ABSTRACT
The prisoners are apparently not on stage but in the tiring-house; possibly they appear on the gallery. A voice comes from the first storey, and the tiring-house becomes a gaming-house or Ludgate prison; from the side of the stage, and it is the interior of a mad-house. The technique reflects William Rowley’s ability to place a scene in the context of its surroundings with the minimum of effort, and to make the most of the physical conditions and conventions of the theatre for which he was writing. The scene is set outside Ludgate’s walls; Old Foster is about to enter and actually goes in after the quarrel with Robert L. Patten. The scene is set outside Ludgate’s walls; Old Foster is about to enter and actually goes in after the quarrel with Robert. The gallery position would be visually desirable since it would give the impression of Old Foster in a confined space and add pathos.
