The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 10.1223  Friday, 2 July 1999.

From:           Dana Shilling <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date:           Thursday, 1 Jul 1999 13:58:26 -0400
Subject:        Thrift, thrift Horatio

Battle scenes-like other special effects-have to be rationed to make a
maximum impact on the author. Also, a small theater company, especially
one that tours often, will be much more profitable if it deploys one guy
to stroll on and say, "Verily, my liege, I bear a message" than to have
a minimum of twelve guys to fill the stage and provide a credible
battle.  M.M. Mahood's "Playing Bit Parts in Shakespeare" says that
these  drab messenger roles were used to train new company members in
stagecraft.

Dana (Shilling)

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