Encore Theatre will take audiences back to Shakespearean England in its production of “The Book of Will.”
Submitted Photo | Courtesy of Sarah Glover
LIMA — A play coming this weekend to Encore Theatre will, appropriately, shine a light on one of the greatest playwrights of all time.
“The Book of Will” portrays the true events that took place following the death of William Shakespeare and will premiere at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20 at 991 N. Shore Drive, Lima.
“It is a story about true events in history,” director Sarah Crawford said. “It is about the close friends of Shakespeare and how they saved his work for the ages. They decided to gather all his work and have it published, which was something not really done with plays at the time, and so it was revolutionary.”
The dramedy, which runs all weekend and next, will feature a 50-50 mix of jokes and serious story that Crawford called fascinating.
“I don’t think people realize how much Shakespeare is integrated into our language and culture,” she said. “If these people hadn’t loved their friend enough to want to see his work preserved, we would not have Shakespeare. So I think audiences will really appreciate learning the history of something that we almost take for granted.”
The story is also about friendship and the importance of theater itself.
“This need for telling stories and preserving them really connects us as a people,” Crawford said. “There is that element throughout that is really touching when you look at it that way.”
The production is the result of a full slate of work from the cast and crew due to the nature of the script.
“When you’re working with a dramedy, it’s almost double time for the actors because you’re not focusing strictly on one genre,” Crawford said. “We live a dramedy when you think about it because hopefully, our lives are equal parts comedy and drama. And of course, there is the costuming and various things that are much more involved with a period piece than a contemporary piece so there is a lot more art thrown into it to give it context and visual engagement that you wouldn’t normally get.”
It makes it all the more special to perform the play in a venue like the Encore Theatre.
“I want people to walk from the show with a feeling of understanding how important what the theatre does is,” Crawford said. “It highlights all the things that we love and are afraid of, all of our best and worst qualities, and it can inspire us and give us hope. No matter how we feel now, we may feel differently throughout the story as it goes.”
For tickets to 8 p.m. or matinee shows and more information on “The Book of Will” by Lauren Gunderson, visit bit.ly/4dbaOnz.
Reach Jacob Espinosa at 567-242-0399.
