Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site ucla-cs.ARPA
Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!genrad!panda!talcott!harvard!seismo!hao!hplabs!sdcrdcf!trwrb!trwrba!cepu!ucla-cs!reiher
From: reiher@ucla-cs.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.theater
Subject: Re: Props update (keep those responses coming!)
Message-ID: <5645@ucla-cs.ARPA>
Date: Thu, 23-May-85 18:44:08 EDT
Article-I.D.: ucla-cs.5645
Posted: Thu May 23 18:44:08 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 27-May-85 07:18:22 EDT
References: <669@udenva.UUCP>
Reply-To: reiher@ucla-cs.UUCP (Peter Reiher)
Distribution: net
Organization: UCLA Computer Science Department
Lines: 22

In article <669@udenva.UUCP> showard@udenva.UUCP (showard) writes:
>
>PS  While we're doing You Can't Take it With You, we're also wondering about
>this:  what's the (non-musical) play with the largest cast?  

Eugene O'Neill wrote some really strange plays during the 1920s, some of which
required huge casts.  In particular, I remember reading "Lazarus Laughed", which
called for a cast in the neighborhood of 100, what with the pseudo-Greek chorus
and all.  What's more, some poor costumer had to provide masks for each and
every cast member.  I don't know if "Lazarus Laughed" ever was produced, but
it certainly sounds expensive.  It's not, unfortunately, very good.

Many Shakespearean plays require very large casts, as well, even without the
hoards of extras which add to the atmosphere.  This is why doubling of actors
in several parts is so popular in Shakespearean productions.  I was in a 
production of "Macbeth" which had at least 25 speaking performers, many doing
several parts.
-- 
        			Peter Reiher
        			reiher@ucla-cs.arpa
				soon to be reiher@LOCUS.UCLA.EDA
        			{...ihnp4,ucbvax,sdcrdcf}!ucla-cs!reiher