Comments on: Conundrum: Lateral Thinking I

By: Bill

Bill — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 12:08:02 +0000

The answer is LADY MORTIMER.

Lady Mortimer appears in Henry IV, Part One. She is the daughter of the Welsh lord Owen Glendower. Since she speaks no English, Shakespeare wrote her no lines. But he does give her the stage direction “The Lady speaks in Welsh” several times. She even sings a song in Welsh, though Shakespeare provides no lyrics.

I’d be interested to hear more of Annalisa’s experience with the role.

By: Bill

Bill — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 22:08:41 +0000

A fair point about gender, Annalisa. Go ahead with your hint… I think we’re almost done.

By: Annalisa

Annalisa — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 16:32:40 +0000

Ah, but as you well know, some directors and producers can be very tricky with gender-bending in their casting! Just because I played it doesn’t mean that it’s a woman! But the Welsh thing would narrow things considerably, I would think. Note that my second question specifically skirted the issue of gender! : )

But I do have a wee hint that I could offer whenever it might be appropriate…

By: Bill

Bill — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 12:40:33 +0000

I thought it was clever, too. Ultimately, Snug does have lines in the play within the play. But in Act 1, Scene 2, when the parts are first distributed, Snug very clearly is “given no lines” so he does make a nice alternate answer.

Do you know who it is? Do you want to ask another question?

By: Gedaly

Gedaly — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 09:24:17 +0000

I see now. I thought I was being so clever by guessing Snug the Joiner. It fits so well! He is a role that speaks, but (in the play within a play) he is given no lines - only roaring.

By: Bill

Bill — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 21:00:17 +0000

I only meant that the gender of the character was revealed by your comment. But don’t worry - subtle hints from solvers are part of the fun! Feel free to drop another hint down the line if it gets slow.

By: Annalisa

Annalisa — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 20:40:51 +0000

I thought about that before posting, but I’d be shocked if it could be a real hint. I don’t include the role on my resume since no one ever knows who it is, and it’s not really a role that gets reviewed, so it is not really Google-able in connection with my name.

And I’d love to tell you about it - I actually had lines in our production, and they were gorgeous! More on that after the Conundrum is “solved.”

By: Bill

Bill — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 19:58:08 +0000

Thanks! I think the games where more people can participate and work together are more fun than the games where one person answers and that’s it.

I didn’t know you played this role. I’ll have to ask you about it sometime. And knowing that you did may give an added hint to those still playing.

By: Annalisa

Annalisa — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 19:00:16 +0000

P.S. I like your idea for this game!

By: Annalisa

Annalisa — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 18:58:31 +0000

I never would have known it if I hadn’t played the role! Very tricky!

By: Bill

Bill — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 18:44:48 +0000

Is the person Welsh? Yes

Annalisa, I think you’ve got it. Impressive! But if you still want to play, feel free to help me answer questions as they come in.

As far as I know, this is the only speaking role in Shakespeare who has no lines.

By: Annalisa

Annalisa — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 18:30:15 +0000

Is the person Welsh?

By: Bill

Bill — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 15:58:05 +0000

Is it in one of the Henry plays? Yes

By: Annalisa

Annalisa — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 15:38:07 +0000

Is it in one of the Henry plays?

By: Bill

Bill — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 15:09:01 +0000

Actually, I really am a Monty Python fan, but no, I didn’t pick up on the reference.

I did get your War Games reference, but I mistakenly assumed it was posted by Neel.

By: Brian

Brian — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 15:01:06 +0000

Is it an African swallow, or a European swallow? (I see they’re aren’t too many Monty Python fans here. That probalby explains why no one got my Wargames reference last week).

By: Bill

Bill — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:37:06 +0000

Does this character mettle with metal? No

Does this character join joints? No (though I see where you’re going with that question)

By: Gedaly

Gedaly — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:33:31 +0000

No wait. I’m mixing things up.

Does this character join joints?

By: Gedaly

Gedaly — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:28:00 +0000

Does this character mettle with metal?

By: Bill

Bill — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:27:00 +0000

Its a swallow! No

Is the character human? Yes