Shakespeare Electronic Conference, Vol. 4, No. 234. Friday, 9 April 1993.
From: Timothy Pinnow <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: Friday, 9 Apr 93 12:09:57 CDT
Subject: Speaking the Verse
In reply to Antony Hammond--
I find myself in the odd position of trying to defend *your* conception of
my last posting. If you will re-read my last message, you will note that my
thesis is that whatever the means, method, or cause of the transmission,
the punctuation, capitalization, and spelling to be found in the texts
contain a wealth of information of which the actor may avail himself. That
is NOT to say that these were MEANT for the actor--only that they exist and
are more information to put into the creative cauldron. My posting was not
about how these things occured--as an actor I don't much care in the larger
sense--but was about the kind of things that we actors do with those words.
On a more philosophical note, while I'm attempted to reply "Wherefore
Bastard, Wherefore Base" and continue with a highly sarcastic paragraph
about your questioning of my intelligence and integrity, I will simply
state that my responses are quite consistent with the current practices of
teaching Shakespearean acting. What you have failed to see is that our
arguments are in agreement--there is a wealth of information there. One
last idea--the assertion of definite answers is at odds with the idea of
theatre as art and the idea of intellectual curiousity. I would never want
my students to see me as the one with the answers--just maybe more refined
questions.
Omniscience is a dangerous thing (Geez, I'm sorry--I couldn't resist).
Cordially,
Timothy Dayne Pinnow
Ass't. Prof. of Theatre
St. Olaf College
1520 St. Olaf Ave
Northfield MN 55057
ph. 507/646-3327
Internet: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
