Imagine your terror. Your husband has just passed away and your mean-spirited sister-in-law, who holds his will, hands it to you after the funeral. She has a smirk on her face and announces she will drop by later once you've had a chance to read it.
Such are the opening moments of Shakespeare's Will by acclaimed Canadian playwright Vern Thiessen. Indeed, the husband who has just passed is none other than William Shakespeare himself; the distressed widow, Anne Hathaway.
Part of Vern Thiessen's writing challenge is there are only a handful of facts available: The date of William and Anne's marriage; the birth of their three children; and that he had spent almost their married life in London while she stayed in Stratford.
Vern Thiessen has imagined the most intriguing series of events which lead to Anne's reading the contents of his will. And yes, the surprising contents of that will are historically accurate.
Patricia Tedford, Sudbury actor, director and theatre teacher, has done much thinking about Anne Hathaway and William Shakespeare over the past few years. In 2011, she and actor/director Robert Bockstael mounted their first production of Shakespeare's Will. So, why do a second?
As Tedford explains, “Revisiting the play has made it a deeper, richer and very different production. Both Robert and I are five years older and our views slightly altered. The first time we did the show, I have to say that people were really excited and positive about it. This time....well...it's just got that much more. I expect audiences will be absolutely fascinated.”
She goes on to explain how their view of Shakespeare, the man, has changed.
“We are much kinder and more compassionate towards him in this version,” Tedford said. “Some of the bitterness is gone as we portray how and why he had to remove himself from his family's life.”
And truly, there would be much to be bitter about being married to William Shakespeare. Yet, in Vern Thiessen's imagining, it is Anne who provides him with the strength and permission to go, to live in London and become a great writer.
“Anne Hathaway,” says Tedford. “A strong woman of action (who) survives a plague as a child and is responsible for the survival of her family when William is absent.”
The play speaks entirely from Anne's point of view, from the perspective of a wife who accepts her husband in every way.
“Vern Thiessen's script is beautiful. Stratford Festival has produced it, as well as theatres all over the world: Hong Kong, Prague, Auckland..you name it. Thiessen brilliantly mixes the sensibility of the Elizabethan times with contemporary language to make this intimate play accessible to everyone.
“For the duration of the play, we're in Anne's bedroom where she undresses down to her corset and underskirt and sits on their marriage bed. The relationship between actor and audience is close in every way.”
As Tedford points out, “Anne is actually 60 years old when her 52 year-old-husband passes away. I'm five years older than the last time we did the play. I think I get it even more.”
This year, 2016, marks the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death. If you missed the London, England, celebration with Dames Judi Dench and Helen Mirren, with President Obama, Prince Charles and Benedict Cumberbatch, you can still celebrate, Sudbury style.
To spend an evening thick with intrigue, be sure to catch Shakespeare's Will, November 17-19 and 24-26 at the Cambrian College Black Box Theatre (RM 2119) at 8 pm nightly.
The 90-minute play runs with no intermission. Tickets are available at Eventbrite.ca. They are $25 for adults and $15 students, seniors and artists.
For more information go to the Facebook page, Shakespeare's Will.
