Vanity or stupidity?

Question:Everyone of my fellow actors except me, laughed when in 'Shakespeare In Love' the theatre owner says "No wages but the players will get a share of the profits". No other worker worthy of his hire, would put up with such an outrageous proposition from his employer.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Everyone of my fellow actors except me, laughed when in 'Shakespeare In Love' the theatre owner says "No wages but the players will get a share of the profits". No other worker worthy of his hire, would put up with such an outrageous proposition from his employer.

Shakespearean era actors were paid on the share system, by which each player got a share of the profits of each day according to his importance in the play. The lead might get 2 shares, and a supporting player 1 share, the playwright 1 share, the theatre owner 5 shares, etc. Bit players were hired outright for a few pence. With 3000 people attending each perforamance there would be money to share. I don't see why the line is funny. It is not an outrageous proposition at all. I have managed many theatre companies in which the actors were paid on the share system, as were the costumer, director, tech. assistant, playwright, or whomever was necessary for the show. Everyone was always pleased with the amount of money they made. The manager was not vain. Perhaps you are though to think it was an outrageous arrangement.

Sounds like their both stupid and vain to me.

stupid because that's not funny in the least. Unless he said it in a funny voice or pulled a face while saying it. I don't understand what vanity has to do with it though

It is neither, it is an opportunity to do the best for the rest

Um, it was probably a (creative-accounting) joke in the movie, but that was how sailors were paid back then too. Including officers in the Navy.

Read more history.