Will and Will

Gender Play 

Sometime between the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, William Shakespeare, or Will to his friends, wrote an incredible 38 plays and 154 sonnets. Centuries later, this beloved playwright, the Bard of Avon, is still regarded by most actors, directors and avid theatergoers as the “Goat” (the greatest of all time). As proof of Shakespeare’s continually enduring popularity, his plays are still being produced and enjoyed worldwide, well over 400 years later. But, exactly why is that?

Enter Will Wilhelm, a non-binary Chicago-based Equity actor, writer and educator. Their multidisciplinary theatrical talents have been savored by audiences at Theater Wit, Steppenwolf and the Goodman, along with many productions around the country. In this one-person production, co-created by Wilhelm and Erin Murray, directed by Murray and presented by Wilhelm, we meet and get to know both artists, Will and Will. The result is a highly entertaining, educational and enlightening evening of what’s being called “Shakespeare’s Coming Out Party.”

Floating around the intimate Bookspan Theatre space in a glitzy dressing gown, Will Wilhelm graciously greets their guests to this celebration of Shakespeare, but presented, as Dramaturg Linnea Valdivia calls it, “under the ever-expanding LGBTQ+ umbrella.” The artist soon changes into a pretty floral bodice and a pair of bright pink satin palazzo pants, designed by Uriel Gomez. Wilhelm welcomes everyone, their friends, young and old, gay, straight, bisexual, transgender or anything in between. They explain that, as a non-binary actor living in a world that demonizes anything people can’t understand, queerness and trans-ness have become something to be feared and outlawed. And this is the stage upon which this production is performed.

Wilhelm further clarifies that the word “queer,” especially as it was used in Shakespeare’s time, is a verb. To queer something means to look at it and think about it from a different perspective. Who knew this was a thing? Ms. Valdivia provides the perfect metaphor for this term. She says that it means “to put it through a prism and marvel at the beautiful rainbow of its refractions. In short, queerness is about being brave enough to imagine and dream in a world that others cannot yet see.” And this is precisely what Will and Will bring to this party.

As Wilhelm travels around the costume-clad, mannequin-filled stage, designed with flair by Steven Abbott and filled with colorful and magical-looking properties by Lonnae Hickman, they conjure up Shakespeare’s spirit. The actor takes a deep look at their own personal queer experiences and viewpoint. Wilhelm points out the probability that, although married and a father, there’s little doubt that the Bard was a closeted gay man. Shakespeare had a young male lover named Henry, for whom he was a mentor and tutor. He even wrote a whole slew of love sonnets to Henry. Then Wilhelm reminds us that in Elizabethan times it wasn’t considered proper for women to be actors, so young men played all the female roles in his plays. Wilhelm also cites many instances in Shakespeare’s plays in which characters not only hint at their queerness but often cross-dress. In this light, they both connect Will Shakespeare with Will Wilhelm and propose new ways of looking at and presenting Shakespeare’s plays.

The evening is filled with fun, festivities and flights of fantasy. Audience members are invited to select a Tarot card, upon entering the theatre. Wilhelm, a learned reader and interpreter of the Tarot, invites a guest onstage to have her Tarot read and explained. Throughout the show Wilhelm also morphs into a number of Shakespearean characters and delivers a series of meaningful monologues. About halfway through the performance, Wilhelm encourages every audience member to enjoy five minutes (or more) of lively disco music. We’re encouraged to explore ourselves, to get up, dance, clap, sing, sashay around the stage and interact with the other guests—something I’ve never experienced before in a theatre performance.

This incredibly original theatrical production isn’t exactly a play. It’s more like a Happening or an Event. The entire audience is made to feel welcome, unique and important. Whether straight, gay or something else, we all feel at home and accepted, thanks to Wilhelm. After all, we’ve been invited to a peppy, perky party that just happens to take place in a theatre. Two Wills are our hosts, and through them we discover our own will to just be ourselves. There’s a whole lot of fun, plenty of comedy, some deeply moving ideas, a bit of good advice, and a plethora of new concepts and information to take home, all thanks to Will and Will.

Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented May 4-June 3 by About Face Theatre at the Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago.

Tickets are available in person at the Den box office or by going to www.aboutfacetheatre.com.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.