Composers and their stage works 

Ben JONSON

Born London 11 June, 1572: Died London 6 August, 1637

Stage Works:

Unless otherwise noted, the plays were first performed in London. All are wholly or partially in verse.

  1. The Case Is Altered. Comedy, 5 acts. Published 1609 (Stationers' Register, Jan. 26, 1609). Produced originally by an unidentifiable company:

    in revised form, Blackfriars Theatre (Children of the Queen's Revels), 1597, 1609.

  2. Every Man in His Humour. Comedy, 5 acts. Published 1601 (Stationers' Register, Aug. 4, 1600). Produced Lord Chamberlains Men, shortly before Sept. 20, 1598. Revised version, in which the play's locale was changed from Italy to England: Written probably 1605. Published 1616. Produced at court, Feb. 2, 1605.
  3. Every Man Out of His Humour. Comical satire, 5 acts. Published 1600 (Stationers' Register, Apr. 8, 1600). Produced Globe Theatre (Lord Chamberlain's Men), 1599.
  4. Cynthia's Revels, or The Fountain of Self-Love. Comical satire, 5 acts. Published 1601 (Staioners' Register, May 23, 1601). Produced Blackfriars Theatre (Children of the Queen's Chapel), 1600/01.
  5. The Poetaster, or The (His) Arraignment. Comical satire, 5 acts. Published 1602 (Stationers' Register, Dec. 21, 1601). Produced Blackfriars Theatre (Children of the Queen's Chapel), 1601.
  6. Sejanus His Fall. Tragedy, 5 acts. Published 1605 (Stationers' Register, Nov. 2, 1604). Produced Icing's Men, 1603.
  7. Eastward Ho! (With George Chapman and John Marston). Comedy, 5 acts. Published 1605 (Stationers' Register, Sept. 4, 1605). Produced Blackfriars Theatre (Children of the Queens Revels), 1605.
  8. Volpone, or The Fox. Comedy, 5 acts. Published 1607 (Stationers' Register, Oct. 3, 1610). Produced probably Globe Theatre (King's Men), 1605/06.
  9. Epicoene, or The Silent Woman. Comedy, 5 acts. Published 1616 (Stationers' Register, Sept. 20, 1610). Produced Children of the Queen's Revels, 1609.
  10. The Alchemist. Comedy, 5 acts. Published 1612 (Stationers' Register, Oct. 3, 1610). Produced probably Globe Theatre (King's Men), 1610. 11. Catiline His Conspiracy. Tragedy, 5 acts. Published 1611. Produced King's Men, 1611.
  11. Bartholomew Fair. Comedy, 5 acts. Published 1631. Produced Hope Theatre (Lady Elizabeth's Men), Oct. 31, 1614.
  12. The Devil Is an Ass. Comedy, 5 acts. Published 1631. Produced Blackfriars Theatre (King's Men), October/November (?), 1616.
  13. The Staple of News. Comedy, 5 acts. Published 1631 (Stationers' Register, Apr. 14, 1626). Produced Blackfriars Theatre? (King's Men), February, 1626.
  14. The New Inn, or The Light Hart. Comedy, 5 acts. Published 1631 (Stationers' Register, Apr. 17, 1631). Produced Blackfriars Theatre (King's Men), January, 1629.
  15. The Magnetic Lady, or Humours Reconciled. Comedy, 5 acts. Published 1640. Produced King's Men, 1632 (licensed Oct. 12, 1632).
  16. A Tale of a Tub. Comedy, 5 acts. Published 1640. Produced Cockpit Theatre (Queen Henrietta s Men), 1633 (licensed May 7, 1633). Produced at court (Queen's Men:

    first known production), Jan. 14, 1634. Some scholars believe this play is a revision of an earlier play.

Fragments

In the second Jonson folio (1640) are printed two acts of The Sad Shepherd, or A Tale of Robin Hood, a pastoral drama, written probably about 1637:

and a fragment of Mortimer His Fall, a tragedy of uncertain date.

