All the available evidence indicates that the play was performed by the Lord Chamberlain's Men in 1598 at the Curtain Theatre in Shoreditch, London. That date is given in the play's reprint in Jonson's 1616 folio collection of his works; the text of the play (IV,iv,15) contains an allusion to John Barrose, a Burgundian fencer who challenged all comers that year and was hanged for murder on 10 July 1598. The play was also acted at Court on 2 February 1605.[2]
Shakespearean connection
A theatre legend first recorded in 1709 by Nicholas Rowe has it that Shakespeare advocated production of the play at a point when the company was about to reject it. While this legend is unverifiable, there is no reason to doubt that Shakespeare was in the original cast, as claimed on the playlist in the 1616 edition. He continued to act at least until 1603, when he performed in Ben Jonson's Sejanus.
It has been suggested that Shakespeare took the part of Kno'well, the aged father. This would be consistent with his habit of playing older characters, such as Adam in As You Like It. However, there is evidence linking Shakespeare to the part of Thorello/Kitely, a jealous husband.[3]
