Shakespeare Electronic Conference, Vol. 6, No. 0595.  Monday, 31 July 1995.
 
From:           Lisa Broome <
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Date:           Sunday, 30 Jul 1995 18:38:05 CST6CDT
Subject:        Talbot's size in 1 Henry VI
 
Hello to everyone; this is my first message to the SHAKESPER list.
 
I'm interested in Talbot's appearance in productions of 1 Henry VI,
particularly in regards to Act Two, scene 3.  I've only seen the BBC version,
in which Talbot is average in physical stature.  Are there any performances
which include a short or diminutive Talbot? I ask in order to better understand
the Countess of Auvergne's repeated references to his appearance.  Are her
comments simply intended to anger or challenge Talbot, or is there a better way
of reading/seeing this scene? If the original actor playing Talbot (forgive me,
I haven't done my homework on the earliest production) _was_ short, it might
explain some of the scene.  Does Talbot have a (proto) "Napoleon complex" in
his daring approach to the many battles of 1 Henry VI?  Any discussion of this
play, or of the trilogy, would be welcomed, as I am currently reading them with
a reading group here in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.  Thanks, Lisa Broome