Hume Cronyn Prepares for
Role
Zoë Dominic, photographer.
Hume Cronyn
(1911-2003) as Shylock
Program for Stratford Festival of
Canada production of The Merchant of Venice, 1976
Papers of Hume Cronyn/Jessica Tandy
Manuscript Division
Courtesy of the Stratford Festival of Canada (8)
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Since the first professionally acted American production of The
Merchant of Venice in Williamsburg, Virginia, in 1752, the
central role of Shylock has attracted distinguished actors, including
Hume Cronyn. Canadian-born Cronyn was well known for his painstaking
preparations for a part. In this memo to Bill Glassco (1935-2004),
who directed him in the role, Cronyn asks questions about Shylock's
essential nature in order to create his portrayal. His performance
won the praise of critics, one of whom said: "The sheer,
unflagging energy of Mr. Cronyn's performance gave his Shylock
a powerful reality."
Hume Cronyn to Bill Glassco, December
18, 1975
Typescript memo
Papers of Hume Cronyn/Jessica Tandy
Manuscript Division
Courtesy of Susan Cooper Cronyn (9)
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