Abraham Slender

Abraham Slender

What a groundbreaking character Slender is.  At first he appears to be a run of the mill suitor of Anne, but quickly he reluctance rises to the fore.  He wants nothing to do with Anne or marrying her, except that it will please his uncle.  Is he the first "out" character in western drama?

His reluctance is clearly spelled out:  the money that Shallow (and even Sir Evans) tempts him with has no draw; when left alone with Anne he wants to bolt; he has nothing to say to her; he finally admits that she is not what he wants at all.  If nothing else his reluctance made him the break out character of the piece.  After Falstaff, he was the most popular character to come out of this script.  He was even referenced by other poets.


He does want to please his uncle, and his family ties are strong.  He talks of having a mother still alive, and he's such an impressionable young man that he follows his uncle's lead wherever it may go.  These familial ties are key to him.  Is he just a momma's boy or is he full on gay?

Within some of his speeches, he is both fearful and full of braggadocio, both honest and cloying, and both sincere and callous.  These dichotomies are an actor's dream, and make him to be a supremely engaging and funny character.   That this is all totally unwitting on his part, makes him fascinating.  He's an awkward, adolescent, dumb guy, who is totally unattracted to the ingenue of the show.

Slender woos Anne

Slender meets Anne; Simple watches

Evans and Shallow convince Slender

Costumes:
--Light 2 piece suit with bright double breasted vest, frilly shirt and tie (yellows, lavender)
--Hat with flower, or flower in lapel