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Unveiling the Secrets of Disguise on the Early Modern English Stage: Studies in Performance and History

Hank Mitchell

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Published in Disguise On The Early Modern English Stage (Studies In Performance And Early Modern Drama)

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Disguise, a transformative practice that conceals or alters one's identity, played a pivotal role on the early modern English stage (1558-1642). This article embarks on a comprehensive exploration of disguise, examining its historical context, performance practices, and the multifaceted meanings it conveyed.

Disguise on the Early Modern English Stage (Studies in Performance and Early Modern Drama)

by Peter Hyland

4 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Historical Roots

Disguise has a rich history dating back to ancient Greece and Rome. In medieval Europe, disguise was employed during festivals and religious ceremonies. By the early modern period, it had become an integral part of theatrical performances.

Methods of Disguise

Early modern actors used various techniques to disguise themselves:

Costumes and Props: Actors donned elaborate costumes and utilized props to create distinctive characters, often concealing their true identities.
Makeup and Masks: Heavy makeup and masks transformed actors' faces, allowing them to adopt different ages, genders, and social classes.
Movement and Gesture: Actors altered their physicality to embody the mannerisms and postures of the characters they portrayed, disguising their own.

Purposes of Disguise

Disguise served multiple purposes on the early modern stage:

Deception: Disguise enabled characters to deceive others, creating dramatic tension and comic misunderstandings.
Empowerment: By disguising themselves, characters could transcend social norms and assume new identities, gaining agency and freedom.
Social Commentary: Disguise allowed playwrights to explore social issues, such as gender inequality and class conflict, by presenting characters who challenged societal expectations.

Gender and Disguise

Cross-dressing, a form of disguise where actors of one gender portrayed characters of the opposite gender, was prevalent on the early modern stage. This practice:

Challenged Gender Roles: Cross-dressing subverted traditional gender norms, exposing the fluidity and constructed nature of gender identity.
Enabled Female Representation: In a time when women were largely excluded from the stage, cross-dressing allowed actresses to perform female roles.
Explored Sexual Ambiguity: Cross-dressing created opportunities for exploring the complexities of sexual desire and identity.

Identity and Disguise

Disguise also played a crucial role in shaping characters' identities:

Hiding True Selves: Characters used disguise to conceal their true identities, creating mysteries and suspense.
Revealing Hidden Truths: At times, disguise served as a catalyst for characters to discover their true selves or the true nature of others.
Transforming Identities: Disguise had the power to transform characters' identities, allowing them to break away from their pasts and embrace new possibilities.

Notable Performances

Numerous iconic performances on the early modern English stage showcased the transformative power of disguise:

Shakespeare's Hamlet: Hamlet disguises himself as mad to uncover the secrets surrounding his father's death.
Fletcher's The Knight of the Burning Pestle: A citizen apprentice disguises himself as a knight errant, satirizing the genre of chivalric romance.
Marston's The Malcontent: A disguised court jester uses his wit and anonymity to expose corruption and hypocrisy.

Disguise was an essential element of the early modern English stage. It provided actors with tools to transform their identities, deceive audiences, explore social issues, and create enduring characters. Through its historical and performance aspects, disguise continues to captivate and intrigue audiences, reminding us of the transformative power of theater and the fluidity of human identity.

Disguise on the Early Modern English Stage (Studies in Performance and Early Modern Drama)

by Peter Hyland

4 out of 5