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Essay / The Plays of William Shakespeare - 1155
The plays of William Shakespeare have shown some of the most intriguing and insightful acting practices from the past to the present. Performances of his plays have inspired many actors and companies to adhere to guidelines put in place many years ago. Shakespearean plays are somewhat in a category of their own because they have evolved over time, while remaining in similar forms. In Shakespeare's time, theater was very different from what it is today. There were much stricter rules and guidelines, as well as limitations placed on actors. Throughout Shakespeare's life, theater changed greatly, and it continues to this day. Many actors in Shakespeare's time were limited to practicing the art of acting on the streets of the city (Rosmanitz). The Church and police restricted these practices because they believed it would encourage bad behavior and drive people away from the Church. Before some theaters were built, actors performed in the courtyards of inns or sometimes even in the houses of nobles (Britannica). Some influential figures, such as Queen Elizabeth, were very fond of going to the theater and watching actors perform, for which she helped to promote these practices (Rosmanitz). The new popularity of theater led to the construction of theaters outside the city limits. The audiences that surrounded Shakespeare's actors in his day were atypical of some of the audiences one would expect today. Often the audience did not stay in their seats. Sometimes they walked around, ate, drank and were merry. The audience was really engaged in the play and part of it, in a sense. They clapped and applauded, in the middle of a sheet of paper, as actors did in Shakespeare's time. Acting itself is considered both exaggerated and exaggerated, resulting in attempts by past and present actors to employ actors to perform Shakespeare's plays (Britannica). Shakespeare wanted his audience to be engaged throughout the play. The uniqueness and passion of the pieces contributed to the continuum of their success. Works Cited American Shakespeare Center. Blue key. Web: http://www.americanshakespearecenter.com/v.php?pg=1Rosmanitz, Klaus. “Theatre in the Age of Shakespeare.” Theater in the Age of Shakespeare. English Online and Web. October 12, 2013. “The plays”. Encyclopædia Britannica's Guide to Shakespeare. Britannica, 2013. The web. October 12. 2013. .