On Wed, 7 Mar 2001, Wilson Fisk wrote:
Unlikely, given that even the most cursory examination of the work of Shakespeare as compared to his contempories (even those great or nearly great in thier own right, such as Ford, Webster, Middleton) suggests, in fact more or less confirms, that the plays are written to *be* interpreted. There is a looseness built deliberately into them that allows a director leeway with many aspects of staging and performance. Compared to Middleton or Marlowe who excercise far more control over thier text (down to stage directions, suggestions of emphasis etc) Shakespeare seems to positively revel in the multifaceted.
I wonder If this has anything to do with Shakespeare having been an actor? Stage directions are beloved of writers, loathed or ignored by actors.
Iain