The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 12.0035 Monday, 8 January 2001
From: Richard Nathan <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: Friday, 05 Jan 2001 17:28:14 +0000
Subject: 12.0025 Re: Shakespeare The Player
Comment: Re: SHK 12.0025 Re: Shakespeare The Player
Paul E. Doniger wrote:
>Admittedly, there is no hard evidence to prove
> what Shakespeare played in ANY of his plays, but some
> traditions (like
> the Ghost and Prince Escalus in R&J) seem likely. One
> thing that does
> seem certain is that he never took a leading role.
Why does it seem certain that Shakespeare never took a leading role in
any of his plays? I know Burbage was generally the lead, but how can we
be certain Shakespeare never took a lead. Southworth, in his new book,
argues that Shakespeare played Henry VI and HENRY IV, although he
doesn't offer much evidence, and those are not really lead roles.