Jane Anger
Or, The Lamentable Comedie of JANE ANGER, that Cunning Woman, and also of Willy Shakespeare and his Peasant Cousin, Francis, Yes and Also of Anne Hathaway (also a Woman) Who Tried Very Hard
by Talene Monahon
Okay, I loved this play. This play is ridiculous. It’s the plague of 1603 and Shakespeare is experiencing a wee bit of writer’s block. He’s stuck inside with Francis Sir (and aspiring actor who is just barely 16… I guess…), when The Dark Lady (of Sonnet fame) climbs in the window. Jane Anger is here, and she needs Shakespeare’s signature to get her pamphlet published. He agrees only if she is willing to help “unblock”him so that he can write his next great plague play. Jane is quite skillful, and the writing bug strikes as he begins to rattle off King Lear, when his wife shinnies up the drainpipe to join the melee.
This play is brilliant. I love a little bit of revised history, and a whole lot of female rage. There are plenty of delightful metatheatrical winks and some delicious stage violence. I want to do this play right now. Immediately. I wish I could play Anne Hathaway, but I have to admit that I’m probably not pretty enough for the role. But I could direct the hell out of this wacky, insightful, ferocious comedy! Someone give me a theatre!
