> in performance. The best assumption one can make of his time, and many > things previous, is that people haven't changed that much.
Indeed, and conscientious professionals were hopefully just as eager to do their job well as they are now. So they would be practising and practising untill it was good enough for stage performance. We learn not to underestimate our audiences, but we should not underestimate the performers either. I can teach you to play a simple lute accompaniment, like the Willow Song has, in a year. Given that musical schooling was part of an actor's curiculum, I'd say he was competent enough for the job. David