Entry by Eric Diaz: Playbill for Barnes and Finley's booth, Smithfield Fair, 1701

This playbill, measuring 17.5 by 7.5 cm, offers information on the play “At Mr. Barns and Finleys Booth,” performed at the Bartholomew fair around the 1610’s. It depicts what appears to be four to five different scenes from the play with a crest in the top center panel. The description of this play describes each panel and act of the performance. Opening with a little girl around the age of 5 dancing atop a rope with “Agility and Sweetness” and ending with a performer names Mrs. Finley, or lady Mary, also dancing more extravagantly upon a rope and cutting capers six feet high. This piece aired just a short period before plays were banned in England due to a religious and political upheaval starting in 1642. This ban wouldn't be lifted until 18 years later in 1660. An interesting fact I learned is that the raising of flags at theatres signified their reopening and that plays would soon resume. While this playbill was typed and printed, playbills were still largely handwritten upon hand-made rags.

Author: Eric Diaz