Introduction

In 1672 the bookseller Francis Kirkman published a large collection of short farces known as drolls in a work entitled The Wits, or Sport upon Sport. Kirkman explains in the introduction to The Wits how drolls originated in the Commonwealth days when "the publique Theatres were shut up."

Excerpt from The Wits, or Sport Upon Sport (1672)

When the publique Theatres were shut up…then all that we could divert ourselves with were these humours and pieces of Plays, which passing under the Name of a merry conceited Fellow, called Bottom the Weaver, Simpleton the Smith, John Swabber, or some such title, were only allowed us, and that but by stealth too, and under pretence of Rope-dancing, or the like; and these being all that was permitted us, great was the confluence of the Auditors; and these small things were as profitable, and as great getpennies to the Actors as any of our late famed Plays. I have seen the Red Bull Play-House, which was a large one, so full, that as many went back for want of room as had entred; and as meanly as you may think of these Drols, they were then Acted by the best Comedians then and now in being; and I may say, by some that then exceeded all now living, by Name, the comparable Robert Cox, who was not only the principal Actor, but also the Contriver and Author of most of these Farces.


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