Entertainments

  1. Althorp Entertainment (The Satyr). Stationers' Register, Mar. 19, 1604. Produced Althorp, June 25, 1603.
  2. Coronation Entertainment. Published 1604 (Stationers' Register, Mar. 19, 1604). Produced Mar. 15, 1604. Presented as part of a large civic entertainment in honor of King James.
  3. Highgate Entertainment (The Penates). Published 1616. Produced house of Sir William Cornwallis, Highgate, to welcome the King, May 1, 1604.
  4. The Entertainment of the Two Kings of Great Britain and Denmark at Theobalds. Published 1616. Produced July 24, 1606.
  5. An Entertainment of King James and Queen Anne at Theobalds. Published 1616. Produced May 22, 1607.
  6. The Speeches at Prince Henry's Barriers. Published 1616. Produced Jan. 6, 1610.
  7. A Challenge of Tilt, at a Marriage. Published 1616. Produced Jan. 1, 1614.
  8. An Entertainment at the Blackfriars. Published 1816. Produced May, 1620?
  9. The Masque of Owls. Published 1640. Produced Kenilworth, Aug. 19, 1624.
  10. The King's Entertainment at Welbeck. Published 1640. Produced May 21, 1633.
  11. Love's Welcome at Bolsover. Published 1640. Produced July 30, 1633.

Masques

  1. The Masque of Blackness. Stationers' Register, Apr. 21, 1608. Produced Jan. 6, 1605.
  2. Hymenaei. Published 1606. Produced at court, Jan. 5, 1606.
  3. The Masque of Beauty. Stationers' Register, Apr. 21, 1608. Produced at court (Whitehall), Jan. 10, 1608.
  4. Lord Haddington's Masque, or The Hue and Cry after Cupid. Produced at court (Whitehall), Feb. 9, 1608.
  5. The Masque of Queens. Published 1609 (Stationers' Register, Feb. 22, 1609). Produced at court (Whitehall), Feb. 2, 1609.
  6. Oberon, The Faery Prince. Published 1616. Produced at court (Whitehall), Jan. 1, 1611.
  7. Love Freed from Ignorance and Folly. Published 1616. Produced at court (Whitehall), Feb. 3, 1611.
  8. Love Restored. Published 1616. Produced at court (Whitehall), Jan. 6, 1612.
  9. The Irish Masque. Published 1616. Produced at court (Whitehall), Dec. 29, 1613.
  10. Mercury Vindicated from the Alchemists. Published 1616. Produced presumably at court (Whitehall), Jan. 6, 1615.
  11. Christmas His Masque. Published 1640. Produced at court (Whitehall), 1616.
  12. The Golden Age Restored. Published 1616. Produced Jan. 1, 1616.
  13. The Vision of Delight. Published 1640. Produced at court (Whitehall), Jan. 6, 1617.
  14. Lovers Made Men. Published 1617. Produced house of Lord Hay, Feb. 22, 1617.
  15. Pleasure Reconciled to Virtue. Published 1640. Produced at court (Whitehall), Jan. 6, 1618. First version of For the Honour of Wales.
  16. For the Honour of Wales. Published 1640. Produced Feb. 17, 1618. Revision of Pleasure Reconciled to Virtue.
  17. News from the New World Discovered in the Moon. Published 1640. Produced at court (Whitehall), Jan. 7, 1620.
  18. Pan's Anniversary, or the Shepherds' Holiday. Published 1640 (Stationers' Register, Mar. 20, 1640). Produced at court (Whitehall), June 19 (?), 1620.
  19. The Gypsies Metamorphosed. Published 1640 (Stationers' Register, Feb. 20, 1640). Produced Burley-on-the-Hill, Aug. 3, 1621.
  20. The Masque of Augurs. Published 1622. Produced at court (Whitehall), Jan. 6, 1622.
  21. Time Vindicated to Himself and to His Honours. Published 1623. Produced at court (Whitehall), Jan. 19, 1623.
  22. Neptune's Triumph for the Return of Albion. Published 1624. Prepared for Jan. 6, 1624, but not produced. First version of The Fortunate Isles and Their Union.
  23. The Fortunate Isles and Their Union. Published 1625. Produced at court (Whitehall), Jan. 9, 1625. Revision of Neptune's Triumph
  24. Love's Triumph Through Callipolis. Published 1631. Produced at court (Whitehall), Jan. 9, 1631.
  25. Chloridia: Rites to Chloris and Her Nymphs. Published 1631. Produced at court (Whitehall), Feb. 22, 1631.

CRITICISM