Players of Shakespeare 4 - R. L. Smallwood

This 1998 book is the fourth volume of essays by actors with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Twelve actors describe the Shakespearian roles they played in productions between 1992 and 1997. The contributors are Christopher Luscombe, David Tennant, Michael Siberry, Richard McCabe, David Troughton, Susan Brown, Paul Jesson, Jane Lapotaire, Philip Voss, Julian Glover, John Nettles, and Derek Jacobi. The plays covered include The Merchant of Venice, Love's Labours Lost, The Taming of the Shrew, The Winter's Tale, and Romeo and Juliet, among others. The essays divide equally among comedies, histories, and tragedies, with emphasis among the comedies on those notoriously difficult 'clown' roles. A brief biographical note is provided for each of the contributors and an introduction places the essays in the context of the Stratford and London stages.