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Macbeth and the search for a new thread

Question:

For those of you that have done a lot of Shakespeare, do you get a lot from using the text from the First Folio?  I had a quick workshop on it once, but we really just scratched the surface. Anyone had experience with this?

Using the First Folio, and better yet the other sources such as the first several Quatros can provide valuable insight.  For example, Hamlet’s age changes dramatically.  By using the dates set forth in the First Quatro in the gravedigger’s scene, Hamlet works out to be in his mid to late teens instead of a grown adult.  This reduces all the ages and makes much of Hamlets confusion, Ophelia’s carziness, and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’s ineptitude understandable.  It also provides good reason for the unchallanged usurption of the throne by Claudius. However, all that said, you still would have to get any "new" interpretation past the director. And you know how they are ;-) David                                 * * * * * [This message was posted to the ACTING-L mailing list and relayed to this newsgroup.  You may followup to the newsgroup or, if you are a  member of ACTING-L,  reply  to  the  list.   For  more  information  send E-mail to

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Christopher,   Is all of this "baiting" that you do just an attention-garnering device? If so, have you had enough yet?   How many "Oh, c’mon, Christopher, be nice"’s do you need before you get the hint that your greenroom rationality monitor gig is something that (this) society says is inappropriate behavior?  What a rebel.   I don’t think I’d write this if you hadn’t taken the time to respond to EVERY injunction against your attitude, repeating yourself several times over.

All I can say is that if you-all keep pitching them, I’ll keep covering the plate… And I don’t see how you can call my responses "baiting."  AFAIC, everyone who’s posted on this thread, regardless of their position deserves a response.  I’ve tried to keep the debate on-subject, impersonal, and respectful of other people’s beliefs. Remember, all these people chose to respond to me.  The reason I keep repeating myself is because people keep throwing back the same arguments in defense of superstition — I can only swing at the pitch I’m given.  When a new, different aspect of the discussion arises, I address it as best I can.  However, many of the people responding to me seem to be stuck on the same few points, so I get stuck repeating my positions. Or would everyone rather I just throw up my hands, admit that the overwhelming responses opposing my position are simply too much for me to bear and withdraw from the field with my tail between my legs? (NOT!) Finally, if everyone’s so bored by this thread, then why do they keep responding to it? CHRISTOPHER COMTE  "The Secret to great acting?  Learn your lines    and don’t bump into the furniture."                                               — Spencer Tracy                                 * * * * * [This message was posted to the ACTING-L mailing list and relayed to this newsgroup.  You may followup to the newsgroup or, if you are a  member of ACTING-L,  reply  to  the  list.   For  more  information  send E-mail to

Response:

David, Are the Quarto’s as hard to find asthe Folio?  I had a heck of a time finding it until Norton published their second facsimile.   Your point about Hamlet’s age is interesting.  It reminds me of the problem with Juliet being one of her age; she’s supposedly 13, but the 13 year old with enough life experience to grok Juliet totally is EXTREMELY rare.  I suspect the same may be true for teen-aged Hamlets.   Note: this isn’t to disparrage the ability and awe-inspiring talent of younger actors.  BUT, some things can only be learned by getting older. The same holds true for older actors or adult actors playing younger and playing children.  And with 25 year-old Juliets, you got a different problem entirely.  I personally thought Kenneth Branagh’s filmed Hamlet was a little long in the tooth. OKBYE — – Andy                                 * * * * * [This message was posted to the ACTING-L mailing list and relayed to this newsgroup.  You may followup to the newsgroup or, if you are a  member of ACTING-L,  reply  to  the  list.   For  more  information  send E-mail to

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