Shakespeare’s Will
Encyclopedia
Shakespeare's Will is a play by Canadian writer Vern Thiessen
. It was commissioned by the River City Shakespeare Festival
in Edmonton, and premiered at the Citadel Theatre
in February 2005. It has been regularly revived and was performed at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in 2011. It is a one-woman monodrama
that focuses on Anne Hathaway
on the day of her husband William Shakespeare
's funeral. Its form has been described as a "poetic monologue that is fragmentary, and richly allusive."
which will "allow our separate desires". Anne is left alone with their children when William leaves for London. She has many lovers during his absence. William does not seem to object, but when their son Hamnet
drowns, William blames Anne for neglecting him. After his return to Stratford their relationship is strained. He later dies from a fever. In his will he leaves most of his goods to his married daughter Susanna
in the hope of male succession through a grandson.
Reviewer John Coulbourn believed that "not much of it rings true, either to the heart or to the period of the piece", considering that Anne's musings were too generic to convince. J. Kelly Nestruck objected to the "anachronistic proto-feminist" portrayal of Hathaway, arguing that "there's no getting away from the fact that Shakespeare's Will is ultimately a drama once removed. Hathaway is of interest only because of whom she married. Thiessen's play, likewise, is riding on his coattails."
Vern Thiessen
Vern Thiessen is a Canadian playwright.Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Thiessen studied at the University of Winnipeg and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts. He later attended the University of Alberta, where he obtained a Master of Fine Arts degree.Thiessen currently lives in Edmonton, Alberta and was...
. It was commissioned by the River City Shakespeare Festival
River City Shakespeare Festival
Freewill Shakespeare Festival, formerly known as River City Shakespeare Festival was founded in 1989. It is produced by the Edmonton, Alberta-based "Free Will Players" every summer from late June to mid July. The Festival includes full-scale professional productions of two plays by William...
in Edmonton, and premiered at the Citadel Theatre
Citadel Theatre
The Citadel Theatre is the major venue for theatre arts in the city of Edmonton, located in the Downtown Core on Churchill Square.-History:Originally the "Old Salvation Army Citadel", the Citadel was bought by Joseph H. Shoctor, James L. Martin, Ralph B. MacMillan, and Sandy Mactaggart, and the...
in February 2005. It has been regularly revived and was performed at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in 2011. It is a one-woman monodrama
Monodrama
A monodrama is a theatrical or operatic piece played by a single actor or singer, usually portraying one character.- Monodrama in opera :...
that focuses on Anne Hathaway
Anne Hathaway (Shakespeare)
Anne Hathaway was the wife of William Shakespeare. They were married in 1582. She outlived her husband by seven years...
on the day of her husband William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
's funeral. Its form has been described as a "poetic monologue that is fragmentary, and richly allusive."
Synopsis
The drama begins with Hathaway arriving home after the funeral, holding a copy of Shakespeare's will. She reminisces about her first meeting with Shakespeare at a fair, and remembers that they were attracted to one another because they recognised their mutual sexual ambiguities and freedom from convention. They become lovers. When Anne becomes pregnant they are married. They agree in private vows that they will have an open marriageOpen marriage
Open marriage typically refers to a marriage in which the partners agree that each may engage in extramarital sexual relationships, without this being regarded as infidelity. There are many different styles of open marriage, with the partners having varying levels of input on their spouse's...
which will "allow our separate desires". Anne is left alone with their children when William leaves for London. She has many lovers during his absence. William does not seem to object, but when their son Hamnet
Hamnet Shakespeare
Hamnet Shakespeare was the only son of William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway, and the fraternal twin of Judith Shakespeare. He died at age 11 of unknown causes. There are several theories on the relationship, if any, between Hamnet and his father's later play Hamlet...
drowns, William blames Anne for neglecting him. After his return to Stratford their relationship is strained. He later dies from a fever. In his will he leaves most of his goods to his married daughter Susanna
Susanna Hall
Susanna Hall , née Shakespeare, was the eldest child of William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway, and the older sister of Judith Quiney and Hamnet Shakespeare...
in the hope of male succession through a grandson.
Interpretation
The critic Anne Wilson interprets the play as an exploration of recent debate in Canada about non-traditional marriages and relationships, and of the relationship between sexual freedom and patriarchal norms of male succession. She notes the repeated emphasis on imagery of the sea, flows and voyages to express the fluidity of desire and human intimacies.Reviewer John Coulbourn believed that "not much of it rings true, either to the heart or to the period of the piece", considering that Anne's musings were too generic to convince. J. Kelly Nestruck objected to the "anachronistic proto-feminist" portrayal of Hathaway, arguing that "there's no getting away from the fact that Shakespeare's Will is ultimately a drama once removed. Hathaway is of interest only because of whom she married. Thiessen's play, likewise, is riding on his coattails."