English dramatic interludes, 1300-1580

"Darryll Grantley has created a comprehensive guide to the interlude: the extant non-cycle drama in English from the late fourteenth century up to the period in which the London commercial theatre began. As precursors of seventeenth-century drama, not only do these interludes shed important light on the technical and literary development of Shakespearean theatre, buy many are also works of considerable theatrical or cultural interest in themselves. This accessible reference guide provides an entry for each of the (approximately 100) interludes and fragments, typically containing an account of early editions or manuscripts; authorship and sources; modern editions; plot summary and dramatis personae; list of social issues present in the plays; verbal and dramaturgical features; songs and music; allusions and place names; stage directions and comments on staging; and modern productions, among other valuable and informative details. The book has an up-to-date bibliography for each play, along with a general bibliography, indexes of characters and songs, and appendices."--Jacket.