#4 Stage Directions

Shakespeare suggests or implies many stage directions in texts. All physical actions, gestures and movements will be directly related to what the characters want from each other.

  1. The acting style needs physicality, so take advantage of any movement or gesture the text suggests. Movements should be economical and justified by the text. Here’s a scene from Richard II:

I weep for joy

To stand upon my kingdom once again.

Dear earth, I do salute thee with my hand,

Though rebels wound thee with their horses’ hoofs.

As a long-parted mother with her child

Plays fondly with her tears and smiles in meeting,

So weeping, smiling, greet I thee, my earth,

And do thee favors with my royal hands…

  1. “Suit the action to the word, the word to the action.” What staging comes to mind while reading the following scene between KATHERINE and PETRUCHIO from The Taming of the Shrew?

PETRUCHIO:Myself am mov’d to woo thee for my wife.

KATHERINE:Mov’d, in good time! Let him that mov’d you hither

Remove you hence. I knew you at the first

You were a movable.

PETRUCHIO:Why, what’s a moveable?

KATHERINE:A joint-stool.

PETRUCHIO:Thou hast hit it. Come, sit on me.

KATHERINE:Asses are made to bear, and so are you.

PETRUCHIO:Women are made to bear, and so are you.

KATHERINE:No such jade as you, if me you mean.

PETRUCHIO:Alas, good Kate, I will not burden thee!

  1. Develop a strong visual picture of what is going on and do it. Keep it simple and direct. Nothing extra is needed. What are the implied stage directions in this famous sonnet where Romeo and Juliet fall in love?

ROMEO:If I profane with my unworthiest hand

This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this,

My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand

To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.

JULIET:Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much,

Which mannerly devotion shows in this;

For saints have hands that pilgrims’ hands do touch,

And palm to palm is holy palmer’s kiss.

ROMEO:Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?

JULIET:Ay, pilgrims, lips that they must use in prayer.

ROMEO:O then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do:

They pray: grant thou, lest faith turn to despair.

JUIET:Saints do not move, though grant for prayers’ sake.

ROMEO:Then move not, while my prayer’s effect I take.