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THE PLOT AGAINST SHAKESPEARE - Shakespeare in the Cannery
Synopsis of The Plot Against Shakespeare, a new play by Sonoma County playwright, David Beckman
Its 1611 in London, and William Shakespeare has the mother of all writers blocks. He's burned out for good. But his highly profitable plays fill the Globe Theater, so retirement is out of the question.
He's in despair and has no answers.
Enter his characters. Thats right -- Henry V, Macbeth, Beatrice, Hamlet, Juliet and Lear. They're in a panic because if the Globe goes bankrupt they'll never be heard of again. Using speeches from their own plays, they plead with Shakespeare to keep writing, but he knows its not his choice! His muse has deserted him, period.
One character -- Lady Macbeth -- has no sympathy. Her solution is to get rid of Shakespeare and replace him with someone they can claim wrote his plays all along, and will continue cranking out new ones.
To get started, they'll kill Shakespeare and throw the body in the Thames! She rounds up Iago and Richard III as accomplices.
Cut to a lowlife tavern where another breadwinner, Mistress Quickly, is burned out and leaving the wenching trade. But Sir John Falstaff depends on her for money, so plans one more big score -- with the Earl of Oxford, the richest man in London and the very person Lady Macbeth intends to replace Shakespeare with. Mistress Quickly flies the coup, leaving Falstaff no choice but to put on a woman's dress and fool Oxford long enough to get his money. This results in a chase scene across half of London, with Iago and Richard III trying to corner an enraged Oxford and bring him to heel.
Fortunately, Oberon and Puck of Midsummer Nights Dream, are keeping an eye on things and come up with a solution for Shakespeare's malady, involving magic herbs from France. Just as Shakespeare miraculously regains his writing form, Hamlet gets wind of the murder plot and offers to become Shakespeare's bodyguard. Not a moment to soon, because Lady Macbeth's evil doings go into high gear. All leads to the attempted murder, a rousing duel between Hamlet and Richard III, a defeated Lady Macbeth, and everyone else dancing in celebration of a happy outcome.
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LocationShakespeare in the Cannery (View)
3 West 3rd St.(entrance at 52 W. Sixth St.)
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
United States
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