TOM TITUS -- Theater Review

Had Oliver Stone been around during the late 16th and early 17th

centuries, he would most likely have tantalized conspiracy theorists with

the question that has puzzled the literary and theatrical community ever

since -- just who wrote all those plays ascribed to one William

Shakespeare?

In Stone’s stead, playwright Amy Freed raises and answersthat question

with alacrity in “The Beard of Avon,” now enjoying its world premiere on

the Main Stage of South Coast Repertory. Her answer to the authorship

question is certainly not the semiliterate bumpkin credited by history,

but any one or several of a number of his contemporaries, up to and

including Queen Elizabeth I.

The real Shakespeare, it’s implied, was little more than a prolific

play doctor. Freed’s Shakespeare -- who spells his name Shakspere -- is

an underachieving farmer mired in an unhappy marriage to a nagging wife

when “Beard” opens. Only his attendance at a crude touring play whets his

interest in the theater. Leaving his wife behind, he follows his muse to

London, where he vows to do anything for a chance to be part of the

theater -- even, quite literally, becoming a spear carrier.

Since playwrights and actors enjoyed much the social status of street

sweepers in those days, creating new works for the stage wasn’t among the

highest of callings, certainly not for someone of the stature of Edward

de Vere, the Earl of Oxford. Hence, his lordship funneled his written

works through a foil -- young Shakspere -- to see them produced.

Increasingly, so did other nobles. If you accept Freed’s theory, then

“The Taming of the Shrew” actually was written by the Virgin Queen

herself.

Freed, however, isn’t presenting her story as gospel. Her characters

apply a number of elbows to the audience’s ribs with contemporary quips,

and director David Emmes stages the production with tongue firmly in

cheek. This is a comedy, not an expose, and the cast responds

accordingly.

Douglas Weston, as the young man destined to become history’s

greatest playwright, imbues his role with a mixture of enthusiasm and

naivete, growing in confidence as his out-sized reputation gains

credence. His character is a study in contradictions, which may be

intended to fuel the mystery of authorship.

Overshadowing the young scribe, and virtually everyone else, is Mark

Harelik’s proud, hedonistic Earl of Oxford. Harelik revels in his

creative genius, as well as his enjoyment of the sexual favors of both

genders, in a dominant performance.

Richard Doyle and Don Took, two of SCR’s founding actors, are given

meaty supporting roles to sink their teeth into. Doyle’s reprobate Old

Colin, young Will’s partner in mischief, is layered with tipsy wisdom,

while Took excels as theater manager John Heminge, purveyor of popular

entertainment for the unschooled masses. Both actors double and triple in

other assignments as well.

Rene Augesen shines as Will’s wife, Anne Hathaway, who goes disguised

into London to seduce her husband and wins Oxford’s attentions in the

bargain. Nike Doukas is an elegant Queen Elizabeth, spoofing her royal

personage delightfully.

Other London literary luminaries and acolytes of the period are

convincingly performed by Mark Coyan, Jessica Stevenson, Robert Curtis

Brown and Todd Lowe. Particularly enjoyable is the performance of Lynsey

McLeod -- a young actress playing a boy who’s been cast as a girl, as was

the custom in those days. It’s not “Shakespeare in Love,” but it’s

reminiscent.

Christopher Acebo’s vast unit setting functions as everything from a

stable to the royal court, and Walker Hicklin’s costumes are period

perfect. Chris Parry’s lighting and the music and sound effects of Dennis

McCarthy and B.C. Keller, respectively, further illuminate the effect.

We will probably never know the true origin of Shakespeare’s works,

but “The Beard of Avon” presents some intriguing and entertaining

possibilities. It’s a healthy world premiere destined for wider

viewership.

* TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Daily Pilot. His reviews

appear Thursdays and Saturdays.

FYI

WHAT: “The Beard of Avon”

WHERE: South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa

WHEN: 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, 2:30 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, and

2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Sundays until July 1

COST: $28-$49

PHONE: (714) 708-5555