Written by Robert Brustein
Directed by Austin Pendleton
Performed by Abingdon Theatre, U.S.A.
"Richly woven, Brustein's The Last Will is a touching and compelling interpretation of Shakespeare's end of days."
-- Jared Brown, WGBH
"...a sterling world premiere...what a cast..."
-- Ed Siegel, WBUR
"Brisk and compelling...and a final, perfect, heartbreaking gesture."
-- Joel Brown, Boston Globe
The "Dean" of the modern American Theatre, Robert Brustein, Honorary Chairman of this year's festival, brings his latest play straight from the New York stage.
As the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist, William Shakespeare (26 April 1564 (baptized) – 23 April 1616) has been considered England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon". His surviving works, including some collaborations, consist of about 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and several other poems. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright.
Robert Brustein’s famous Trilogy about Shakespeare is The English Channel, Mortal Terror, and The Last Will respectively. The Last Will describes the later years of his life when he went back to Stratford-upon-Avon and how he manages his will. In his will, Shakespeare left the bulk of his large estate to his elder daughter Susanna, but he scarcely mentions his wife, Anne, who was probably entitled to one third of his estate automatically. He did make a point, however, of leaving her "my second best bed", a bequest that has led to much speculation. Some scholars see the bequest as an insult to Anne, since Shakespeare suffers from mind sickness severely so his suspect Anne for adultery with his brother, whereas others believe that the second-best bed would have been the matrimonial bed and therefore rich in significance.
About Abingdon Theatre >>>
Abingdon Theatre Company was founded by five theatre artists with one common goal -- to develop and produce new plays exclusively by American playwrights. In January 1993, a group of professional theatre artists eager for ongoing collaboration and greater control over their creative lives gathered in a brownstone near New York City's Abingdon Square Park for a series of bi-weekly readings of new plays. After a few months of informal meetings, enthusiasm swelled and the artists pooled their theatrical experience to establish an open-door home where they could collaborate, invite their colleagues to join the process, and develop new plays by American playwrights.
Since 1993, Abingdon Theatre Company has developed and produced new plays by American playwrights exclusively. Our actors, directors, designers, producers and staff have collaborated with more than 200 playwrights to develop original plays.
Under the artistic direction of Jan Buttram, the company provides a safe home where playwrights collaborate with supportive theatre artists and receive audience feedback through Abingdon's four-step development process: First Readings, Staged Readings, Workout Labs, Studio and Mainstage Productions.