Equivocation (play) facts for kids

Equivocation is a play written by Bill Cain in 2009. It first opened at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. The story takes place in an alternate history version of 17th Century England. In this play, Robert Cecil asks William Shakespeare (called Shagspeare in the play) to write an official history play. This play is meant to be about the Gunpowder Plot, a real event where people tried to assassinate King James I.

The Story of Equivocation

Act One: The King's Request

The play begins in London in 1605. Sir Robert Cecil calls for William Shagspeare, also known as Shag. Cecil wants Shag to write a play for King James. Shag reads the topic and quickly says no. However, Cecil is very powerful and forces Shag to take the job.

The scene then changes. Shag's actors, Nate, Armin, Richard, and Sharpe, appear. They are performing a scene from King Lear, another play by Shakespeare. Sharpe says this play is too hard to perform. Shag stops their argument. He tells them about Cecil's request to write a true history of the Gunpowder Plot. Shag is worried because plays about recent events are new. But his actors believe he is the best person for the job. So, Shag starts writing.

Shag's daughter, Judith, enters. She often sees the darker side of life. She asks Shag how many people he has killed in his new play. She then gives him clothes to change into. There is some tension between them. While Shag is offstage, Judith talks to the audience. She says she dislikes both plays and long speeches. Shag returns and scolds her for touching his work. He asks about her twin brother, but Judith reminds him that her brother is dead. She asks him to ask about her instead. Shag replies, "You're always the same."

After Judith leaves, Shag's play comes to life. Three conspirators, played by Nate, Richard, and Sharpe, meet. They talk with the Jesuit priest Henry Garnet, played by Armin. They discuss their plan to blow up Parliament. After acting out the scene, everyone except Sharpe agrees it doesn't work. Sharpe suggests they change the ending and actually blow up Parliament. Richard immediately tells him this is a terrible idea. You cannot show a king being blown up when the king is watching! Nate and Armin wonder how thirteen men could dig a tunnel under Parliament without being caught. This makes Shag think.

Shag's Investigation

Shag visits Cecil again. Cecil is annoyed that Shag has not finished the play. Shag tells Cecil he wants to know the "dirt" about the plot. Cecil refuses to share any secrets. After more arguing, Shag says that in the story, there is no real plot. Cecil is very angry and says, "It is treason to say so!" Shag explains he was just giving literary advice. Cecil then realizes his mistake and pretends he said nothing. Shag also apologizes for showing Cecil's father as Polonius in Hamlet. He then asks to interview Thomas Wintour, one of the plotters. Cecil agrees.

The next scene shows Wintour being held. Guards tell him how he will be executed. Shag meets Wintour, who at first refuses to talk. Shag is about to leave. But he sees Wintour's hands are too damaged to write a letter to his wife. Shag offers to write the letter if Wintour helps him. Wintour tells Shag that Robert Catesby called a meeting to start the plot. Catesby told Wintour that Cecil gave him the gunpowder. It was supposedly for a military trip. He also told Wintour about a room under Parliament. Shag is surprised. He asks about Garnet's role. Wintour says Garnet was never part of the plan.

Wintour, Catesby, and the other plotters turn back into Shag's actors. They are also surprised by the new story. Richard says they cannot perform this play because it is too dangerous. But Shag insists. Richard then understands why Shag wants to do this so badly. He tells Shag, "Helping someone else's son won't bring back yours."

Cecil then arrives at the Globe Theatre. He wants to talk to Shag. Cecil tells Shag he has a copy of the new script. He says it is not good enough to be performed. Shag asks how Cecil got a copy. Cecil hints that there might be a spy in Shag's theater group. Cecil then takes the letter Wintour wrote to his wife. Wintour's execution is announced. Shag begs for Wintour's life, but Cecil refuses. Wintour says a poem before he is put to death. His last words are "Thou liest." The stage goes dark.

Act Two: The Trial and the Truth

The second act begins in a courtroom. The Jesuit priest, Henry Garnet, is on trial. The prosecutor, Edward Coke, asks Garnet if he knew the plotters. Garnet denies knowing them as plotters. But he confirms knowing Robert Catesby, Thomas Wintour, and others, except Guy Fawkes. Cecil challenges him to answer with only "yes" or "no." Garnet then describes a made-up situation. What if the King was hiding from the Spanish in Coke's house? Would Coke tell the Spanish the King was inside? This would mean betraying the King or lying. Coke is trapped by Garnet's words. He ends the trial and sends Garnet back to his cell.

Later, Shag comes to Garnet's cell dressed as a jailor. Garnet quickly sees through his disguise. Shag tells Garnet he wants to learn to "equivocate." This means telling the truth in his play without getting into trouble. Garnet gives him the same made-up situation. He asks Shag what the Spanish are really asking. Shag cannot figure it out.

Productions of Equivocation

The play was first performed at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon. It opened on April 15, 2009, and closed on October 31, 2009.

The Seattle Repertory Theatre, working with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, presented the play in Seattle. This was from November 18 to December 13, 2009. Bill Rauch directed it, just like in Ashland. The cast included Anthony Heald, Christine Albright, Jonathan Haugen, Richard Elmore, John Tufts, and Gregory Linington.

The play also appeared at the New York City Center in March 2010. The cast included John Pankow, Charlotte Parry, Remy Auberjonois, Michael Countryman, David Furr, and David Pittu. Garry Hynes directed this production.

The Circa Theatre in Wellington, New Zealand, produced the play. It ran from May 24 to June 21, 2014. Peter Hamilton directed it. The actors were Andrew Foster, Paul McLaughlin, Tom Eason, Jason Whyte, Gavin Rutherford, and Tai Berdinner-Blades. The Sheilah Winn National Shakespeare competition was happening then. Student groups were encouraged to see the play.

The play was also performed at the Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival in Vancouver, Canada. It ran from July 2, 2014, to September 27, 2014.

"Equivocation" was part of the 2014 season at Will Geer's Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga, California. The cast included Ted Barton, Alan Blumenfeld, Dane Oliver, Franc Ross, Taylor Jackson Ross, and Paul Turbiak. Mike Peebler directed this production. The Los Angeles Times called it a "Critics' Choice."

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey produced the play in 2015. Paul Mullins directed it. The cast included James Michael Reilly (Shag), Rob Krakovski (Richard/Garnet), Kevin Isola (Armin and others), Matthew Stucky (Sharpe/Tom Wintour/James), Dominic Comperatore (Nate/Cecil), and Therese Barbato (Judith).

The Atlanta Shakespeare Company produced the play from April 23 to May 8, 2016. Artistic Director Jeff Watkins played William Shagspeare.

Playing Many Roles

The play "Equivocation" has many characters. However, it was always meant to have only six actors. This means that four of the six actors play many different roles. Each of these actors takes on ten or more characters during the show.

Original Cast and Their Roles

• Anthony Heald – William Shagspeare
• Christine Albright – Judith, Shag's daughter
• Jonathan Haugen – Nate, Cecil, and other characters
• Richard Elmore – Richard, Henry Garnet, and other characters
• John Tufts – Sharpe, Thomas Wintour, King James, and other characters
• Gregory Linington – Armin (the script keeper), Sir Edward Coke, Robert Catesby, and other characters