Rescripting Shakespeare The Text, the Director, and Modern Productions [Hardcover]

In this 2002 book, Alan Dessen examines the pluses and minuses of directors' rescripting or rewrighting of Shakespeare's playtexts.Building on almost 300 productions from the last 25 years, Alan Dessen focuses on the playtexts used when directors stage Shakespeare's plays, examining the process of rescripting, when directors make cuts to streamline the playscript, save running time, etc., and rewriting, when more extensive changes are made. Dessen looks at the price of rescripting, and the exigencies faced by actors and directors in placing before today's audiences words targeted at players, playgoers, and playhouses that no longer exist. The results are of interest to theatrical professionals as well as historians.Building on almost 300 productions from the last 25 years, Alan Dessen focuses on the playtexts used when directors stage Shakespeare's plays, examining the process of rescripting, when directors make cuts to streamline the playscript, save running time, etc., and rewriting, when more extensive changes are made. Dessen looks at the price of rescripting, and the exigencies faced by actors and directors in placing before today's audiences words targeted at players, playgoers, and playhouses that no longer exist. The results are of interest to theatrical professionals as well as historians.Alan Dessen focuses on the playtexts used for staging Shakespeare's plays, from almost three hundred productions of the last twenty five years. Dessen examines the process of rescripting--when directors make cuts to streamline the playscript, save running time, etc., and rewriting--when more extensive changes are made. He assesses what is lost and gained by rescripting, and the demands of presenting to contemporary audiences words targeted at players, playgoers, and playhouses that no longer exist. The results are of interest to theatrical professionals and historians.1. 'Let it be hid': price tags, trade-offs, and economies; 2. Rescripting Shakespeare's contemporaries; 3l;