A famous stage director who ran the drama department of a theatre conservatory I used to cover and review once told me that in this show, the best test for a young actor is pairing them up with the dog, Crab, as Launce the sassy servant.  Because you never know what the dog will do and how big a laugh the damned dog will get for doing it.

The actor has to react, “be totally present” and ready for anything and have an idea of a funny reaction response.

Because the dog gets a treat every time she or he delivers. That’s an incentive for hamminess if ever there was, in Shakespeare’s productions, and at the ASC Blackfriars one.