Theatre pseudonym

November 4, 2005 6:50 AM

Theatre/er question: Traditionally, when an actor played several parts on the stage - from Elizabethan times up to C20, I believe - the minor roles would be credited to a particular name in the cast. Anyone know what the usual pseudonym was?
posted by magpie68 to Media & Arts (3 answers total)

Unfortunately I can't remember right now, and I don't take to carrying any copies of plays which I *know* use that accreditation. If your lucky Project Gutenberg might have lists of original cast members and things like a lot of books of plays do.
posted by alexst at 7:27 AM on November 4, 2005

Best answer: 'George Spelvin, Georgette Spelvin, and Georgina Spelvin are the traditional pseudonyms used in programs in American theatre by actors who don't want to be credited or whose names would otherwise appear twice because they are playing more than one role in a production.'
posted by lazy-ville at 8:08 AM on November 4, 2005

Response by poster: Wow, thanks! That link led me to the British theatre name "Walter Plinge" which is what I was trying to remember. Got it, thanks
posted by magpie68 at 12:58 AM on November 7, 2005