William D'Avenant, The Siege of Rhodes part one

Dawn Lewcock (Independent Scholar - Europe)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.04: English Writing and Culture of the Seventeenth Century, 1625-1688.
Vol. editors: Jennifer Brady (Rhodes College), Daniel Cook (University of Dundee), Neil Forsyth (Université de Lausanne), Claire Preston (Queen Mary, University of London), J A Roe (University of York), Virginia Mason Vaughan (Clark University)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1656

Places

England (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Masque
Play

Resources

The Siege of Rhodes is important because it is believed to be the first time the general public had the opportunity to see a production with scenery on the stage in England. Before this time scenery had only been used in productions of masques, and some few plays at court, or in front of a select audience. Surprisingly The Siege of Rhodes was shown during the Interregnum when stage plays were forbidden. However, Sir William D'Avenant had already successfully shown a staged debate at his house, part of which was for and against staging opera, which he called The First Days Entertainment at Rutland House, by Declamations and Musick: after the manner of the Ancients. The long title was probably a deliberate …

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1366 words

Citation: Lewcock, Dawn. "The Siege of Rhodes part one". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 10 May 2007 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=21269, accessed 25 November 2024.]

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