The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 23.117  Saturday, 17 March 2012

[1] From:        Paul Barry < This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it >

     Date:         March 16, 2012 1:03:16 PM EDT

     Subject:     Re: SHAKSPER: Saloonio

[2] From:        Alan Dessen < This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it >

     Date:         March 16, 2012 1:24:56 PM EDT

     Subject:     Re: SHAKSPER: Saloonio

[3] From:        Julia Griffin < This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it >

     Date:         March 16, 2012 6:51:33 PM EDT

     Subject:     Re: SHAKSPER: Saloonio

[4] From:        Robert Projansky < This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it >

     Date:         March 17, 2012 12:59:41 AM EDT

     Subject:     Re: SHAKSPER: Saloonio

[1]-----------------------------------------------------------------

From:        Paul Barry < This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it >

Date:         March 16, 2012 1:03:16 PM EDT

Subject:     Re: SHAKSPER: Saloonio

Give 'em hell, Harry!

[2]-------------------------------------------------------------

From:        Alan Dessen < This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it >

Date:         March 16, 2012 1:24:56 PM EDT

Subject:     Re: SHAKSPER: Saloonio

With reference to Saloonio (Steve Urkowitz) and Hamlet’s friend Pat (Paul Barry, Harry Keyishian) I am reminded of 1) Lady Macbeth’s nickname: “Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest Chuck” (3.2) and 2) Gertrude’s lapdog (courtesy of John Styan): “But look, Amazement on thy mother sits” (3.4).

Alan

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From:        Julia Griffin < This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it >

Date:         March 16, 2012 6:51:33 PM EDT

Subject:     Re: SHAKSPER: Saloonio

The Saloonio post reminds me of an old piece by Michael Frayn, complaining about perverse theatrical decisions.  He imagines the end of Hamlet as creatively directed:

Hor.  Now cracks a noble. [A noble cracks.]  [Slapping himself on the chest.]  Heart good.  [Yawning.] Night!  [Offering a chocolate to Fortinbras.]  Sweet, Prince? 

Fortinbras concludes:

Let four captains

Bear Hamlet, like a soldier, to the stage:

For it was likely, had it been put on, 

To have proved most royal . . . 

Julia Griffin

[4]-------------------------------------------------------------

From:        Robert Projansky < This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it >

Date:         March 17, 2012 12:59:41 AM EDT

Subject:     Re: SHAKSPER: Saloonio

Pat isn’t the only Shakespeare character who doesn’t make it into the Dramatis Personae. In Troilus and Cressida, a walk-on walks on but Shakespeare doesn’t tell us his name, leaving it to the amiable Hector to tell us who he is:

[Enter one in Armour.]

Hect.

Stand, stand, thou Greek, 

Thou art a goodly Mark: 

Later, Troilus urges that the Trojan swords be kept away from some woman:

And when we haue our Armors buckled on, 

The venom’d vengeance ride vpon our swords, 

Spur them to ruthfull worke, reine them from Ruth. 

Pretty lame, I know, but clownishly and frownishly mouthing those names backstage while frantically looking around for those missing people, did make Helen and Cassandra struggle to quiet their giggling, night after night.

Bob Projansky