Gammer Gurton's Needle

Gammer Gurton's Needle (A Ryght Pithy, Pleasaunt and merrie Comedie: Intytuled Gammer gurtons Nedle)

    Alternative Title: Dyccon/Diccon of Bedlam

    Author: Anon. (probably William Stevenson)

    First Performance: pre-1575, Cambridge

    Published: 1562–3

    Genre: Com. in 5 acts; rhyming verse

    Setting: Before the homes of Gammer Gurton and Dame Chat in an English village, mid-16th c.

    Cast: 6m, 4f, extras

While mending the breeches of Hodge, her servant, Gammer Gurton has lost her precious needle. Consternation reigns at this loss, and everyone in the household joins in the search. Diccon the Bedlam, a wandering fool, pretends that the needle has been stolen by Dame Chat, a gossip. Diccon then angers Dame Chat by telling her that Gammer Gurton has accused her of stealing her cock. When Gammer...

[The entire page is 365 words long]

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