The Afterpiece Essay -- English Theater Playlet

The Afterpiece: How and Why "Afterpieces were short, humorous playlets which followed the five act main attraction and concluded the theatrical evening in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries" (Bevis vii). During the eighteenth century the afterpiece became a fixture of the English theatre, but double billing was not a practice unique to English theatre. It was done in France during the late seventeenth century and probably had been experimented with elsewhere. But the afterpiece in England is believed to have originated independently of the French practice (Origins 58). The regular presentation of afterpieces began out of economic necessity and was continued after it was found to be a great asset to British theatre not only economically but artistically. During the rule of James I, the work day of the working and business classes ended well after the theatre evening had begun. It became customary for members of the working class to attend the last two acts of a play without having to pay anything for admission. The managers of the London theaters didn't view this late free admission as a problem and never attempted to dissuade people from taking advantage of it, but by the time Charles II took the throne theaters were losing profits by allowing it. After Dorset Garden and Drury Lane merged in 1682, the decision was made to begin charging those who came only for the second half of the show. Londoners could attend the last two acts of a five act play for a fraction of the price (Origins 53-54). Of course, after years of being admitted for free, there must have been many complaints from those who felt that they shouldn't have to pay if they were not going to see a complete performance of a piece. But, since there was only o... ...hose receipts (after house charges) went to the actor, actress, author or theatre employee whose `night' it was (Bevis xi). Works Cited Bevis, Richard W. Eighteenth Century Drama: Afterpieces. London: Oxford University Press, 1970. Hotson, Leslie. The Commonwealth and Restoration Stage. New York: Russell & Russell Inc., 1928. Jason, Phillip K. "The Afterpiece: Authors and Incentives," in Restoration and 18th Century Theatre Research, 12 (1973), 1-13. Jason, Phillip K. "The Afterpiece: Origins and Early Development," in Restoration and 18th Century Theatre Research, 1 (1986), 53-62. Lawrence, W.J. Old Theatre Days and Ways. London: George G. Harrap & Co. Ltd., 1935. Annotated Loftis, John. Steele at Drury Lane. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1952. Roose-Evans, James. London Theatre. Oxford: Phaidon Press Limited, 1977.