revised edition From Chapter XVIII, Spring 1592 Adieu, farewell, earth’s bliss; This world uncertain is. “In Plague Time,” Thomas Nashe Two men in black hats appeared at the entrance to The Theatre tiring...
by Jinny Webber | Mar 14, 2020 | Christopher Marlowe, Gender fluidity |
The article by Sarah Ruhl in the New York Times, “Broadway Is Closed. Write Poems Instead: When theaters shuttered, Shakespeare turned to poetry. ” (NYT, March 13, 2020) connects the current closure of Broadway theatres to the closures in...
by Jinny Webber | Nov 20, 2019 | Sex and Gender in Shakespeare's England |
This is Ambassador Abd el-Ouahed ben Messaoud ben Mohammed Anou, who led a Moorish delegation to Queen Elizabeth in 1600 to make an alliance against their common enemy, Spain. Although they failed to raise a fleet between them, he and his embassy remained in London...
