Brilliant Bardolatry
Those words are our lives’ work, Will’s life… If we don’t find them, they die with us. – Lauren Gunderson, The Book of Will
San Francisco playwright Lauren Gunderson writes really satisfying plays. They’re spirited. They’re emotional. They’re beloved by the American theater scene. I’m a believer. Sonoma County is, too. Gunderson’s stuff gets produced here often. She always hits the spot, though, and 6th St Playhouse’s full-throttle production of “The Book of Will” is no exception.
It's a play about friendship, loss, and the valiant efforts of best buds to create the first true collection of William Shakespeare’s plays. Several years after Shakespeare’s death and immediately following the demise of leading man Richard Burbage (played with exhilarating Kenergy by Keene Hudson) their old theater troupe The King’s Men realizes that their legacy is in danger of burning out and fading away. They decide to get the band back together for an important mission: to locate and curate the old scripts that Quill Bill rarely wrote down to completion. It’s not going to be easy, and it might not succeed – “Half the country can’t read, and the other half can’t pay!” gripes John Heminges, played with beating, bleeding, beautiful heart by Chris Schloemp. Firebrand Henry Condell (slam-dunked by David Yen) spurs the group forward with the help of Heminges’ daughter Alice (a terrific Malia Abayon) and merry wives Rebecca (character chameleon Denise Elia-Yen) and Elizabeth (the unfailingly compelling Maddi Scarbrough). In addition to playing Condell, Yen designed an arresting set that awesomely uses a big tavern table to create multiple staging configurations, and director Libby Oberlin utilizes every inch with dynamic efficiency. Throw in carefully accurate costuming by Gail Reine, lively lighting from Ryan Severt and Ben Roots’ moving, modern-ish underscore for an impressive alliance of space, staging, sound, light and dress. Collaborative art can be tough to make. Good theater like this rules.
Maybe you’re not exactly a fan of the Play-Hard Bard. Never fear. Come for the wildly engaging ensemble that gives and keeps giving. Yes, theater majors will recognize Gunderson’s wealth of inside jokes. Yes, culty Shakespeare dorks like me will get weepy at the sacredness of it all. But “The Book of Will” at 6th St Playhouse is not geared solely to theater folks. This is simply a great production of a great play. Verily, there is a blast to be had. Get thee hence to the Monroe Stage! Thou shouldst go.
Jackie Blevins has 33 whole followers on Twitter. @JBlevins24601
