ABSTRACT
Some years ago Dr. William Hunter, a retired English professor living in Houston, led a study group at our church on The Merchant of Venice. Before we began reading and discussing the play, Dr. Hunter devoted an hour to filling us in on the background against which Shakespeare lived his life and produced his great works. He explained about the acting companies—men and boys only—and how the parts were written for the actors, rather than casting the actors for the parts as we do today.
