Shakespeareâs First Folio Cue Scripts - Comedies

Opening up a new window to see Shakespeareâs words in a different light and gathering his intentions in a simple, clear way, this book presents the Cue Scripts from the Comedies in Shakespeareâs First Folio.

The book invites readers to approach Shakespeareâs texts the way his actors would have â" not studying the complete text and drawing conclusions from it, but working from a Cue Script, where all the lines for a particular character are written, with just a two- or three-word cue as to when they should speak. As an actor himself, Shakespeare knew that his actors would have little time to do more than learn their lines for the next imminent performance â" for this reason, he placed in the first lines of every Cue Script a range of crucial information on the characterâs motives and intentions. Studying the cues and following the playwrightâs clues opens up a whole new understanding of the roles, and provides a way of approaching a play that is authentic, quick, and creates an impactful performance. Examples of Cue Script scenes, along with a summary of the various clues that were written to help the original actors, are included in the book.

A practical and unique resource for students, teachers, performers, and directors alike, Shakespeareâs First Folio Cue Scripts â" Comedies helps demystify Shakespeareâs texts, provides new approaches to scene studies, and sheds new light on Shakespeareâs most popular works.

To access the additional downloadable Cue Scripts and other materials, visit www.routledge.com/9781032698823.