It’s a madcap scene in 1593 London! The feckless Hugh Pennyman (Grant Byington) literally has his feet to the fire. Young and penniless, Will Shakespeare (Murri Lazeroff-Babin) is a playwright without a play and is plagued by a bad case of writer’s block. Across town, wealthy merchant’s daughter, Viola de Lesseps (Kelsey Glasser), is about to be bartered into a loveless marriage to the arrogant Duke of Wessex (Alec Cameron Lugo) in exchange for a title. Christopher Marlowe (Murren Kennedy) alternately torments Will and feeds him lines.
Kelsey Glasser and Murri Lazaroff-Babin. Photo by Triumph Photography.
Lee Hall‘s fast and furious adaptation of the Tom Stoppard/Marc Norman romantic comedy Shakespeare in Love (a 1998 Oscar-winning film) comes to the Lakewood Theatre Company’s Headlee Mainstage in full Renaissance flourish. There are many nods to the Bard throughout the play, including the recurring Shakespeare motif of mistaken identity, the quandry of Marlowe in Shakespeare’s life, and many beautiful lines from Romeo and Juliet.
Viola craves access to the theatre. As it is illegal for women to appear on stage, she disguises herself as a boy to gain a role in Will Shakespeare’s upcoming (and still unwritten) play. She immediately is cast in the production. When Will discovers his Romeo is a she, he is smitten. The results, as one character declares, are “insurmountable obstacles on the way to disaster”.
Things are arguably worse backstage. Producers joust for the rights to Will’s new play, actors quarrel over roles and muff their lines, and there’s a last-minute change of theatre venue. It’s a mystery how things all manage to come together amid so much laughter, intrigue, and passion. But isn’t that the story of all theatrical productions, not to mention love stories?
Kelsey Glasser and Murri Lazaroff-Babin in Shakespeare in Love. Photo by Triumph Photography.
Shakespeare in Love brings excellent fun to the Lakewood stage. Other featured actors include Ruth Jenkins, Alan King, Skye McLaren Walton, Aidan Nolan, Chris Murphy, Tom Walton, Asher Ross, Mark Schwahn, Olivia Shimkus, Michael Streeter, Edward Lyons, Jr., Conor J. Nolan, Lindsay Reed, and Tim Vergano in multiple roles, plus a lovely cameo from Eliza the Dog.
David Sikking directs the play, with choreography by Kemba Shannon and musical direction and sound design by Rodolfo Ortega. The creative team includes Steve Knox, producer; John Gerth, set design; Margaret Louise Chapman, costume design; Dan Meeker, lighting design; PJ Harris, stage manager; Micah Steury, properties manager; Kurt Herman, technical director .
Kelsey Glasser as Viola in Shakespeare in Love. Photo by Triumph Photography.
The show continues through December 8 at Lakewood Center.
