In 1605, Robert Cecil, prime minister to King James I of England, commissions William Shagspeare (Cain's spelling of Shakespeare) to write a play about the recent Gunpowder Plot -- an attempt to blow up the king and his court. The king simply requests that "Shag" add some flattering dialogue -- and witches -- to the plot. During the course of Bill Cain's play, Shagspeare and his company grapple with issues of artistry, politics, morality and -- perhaps most importantly -- life and death. If Shag accepts the commission, and the play inadvertently offends the king, both playwright and players could lose their heads. Shag must decide to what degree he is willing to equivocate about the truth, and how he can serve his king and still maintain his integrity, as an artist. This is a witty and poignant ensemble piece in which six actors play well over a dozen roles, some of which include snippets of Shakespeare's other plays-in-progress (one of which becomes the famous Macbeth.)
Equivocation guide sections
