Meet William-Henry Ireland, “the original slacker” says the Independent Shakespeare Company. Last night I saw the last performance of this amazing one-person play, the one-person actor being David Melville. He can pull anything off with comic aplomb, perfect timing… But Melville is in his element with this turn around on authenticity. Ireland isn’t stealing other people’s work; he’s selling his own under Shakespeare’s name. Now, he’s no big talent so he’s busted right away. The more authentic aspect of the story is the father-son issues, a son trying anything to please a father (if he is the father…)
This screams out for us to consider what is authentic, and who cares. Language is shared, passed on. Okay, I’m obsessed with this question (see No Words for Love and Famine) but even if you aren’t, and if there’s another opportunity to see this play, GO SEE THIS PLAY! It really is wonderful.
