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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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masque
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Form of theatre deriving from entertainments at court or in noblemen's houses, when disguised players entered a banqueting hall to perform. The masque reached a peak of sophistication in the early 17C court performances for *James I and *Charles I. These were elaborate confections of words (most often by Ben *Jonson) and music, with scenery by Inigo *Jones. The brilliance of Jones's scenery, machinery and costumes caused the element of spectacle to develop at the expense of the words, and Jonson eventually withdrew complaining that painting and carpentry had become 'the soul of masque'. Such a privileged form of entertainment did not survive the English Civil War, but the staging techniques later became standard in the public theatres; and the lavishness survived in opera and ballet.
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