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)