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The Book of Will – A Review

Playing through July 28 at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey is The Book of Will. Lauren Gunderson wrote this play around 2017 in order to honor Shakespeare for “igniting her ambitions as a playwright.”

This is the first time the play is running at the Madison theater. Bonnie Monte directs this entertaining and historically informative play. It is based on true events as researched by Playwright Gunderson. At a recent audience symposium, Ms. Monte noted that events and circumstances in the play have historic research backing them up. However, the dialog would be something that was written for the play’s purposes and would not necessarily be based on exact information.

The Book of Will is about the search, collection, and printing of Shakespeare’s plays. It begins in 1619, three years after William Shakespeare’s death. It concludes in 1623 with the publication of the completed volume of Shakespeare’s works.

The production does a fine job of showing that this task was no small event. Methods of recording and printing were much different in the 17th Century from current day.

During the play, I recalled my days in college studying English Literature. One of the requirements was to take a course on Shakespeare. I remember going to the bookstore to purchase the textbook. It was a huge book, the largest I owned. It was an anthology of the complete works of Shakespeare. I felt like I owned the world. Because of attending The Book of Will, I realized what happened to make that book be available to me. The play is indeed a tribute to all who toiled so diligently in a time period where preserving written words was not an easy task. I thank them for the work they did.

How It Begins

The play opens with an actor taking center stage and doing a funny interpretation of a scene from Hamlet. It is overheard by people who have been a part of the acting troupe at the Globe theater, performing the true Works of Shakespeare.

As the scene shifts to the Globe Tap House, three members of Shakespeare’s acting troupe, the King’s Men, take center stage. These three are good friends and they enjoyed their friendship with William Shakespeare. John Heminges (Anthony Marble), Henry Condell (Michael Stewart Allen) and Richard Burbage (Brent Harris) get talking about plays they were in. Familiar lines are recited as they denounce a fake version of Hamlet. Alice (Carolyne Leys) John’s daughter, serves them ale.

The next day, the friends learn that Richard Burbage died in his sleep. They meet again at the Globe Tap House and all drink to his memory. However, as they talk, they realize that their departed friend was probably the only person who knew all of Shakespeare’s plays from memory. Sadly, they acknowledge that with no real record of the plays, Shakespeare’s life’s work may be lost forever.

They voice concerns that people are starting to plagiarize and misrepresent the work of their beloved friend, Shakespeare. They decide to make it their mission to find copies of his plays including his side notes. After they find everything, their plan includes sending out to a printer then accumulating the final work into one large volume. 

The Task is Not an Easy One

The first stop is to see Ed Knight (Patrick Toon), the Globe “stage manager,”and ask for every manuscript he has. Ed only has five of Shakespeare’s plays. They learn that the rest were lost when the original Globe Theatre burned down in 1613.

So the task becomes collecting as many manuscripts, prompt books, and actor side notes (cue cards) as they can.

Now that sounds easy, but it wasn’t so easy back then. Writing by hand on parchment didn’t always work out well.

As they’re doing that, they realize they have to appoint people to actually go through and edit and make sure everything matches what they remember saying and performing.

Finally they have to locate a printer that will take on the job. They do find the person who is willing to do it, but of course there’s circumstances that make that difficult too.

Guttenberg invented the printing press in 1440. However, the use of the process was not highly encouraged in England. According to notes provided by Shakespeare Theatre of NJ in their Know the Show Guide for this show , “All print shops and book sellers were required to clear their work with government censors, leaving British publishing effectively stunted.” The cost to print was high so plays were rarely printed. Thus the need to come up with money to fund the project becomes a source of great concern that must be solved.

How It Ends

The second act goes into more details about how the process takes place. Along the way, life shows some difficult moments. Several people die, including loving family members. All feel the grief.

Eventually, the project does reach completion. It is a wonderful moment in the show when all the pieces are put together and the large volume is presented to Anne Hathaway (Victoria Mack), Shakespeare’s wife. 

The final scene shows the friends and and going through the book and you hear a number of the very famous plays mentioned as they come across them. This well done scene is a magical moment in the play.

Captivating Moments

Outstanding in the play is the love we see from Shakespeare’s friends to complete their project. This love is shown in many different ways. The acting from this very fine cast brings the story to life.

Parts of the play are funny and parts are reflective.

One of the funniest parts comes from the character Ben Johnson (Pearce Bunting). Johnson was Poet Laureate of England who enjoyed his drinks. At first, he creates some problems with the project. So, the friends decide to create some unity with him. They ask him to write an Introduction to the volume in progress. The scenes where they approach him and his finished product are cleverly written and funny.

A well designed set adds much to the story. The depiction of the Globe Pub helps the audience feel like they are back in the 1600’s. Additionally, there are interesting displays authentic to the time of how paper looked after it was printed.

There is much to like about this show.

Go to See The Book of Will

The Book of Will runs through July 28, 2024. Times include Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and select Sundays at 7:30 p.m., Thursdays – Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays, and select Wednesdays at 2:00 p.m.

Performances are at the F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre on the campus of Drew University: 36 Madison Avenue, Madison, NJ 07940. Parking is free and convenient.

For tickets or more information, visit the Theatre’s website at ShakespeareNJ.org or call 973-408-5600