The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 16.1834 Tuesday, 8 November 2005
From: Sandra Sparks <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: Friday, 4 Nov 2005 08:49:00 -0500
Subject: 16.1820 The Rude Mechanicals
Comment: RE: SHK 16.1820 The Rude Mechanicals
Speaking of the actual Rude Mechanicals:
It is my belief that the Rude Mechanicals of "Midsummer" and the company
of players in "Hamlet" both exhibit a trait of performances before the
playwrights of Shakespeare's time started developing the modern form of
theater: because crowds tended to be noisy and have short attention
spans, especially when the plays were done in the open during market
fairs, a brief version of the play would be given to get people's
attention, then the full play would be given for those who planned to
stick around!
What scholars have done work on this subject?
Thanks,
Sandra
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