Shakespeare's Will

Vern Thiessen

• Éditeur: Playwrights Canada Press
• Année: 2007
• ISBN:
  9780369103260
• Édition: 2
• Sujet: Littérature
• Sous-sujet: Théâtre canadien

An exploration of one of the most silent characters in history: Anne Hathaway, the wife of William Shakespeare.

The play sheds light on unexplored aspects of Hathaway's life by looking through the eyes and heart of the woman who spent a lifetime with—and without—the great poet. This work is the celebration of a life unbowed by tragedy and unapologetic in the face of public scorn.

SHAKESPEARE’S WILL

Rain.

She moves slowly through it.

She enters her house.

She stares at her room.

ANNE: I long for the sea….

Her white toothed smile.

Her roaring laugh.

Her salt spray on my lips….

(wry) The sea was a far better lover than you, Bill.

When it had me

I was wet and warm.

But you:

you

were a rough rocky shore

your head worn by tide

your beard straggly as seaweed

your eyes…

A distant bell. She listens.

She puts down the will.

She lights a lamp.

She removes her mourning attire.

She stares out the window.

I buried you in the church

only this morning.

Fifty-two of the town’s poorest

one for every year of your life

lead the way

hired to mourn your passing.

Then

two score men

riding the finest geldings

sinking in the soft mud.

Then

a dozen more

walking

the banner of arms

hanging heavy in their wet hands.

Then you

in a wagon covered with black velvet.

And then

I

and your friends from the city

and your family

trailing behind

grief

and the rain

weighing us down

soaked through we are

soggy as the sea.

Pause.

After

as the men go to eat

and talk

and drink down your memory,

your sister Joan

hands me your will:

She looks at the will.

Come Anne, says Joan

You must go home straightaway

Oh? I say

I’ll be by tonight, she says.

Why, I say?

And she smiles

smiles

like….

A distant bell. She listens.

And now. An hour left

till Joan comes

only an hour

and I haven’t even…

She regards the will.

* * * *

^* Movement/Music Sequence:

Perhaps a lively, traditional song. Perhaps “The Fair.”

(sings) “The boys, the boys, the boys of the t...