if shakespeare actors were men...how did they play juliet?

Question

o.O just a thought....did they actually have to kiss or since it wasnt like a close up movie thingy they just faked it and didnt really touch lips...

Answer 1

The women were actually often played by young/teenage boys or eunuchs (who were often boys in women's roles when they grew up, and became eunuchs to continue to do so). They did actually perform the role to the fullest, if you know what I mean.

Answer 2

gosh it is awful how those young people who know nothing try to answer questions. Young men always played the young ladies roles, and old women and hags like the the witches in Macbeth could be played by more mature men. But they were not gay nor did they actually kiss.(sorry, Pippi, your answer otherwise is good. The tradition of faked kisses continues today in what is known as a "stage kiss" which may be employed when the actors do not want to really kiss, such as in high school plays ) When the young men who played the girls' roles matured, they took male roles. The way Shakespeare's plays were presented was far different from the realism of today's theatre, which incidentally, has been the norm for not yet 100 years. Men playing girls roles provides the often used device of women disguising themselves as men in Sh's plays such as 12th Night and As You Like It. Men playing women's roles had a long and honored history in the English Theatre, the term "in drag" comes from the male actors wearing gowns that dragged on the floor behind then when they walked, but had nothing to do with being 'gay', When women joined the acting ranks in the mid 17th C. in England, men continued to play the old women and hag roles that the actresses found unattractive, and the tradition continued for many years. Female impersonation was an honored tradition in England until the gays usurped it. It led to several famous plays in which the lead role impersonated a woman, such as Charlie's Aunt, and in more recent times, Some Like It Hot and Bosum Buddies. The last great female impersonater was Julian Eltinge.

Answer 3

Well, back in the time when William Shakespeare was playwritting, it was illegal for women to act in live theater, or any theater for that matter. I know, sexist, but you can't change History. Most of the time Men, or boys in their late teens played the women. Like in A Midsummers Night Dream, a younger man would have played Queen Titana.
My guess is that, like you said, since it wasn't a "close up thingy" they didn't actually kiss.
hope this helps!

Answer 4

Shakespearean actors played both male and female roles. It was generally the young men who would act the part of the female because their voices would not have deepened as much yet. As to the enactment of kissing etc. Because the stage was rather close, yes they probably kissed but remember, it was all an act.

Answer 5

They were all male actors, yes. And there were many who actually enjoyed playing the female roles. Plus, many of the women's roles were played by younger men/boys who didn't yet have facial hair, and still had higher voices.

Answer 6

Um, with a dress and a wig, dear.

And they would have kissed directly. It's called ACTING, dear. And besides, they didn't have the puritanical hang-ups that Americans love to wallow in.

Answer 7

Boys whose voices hadn't broken yet dressed up as girls. They probably didn't kiss, just embraced.

Answer 8

Cross dressing

Answer 9

as an actor i have insight to this question. to tell u truth. it matter persective. some director now actually want ppl to kiss for reality perspective and angle. and other would not it shades and not kiss. and with this knowlege and guys playing girls then would same case to.

Answer 10

yea they had to kiss and everything during that time men toght during that time the women couldnt be in teacter and the funny thing is that they had a queen not a king