Hahnville Theatre’s final production of the season opens Thursday, March 27 and runs two weekends through April 5.
“The Book of Will,” a play set three years after Shakespeare’s death, follows his closest friends as they try to collect his plays and publish them into a definitive collection of his work, “Mr. William Shakespeare’s Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies,” which is commonly referred to as the “First Folio.”
The friends go head-to-head with a shady publisher, a drunken poet, shrinking resources and their own mortality.
Lucas Harms, director of the play at Hahnville High, said there is so much passion and life in the story, written by Lauren Gunderson.
“Ultimately it is about a group of people publishing a book,” Harms said. “But [Gunderson] sheds light on their challenges and obstacles so well. And of course it’s not just any book. It’s a book that has shaped and continues to shape our world.”
Harms said Hahnville Theatre is thrilled to be the first group in the New Orleans area and River Parishes to tell this story. He said the student performers fell in love with the story.
“Many did not realize what a challenge it was to get the First Folio published, and how gripping of a tale it is,” he said.
About 50 students have contributed to the production, and students have been working on the play in way or another since September, Harms said.
“As we move into opening weekend, they can barely contain their excitement over getting to share this story with audiences,” he said. “We hope that audiences take away a bit more understanding of how Shakespeare has shaped our world and the efforts it took to make that happen.”
Harms said that both Shakespeare lovers and Shakespeare novices will enjoy the show.
“Audiences only need to know that Shakespeare existed and is credited for writing many plays that are still produced in the modern world,” he said. “There are definitely some more subtle jokes and Bard references that true Shakespeare lovers might catch, but this show is one that all can enjoy and appreciate.”
Tickets can be purchased online at Hahnvillehs.booktix.com.
