The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 11.1710  Friday, 8 September 2000.

From:           H. R. Greenberg <
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Date:           Friday, 8 Sep 2000 06:59:25 EDT
Subject: 11.1702 "Elizabeth Rex" at the Stratford
Comment:        Re: SHK 11.1702 "Elizabeth Rex" at the Stratford

Again, re E REX, the issue I raised in a previous communication which I
think hasn't been addressed in subsequent postings, unless I've missed a
few, was whether one of the play's main thrusts -- the notion that only
an older male impersonator -- could take on the "strong" female roles
such as CLEOPATRA or LADY MACBETH -- has any historical validity. It
makes sense, because it is unlikely that the most talented adolescent
boy would have the range, maturity, et cetera, to do so. Parallel I drew
was the Kabuki stage, where female impersonators are greatly admired,
and spend years in training, then decades in performance. Would again be
interested --  HR Greenberg MD ENDIT

[Editor's Note: To retrieve other positing on this subject, send the
command SEARCH SHAKSPER REX SINCE 00/08/01 to 
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and then follow included directions. -Hardy]