A fast tip of the cap to West End Players Guild’s Equivocation, which I was able to see only very close to the end of the run – at this writing, there’s one more show, the afternoon of October 6.
It’s a work of speculation, based on what might have happened had Robert Cecil (the second of that name who served the British throne, and progenitor of the prime minister also of the same name), chief minister to King James I, commissioned a play based on Guy Fawkes and the unsuccessful Gunpowder Plot from William “Shagspeare” of the Globe Theatre. It’s not a short play, running close to three hours. But it keeps the audience interested, complicated enough to hold attention and moving quickly enough that the time passes nicely.
Tom Kopp directed the Bill Cain play, and has pulled together a well-tuned group of players, with four of the six playing multiple characters. Shag, as the playwright we’re watching is known, is Roger Erb, easy and comfortable with the weight of such a role. I enjoyed Reginald Pierre as the more-or-less head of the Globe members and as the Jesuit provincial superior who may or may have not been in on the plot. Appearing as Robert Cecil and Nate, another member of the company was John Wolbers, doing fine work.
George Shea gives us a very useful set that comes in quite handy in the second act, and Susan Kopp’s sound design and original music were pleasing.
Hurry – Sunday, tomorrow, curtain is 2 p.m. I’m sorry I couldn’t get there sooner to urge more people to come.
Equivocation
through October 6
West End Players Guild
Union Avenue Christian Church
(enter from Enright Avenue)