E X T E N S I O N GOING TO THE THEATRE IN SHAKESPEARE S TIMES The plays in Shakespeare s times are popular entertainments1 like today s television soap operas2. They have death and destruction, witchcraft3, jokes4, characters that inspire love and others that inspire hatred5. But in particular they have great stories and characters. Audiences do not watch a play in silence, especially the groundlings (common people standing around the stage6). They like shouting at the actors, making comments aloud7 and laughing when comical scenes are represented. If they don t like a play or an actor, they start to chat or trample8 their feet and boo9. They can mean the success or failure of an actor. So it is important to interest, surprise and amuse10 them. Play-goers11 must have a good imagination because the scenes are very simple: there are no chairs, walls or trees, no horses or battles. Sometimes trumpets or drums play to simulate a battle or when kings enter the stage. There are wires12 coming down from the ceiling13: they are used when gods or angels come down on the stage. There are also trap-doors14 in the stage floor, so actors can appear and disappear. Inside the Globe 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. entertainment: amusement. soap opera: sentimental drama. witchcraft: magic art. jokes: comical actions or words. hatred: deep dislike, opposite of love. stage: area where actors perform. aloud: in a high tone of voice. trample: beat one s feet on the floor. 9. boo: express disapproval with the voice. 10. amuse: entertain. 11. play-goer: person who goes to the theatre. 12. wire: thin metal rope. 13. ceiling: the top surface of a room. 14. trap-door: a door in a floor. 29