Actors in CCA’s production of “Book of Will” performing. Erik Lundby (left) and David Dye (right) perform a scene from “The Book of Will” at CCA. At right, Emily Vawter (left) and Emily Joyce (right) embrace during an intimate moment on stage
Actors in CCA’s production of “Book of Will” performing. Erik Lundby (left) and David Dye (right) perform a scene from “The Book of Will” at CCA. At right, Emily Vawter (left) and Emily Joyce (right) embrace during an intimate moment on stage
HOOD RIVER – Grab your lute and finest ale because Shakespeare has landed in Hood River. Lauren Gunderson’s hilarious ode to the legendary playwright and poet, “The Book of Will,” premiered at the Columbia Center for the Arts (CCA) on Sept. 12, helmed by director Kathleen Morrow.
A poignant portrait of friendship and legacy, “The Book of Will” traces the tireless efforts of Shakespeare’s close acquaintances to preserve his works for future generations. Impassioned thespians Henry Condell and John Heminges spearhead the endeavor, backed by a tight-knit troupe of friends and family. Through drunken laughter and sobering heartbreak, the company negotiates with shady publisher William Jaggard to compile the “First Folio” — a collection of 36 plays to honor and uphold the artistic genius of their late friend.
Morrow, a retired middle school teacher, was initially a cast member. She assumed the role of director when CCA veteran Tom Burns became unavailable. Though traditionally an actress, Morrow agreed to step up because she loved the script and its timeless message. “The thought of a world without Shakespeare is a little freaky,” Morrow said. “At its core, this story is about friendship and what folks will do for each other.”
Whether a dedicated Shakespeare buff or ally of art preservation, “audiences can expect a fun, funny and heartfelt story about the friends that saved Shakespeare’s work,” Morrow said.
Fortunately, Morrow and crew’s iteration of “The Book of Will” is all that and more — a silly and earnest champion of art and memory. The energetic cast, comprising performers across a wide swath of ages, reaches deep into their Elizabethan bag, sporting entertaining, exaggerated British accents.
From the many alcohol vessels to the baggy pants and extravagant dresses, the props and wardrobe team does a fantastic job establishing the era. The company makes excellent use of the stage, wasting no space and occasionally leaping onto tabletops to verbally spar with each other.
Lead performers Erik Lundby and David Dye, realizing Condell and Heminges respectively, are clear standouts. Lundby’s booming delivery balances nicely with Dye’s quieter approach. While a comedy to be sure, “The Book of Will” possesses plenty of tragic, vulnerable moments; Dye captures these feelings with authenticity and grace, with one monologue drawing audible tears from the audience.
Benjamin Sheppard delivers an uproarious, scene-stealing performance as the perpetually drunk Ben Jonson. Emily Joyce, who plays Alice Heminges, counters Sheppard and a smattering of other drunken men with cheeky retorts, drawing plenty of laughs along the way. But what makes this cast so enjoyable to watch is a clear sense that they are having the time of their lives, laying it all out on the stage.
If you’re in the Hood River area, do yourself a favor and stop by the CCA for a showing of “The Book of Will.”
Tickets and showtimes are available at columbiaarts.org, with closing night slated for Sept. 27.
Commented