When quoting Shakespeare in a character's dialog, do you use quotation marks?  More specifically, do you you open and close quotation marks?  Or just the open marks?

I'm writing a scene where the characters are actors, reading Shakespeare and the dialog goes on for a bit.


Phil

If you have additional dialogue besides the quote in the same dialogue block then I might use the quotation marks to make it clear.  If the whole block itself is a quote there's no reason to bother.

I would've always thought that quotation marks should be used particularly if it’s said within your own dialogue, to avoid confusion if nothing else.

However, in the context you've described where they are actors rehearsing for a play or whatever, the setting and situation will be enough to clarify what's going on without needing quotation marks to guide the reader.

Quotation marks in a screenplay will be solely for the clarity of the reader/actor. Note that the target audience will never see them. Therefore, you use them as you see fit. If you read it and think "I should use quotation marks," then use them. It's fair to mention that an actors will read something in quotes differently than he'll read just straight dialogue.

Quoted from George Willson It's fair to mention that an actors will read something in quotes differently than he'll read just straight dialogue.

I was thinking along these lines, George.  The quotes would be read differently than the character's dialog.  An example that comes to mind is Julianne Moore's character in Cookie's Fortune.  She plays someone involved in local dinner theater (or something).  When she plays her part on stage, she's very stiff and two-dimensional in her dialog.  This is what I'm looking for.


Phil

Quoted from dogglebe I was thinking along these lines, George.  The quotes would be read differently than the character's dialog.  An example that comes to mind is Julianne Moore's character in Cookie's Fortune.  She plays someone involved in local dinner theater (or something).  When she plays her part on stage, she's very stiff and two-dimensional in her dialog.  This is what I'm looking for. Phil

In that case you should really use a wrylie or an action that describes her behaviour.

I think the quotes will infer whatever wryly you could put in. Unless you have something very specific in mind as to how the lines will be read, I would just pop in the quotes and let it go. If you want it to be read wooden or 2-D, then notate it as such. It's all about clarity and getting your idea across.

I'm using quotation marks already.  I like the idea of wrylies, but I'm trying to cut down on the page count.  I think the quotation marks will work better for me.

Thanks.


Phil