(Will at 17 first meets the players while tutoring Lord Strange’s children. Here he suggests then improvises a scene based on the dark side of the fairy Mab legend.)
Will launched into it, “Hark, night-tripping fairies and pause waggoner. We shall not play in the dark, come out of the curtained, hazelnut chariot.” Then, improvising the physicality, dashing, hopping, spinning about the stage while speaking the words of all the fairies in various voices, snarling here, sweet-talking there, talking of nipping noses, tweaking ears, stubbing toes, and causing lovers to embrace and kiss, or judges to rule fairly, betraying soldier’s dreams. Will stopped, extended his arm as though a wand, and again playing Mab’s part, “The sun shines too hot, rest in the shade darling fairies. The evil spirits are banished, and we sing at heaven’s gate. Let us gather our vanities and kneel to the gods,” and he knelt with a lowered head.
The players applauded. Will stood, bowed and walked off.
“What is your name again, Lad.” Browne asked.
Lord Strange, who had been joined during Will’s performance by Lady Strange, rose, “He is William Shakespeare, my children’s tutor. I see he is more gifted in poetic language and dance than I expected from a ploughman’s son. Shakespeare, write down the parts for these players and leave one for yourself. You invented and played well. As I spoke today, do not let your dramatics interfere with your duties. You may continue, Browne,” and he and Lady Strange left the room, as Browne and the players gathered around Will.
(This brief vignette was excerpted from a much-longer scene involving Will in a life-altering tutoring job. It was excerpted from Discovering Will’s Lost Years and the Marlowe-Shakespeare Lost Play: Uncovering 16th and 21st-Century Mystery, Treachery and Obsession)
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