Final answer:
James Thurber references in his story several Shakespearean elements such as iambic pentameter, Original Practices, and challenges in translating Shakespeare's language.
Step-by-step explanation:
James Thurber references several elements of Shakespeare's plays in his story, demonstrating a nuanced understand of Shakespeare's theatrical practices and the impact of those practices on modern interpretations. For instance, Thurber considers elements like the use of iambic pentameter, which influences the delivery and rhythm of Shakespeare’s language.
Moreover, he touches upon the practice of Original Practices at the Atlanta Shakespeare company, such as investigating Elizabethan and Jacobian England's influence on Shakespeare's work, which impacts the staging, costumes, and props used to bring the plays to life.
The artificial lighting in Shakespeare’s time that didn't allow for isolation between the stage and audience, also dictated a specific performance style which Thurber acknowledges. He brings up the challenge of translating Shakespeare's language into modern English, wherein subtleties and tactics of rhetoric like alliteration or onomatopoeia can be lost, and how these elements helped keep the audience engaged.
This is echoed in Thurber's critique of 'play-on' versions which lack the descriptive language of the originals. Finally, there is a mention of plays like Hamlet reflecting the contemporary social issues, like the place of women in society, with Thurber noting how certain themes may become less poignant as time passes.