The Dumb Knight.

About The Dumb Knight

The Dumb Knight, The Dumbe Knight: A Historical Comedy, or The Dumbe Knight: A Pleasant Comedy, written by Lewis Machin and Gervase Markham in roughly 1601 was acted by the Children of the King's Revels likely in the Whitefriars Theatre, which was the acting group's primarily venue. The play was first published in 1608 by Nicholas Okes and were sold at John Bache's in Popes-head Palace near the Royal Exchange in London. The play takes place in Sicily and the main plot focus on the characters around the King of Cyprus, who has just conquered Sicily. A strange love between Philocles and Mariana form which nearly has Mariana executed. Out of revenge for the dishonour towards his sister Duke of Epire plans to remove Philocles and the King and make himself king promising that they “both shall tumble down”. While the subplot of Prate and Alphonso provide comic foolery and clash with the main plot at the end of the play. Although the title of the play is The Dumb Knight, Philocles, the “dumb knight” and the second in command to the King of Cyprus, is only mute for a couple of scenes in Act Two and Three. Philocles has an active voice throughout the play and his spell of speechlessness is used to advance the main plot but is not the plots focus.