Hello RSC Key members! This newest blog post – a synopsis of
Thomas Dekker’s city comedy The Shoemaker’s Holiday – is written by Kathryn Piekarski, one of our current
Marketing Interns. The Shoemaker’s
Holiday will show in the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon from 11
December 2014 to 7 March 2015.
Synopsis:
.jpg "The Shoemaker's Holiday")
Rowland Lacy (an aristocrat) and Rose Oateley (daughter of
the Mayor of London) are young, in love, and desperate to marry, but social
class and disapproving relatives stand in the way of their plans for the
future. In an attempt to separate the young lovers, Lacy is ordered to serve in
the war in France whilst Rose’s father contrives to match her with a more
‘suitable’ gentleman, Master Hammon. However they are not the only couple fated
to be torn apart – shoemaker Ralph is also to be dispatched to the war, much to
the despair of his loving wife Jane. Although Ralph dutifully sets off across
the sea, leaving a parting gift of new shoes for Jane, Lacy decides to take some
drastic steps in order to remain behind in London.
Simon Eyre, known as the mad shoemaker of Tower Street, and
his wife Margery are on their way from rags to riches when Lacy – now disguised
as Dutch cobbler Hans – joins his company of shoemakers. Lacy uses his new position,
along with the help of his fellow journeymen and Rose’s maid Sybil, to visit
Rose and continue with their marriage plans. Eyre’s journey of good fortune
sees him first made Sheriff and then the new Mayor of London, and festivities
are arranged to commemorate Eyre’s social ascension.
Meanwhile, Master Hammon – following a rejection by Rose –
courts Jane and misinforms her of Ralph’s death in the war in order to persuade
her to marry him instead. Ralph arrives home injured but alive, and is dismayed
to be unable to find Jane waiting for him on his return. However, as chance
would have it, Ralph is commissioned to make a pair of wedding shoes for
Hammon’s new bride, to be modelled on the very pair he gave to Jane on his
departure for the war. Along with the brotherhood of shoemakers Ralph invades
the wedding in order to reclaim his wife from Hammon, who attempts to turn the
ceremony into a twisted commercial exchange for Jane’s person.
Lacy’s disguise is eventually discerned by his uncle the
Earl of Lincoln and Rose’s father, but following some lucky misdirection they
are manoeuvred to invade Hammon’s wedding by mistake, whilst Lacy and Rose
escape to marry with the support of the Eyres. The King attends the shoemakers’
celebrations and simultaneously pardons Lacy for abandoning his war duties and
blesses the young couple’s marriage. In response to further protests from
Lincoln and Oateley, the King knights Lacy and so renders Rose a Lady, finally silencing
the arguments against her lower social standing. The celebratory banquet concludes
the events, the King attending alongside all the shoemakers of London.
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