I have a few Shakespeare roles under my belt, and I’ve portrayed Shakespeare for a celebration of his birthday. I’ve enjoyed the sonnets for decades. But I am by no means an authority.

Just such an authority is Dr. Phil Speary, who has directed and/or performed in dozens of Shakespeare productions. He has directed me several times, and that fact alone qualifies him for the hall of fame.

One of the delights of Shakespeare plays, and one of the downsides,  is that there is a LOT of text, pure poetry, so even if you cut the script “dramatically,” there is still a LOT of poetry to work with.

In three different plays, I have asked Dr. Speary if I could “have my monologue back.”

I think it pleased Phil that I had actually read the entire play, and noticed when my lines were cut. To his credit, Phil gave me back my monologues in two of the three plays, and in hindsight, I think he made the right choice all three times.

I think Phil would like the following story.

I am deep into the rote-memory process,learning my lines as Friar Laurence in the upcoming production of “Romeo and Juliet” at Missouri Western State University’s Potter Hall Theater, October 6-9.  In researching the role, I discovered that our script attributes several lines to my character Friar Laurence that properly belong to the Nurse.

I called Director Tee Quillin and asked if the Nurse “could have her monologue back.”

He said yes.   I’d like to apologize to Erin Williams, the actress playing the Nurse. She’s also in the middle of the rote-memory work required of her role, and I just made that chore bigger.

For her.

For earlier blog entries, click here.