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Demetrius and Enanthe, Being the Humorous Lieutenant: A Play
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124 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1647
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About the author
John Fletcher
699Ìýbooks17Ìýfollowersborn December 1579
died August 1625
English playwright John Fletcher collaborated with Francis Beaumont on romantic comedies, including Philaster (1610) and The Maid's Tragedy (1611).
John Fletcher identified as a Jacobean. He followed William Shakespeare as house for the men of the king among the most prolific and influential dramatists of his day; during his lifetime and in the early Restoration, his fame rivaled that of his predecessor.
In 1606, he began to appear as an author for the Children of the Queen's Revels, then performing at the Blackfriars theater. Commendatory verses by Richard Brome in the Fletcher 1647 folio place Fletcher in the company of Ben Jonson; a comment of Jonson's to Drummond corroborates this claim, although it is not known when this friendship began. At the beginning of his career, his most important association. The two together for close to a decade, first for the children and then for the King's Men. According to a legend transmitted or invented by John Aubrey, they also lived together (in Bankside), sharing clothes and having "one wench in the house between them." This domestic arrangement, if it existed, was ended by marriage in 1613, and their dramatic partnership ended after fell ill, probably of a stroke, the same year.
Though Fletcher's reputation has been eclipsed since, he remains an important transitional figure between the Elizabethan popular tradition and the popular drama of the Restoration.
died August 1625
English playwright John Fletcher collaborated with Francis Beaumont on romantic comedies, including Philaster (1610) and The Maid's Tragedy (1611).
John Fletcher identified as a Jacobean. He followed William Shakespeare as house for the men of the king among the most prolific and influential dramatists of his day; during his lifetime and in the early Restoration, his fame rivaled that of his predecessor.
In 1606, he began to appear as an author for the Children of the Queen's Revels, then performing at the Blackfriars theater. Commendatory verses by Richard Brome in the Fletcher 1647 folio place Fletcher in the company of Ben Jonson; a comment of Jonson's to Drummond corroborates this claim, although it is not known when this friendship began. At the beginning of his career, his most important association. The two together for close to a decade, first for the children and then for the King's Men. According to a legend transmitted or invented by John Aubrey, they also lived together (in Bankside), sharing clothes and having "one wench in the house between them." This domestic arrangement, if it existed, was ended by marriage in 1613, and their dramatic partnership ended after fell ill, probably of a stroke, the same year.
Though Fletcher's reputation has been eclipsed since, he remains an important transitional figure between the Elizabethan popular tradition and the popular drama of the Restoration.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 5, 2024
Maybe I am still slightly baffled by Fletcher's concept of "tragicomedy", but The Humourous Lieutenant seems to be two or three plays cobbled together.
First is the (lacklustre by Fletcher's standards) sexual intrigue plot, where King Antigonus tries to seduce his son's girlfriend, but she is so virtuous she wins him over, even after he has given her a drug (he thinks) to fall in love with him.
Then there is the story of the Lieutenant himself, "humourous" in the sense of overcome by humours, predating Moliere's Malade Imaginaire, who then (like one of the Carry on films) drinks the love potion intended for Celia, and declares love for the King.
Then there is the war plot, where the King's son Demetrius goes to war with the other Kings of the Alexandrian empire: like a lot of Fletcher's characters, he is good at war, but terrible at women. I mean, here is a guy who makes Philaster look like someone you'd actually want to go out with.
Wikipedia says this is one of Fletcher's best comedies, but (apart from the love-sick Lieutenant) it's not that funny: it is difficult to get why extreme misogyny is so terribly funny which, obviously, people in 1619 did. I am sure a good director could make this work, and I'd go to see it if someone put it on, but (unlike most Fletcher) it's not one I'm gagging for.
First is the (lacklustre by Fletcher's standards) sexual intrigue plot, where King Antigonus tries to seduce his son's girlfriend, but she is so virtuous she wins him over, even after he has given her a drug (he thinks) to fall in love with him.
Then there is the story of the Lieutenant himself, "humourous" in the sense of overcome by humours, predating Moliere's Malade Imaginaire, who then (like one of the Carry on films) drinks the love potion intended for Celia, and declares love for the King.
Then there is the war plot, where the King's son Demetrius goes to war with the other Kings of the Alexandrian empire: like a lot of Fletcher's characters, he is good at war, but terrible at women. I mean, here is a guy who makes Philaster look like someone you'd actually want to go out with.
Wikipedia says this is one of Fletcher's best comedies, but (apart from the love-sick Lieutenant) it's not that funny: it is difficult to get why extreme misogyny is so terribly funny which, obviously, people in 1619 did. I am sure a good director could make this work, and I'd go to see it if someone put it on, but (unlike most Fletcher) it's not one I'm gagging for.
November 25, 2020
This wasn't even the original title. Probably. But the eponymous character became very popular throughout the century, and beyond. The main plot of the play is about a prisoner of war who resists all attempts at seduction but in the end turns out to be a Real Princess. There are some fabulous speeches, but also a very creepy scene in which a bawd is organising her next intake of young girls for prostitution.
Read as part of the REP online reading group in the dank and dreary lockdown November of 2020.
Read as part of the REP online reading group in the dank and dreary lockdown November of 2020.
July 1, 2019
Fun to read out loud! The titular lieutenant, Celia, and Leucippe were all great characters! I'm sure there's a ton of cultural context I missed and stuff I misunderstood, since there's little info available to a casual reader-- even the Wikipedia page is sparse.
December 13, 2020
A fun if predictable comedy in the Jacobean manner.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
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