The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 20.0065  Wednesday, 18 February 2009

From:      John W Kennedy <
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Date:      Monday, 02 Feb 2009 14:57:27 -0500
Subject: 20.0053 Real Skull Used for RSC's 'Hamlet'
Comment:   Re: SHK 20.0053 Real Skull Used for RSC's 'Hamlet'

John Briggs <
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 >It may be easier *now*, but it is generally accepted (e.g. by
 >Simon Palfrey & Tiffany Stern, Shakespeare in Parts, 2007)
 >that in the original productions anything written on a letter,
 >etc, was read and *not* memorised - not least because of
 >the number of plays in the repertory. All in all, it's probably
 >not a good idea to think too much about an author's "intention".

I suppose this must interact somehow with the general English-language 
rule that stage letters are usually prose, or occasionally rhymed, but 
are never in blank verse.

John W Kennedy

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