The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 16.0617 Friday, 1 April 2005
From: John Briggs <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: Thursday, 31 Mar 2005 23:53:51 +0100
Subject: 16.0602 The Use of Rolls?
Comment: Re: SHK 16.0602 The Use of Rolls?
Bill Godshalk wrote:
> It appears that each actor in a Renaissance acting company got a roll
> with his individual part, including cues.
> How much do we know about rolls and their uses?
In the words of (presumably) Ira Gershwin, "It ain't necessarily so."
This is the story usually told, but I believe the evidence is sparse,
and rarely discussed. I believe a few (very few) such actors' parts
survive, but I can't locate any information about them.
There is no actual evidence for the existence of companies' libraries or
archives, however necessary they might appear - and certainly not for
their contents!
John Briggs
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