Le ee ie 
x 
ACTORS AND SINGERS 75 
j have been less than twenty-five, and most probably reached thirty. 
Some of their plays show twenty characters on the stage at once, 
while other requirements in certain cases increase this number. 
All their plays have from twenty to thirty roles. It seems rea- 
sonable of course that certain minor parts in all these were 
doubled, or given to substitutes. But even then it is impossible 
to get below twenty, with the probabilities as more nearly twenty- 
five as a minimum. ‘ 
I subjoin a list of the undoubted plays of the Children of the 
Chapel at Blackfriars showing these and othert data in a general 
way.” 
From Clifton’s Complaint and from Ben Jonson’s 1616 folio 
we know the names of fourteen of the boys taken up from 1597 
and their consequent chronological 
*The dates of the various plays 
order are here given for the first 
time. The evidences are solid and 
in most cases final. 
under “Plays.” 
See vol. II 
Compare this list with the list under James I, infra, vol. I, part ii. 
NO. ACTORS 
NO, CHARAC- REQUIRED 
TERS IN PLAY] ON STAGE AT 
ONE TIME 
The Case is Altered (ca. Sept.—Oct., 1597) .. 
25 + servants 
15 + servants 
(V, iv.) 
Cynthia’s Revels (ca. Apl., 1600)..... .....- 23 20 (V, ii.) 
Sir Giles Goosecap (ca. fall, 1600)...........|19-+-musicians| 15 (V, ii.) 
Remerarster. (ca: Ap): 1601)) ee aah sade oe 25 + “lictors,) 18 + lictors 
equites, etc.,”} (IV, iil.) 
and “maids.” 
The Gentleman Usher (ca. sum., 1601) ...... 31 + | 22 or more 
(counting two 
each for 
“Pages,” “At- 
tendants,” 
and ‘“‘others.”) 
| (V, iii.) 
Monsieur D’ Olive (ca. Oct.—Dec., 1601) ....| 24 11 (V, ii.) 
Rey (ca, May 1602). chee ee 8 Be ac 21 + 16+ (V.) 
The Widdowes Teares (Sept. 18, 1602) ...... 23 18 + (V, v.) 
The Dutch Courtezan (fall—wint.,.1602)..... 18+ pages(8),| 11 + “hal- 
gentlemen,| berds” and 
servants, “officers” (V, 
maskers, con-| ili.) 
stables (8), 
officers. 
The Malcontent (spring, 1603) .............. 21 20 (V, iii.) 
