‘The Book of Will’ at Theatrical Outfit
L to R: Eliana Marianes, Suehyla El-Attar, Paul Hester, Doyle Reynolds. Photo: Greg Mooney
“The Book of Will,” now playing at Theatrical Outfit, follows Shakespeare’s actors as they try to piece together the recently deceased bard’s plays into a folio. It may behoove viewers to know more than a little about the bard’s plays, and perhaps even a tad about the Abbot and Costello’s “Who’s on First?” routine, but even if you miss all the references, it’s OK because the actors in this cast are all superb. Special praise for Jeff McKerley, who had only days to prepare when another actor had to leave before the show opened, could not have been better opening weekend.
The plays author, Decatur native Laura Gunderson, is one of the most produced playwrights in the country and won the 2018 Harold and Mimi Steinberg/American Theatre Critics Association New Play Award for “The Book of Will.” Directed by David Crowe, “The Book of Will” runs through Sept. 9 at Theatrical Outfit.
CAST
Tom Key* – John Heminges
Doyle Reynolds – Henry Condell
George Contini* – Richard Burbage/William Jaggard/Horatio
Eliana Marianes – Alice Heminges/Susannah Shakespeare
William S. Murphey* – Ben Johnson/Barman 2/Sir Edward
Suehyla El-Attar* – Elizabeth/Emilia/Fruit Seller/Marcellus
Elisa Carlson* – Rebecca Heminges/Anne Hathaway
Kyle Brumley* – Ed Knight/Isaac Jaggard
Paul Hester* – Ralph Crane/Barman/Compositor/Francisco
Ryan Vo – Marcus/Boy Hamlet/Crier/Bernardo
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