The Book of Will Reviews

LA Splash- Highly Recommended

"...Director Julia Rodriguez-Elliott does an excellent job of bringing the many elements of a complex tale together into a meaningful whole. Of course, she has Gunderson’s superb script and an excellent cast to work with, a cast who are equally strong dealing with personal and environmental/ socioeconomic factors affecting the outcome. Kudos to Rabb and Elliott, as well as their respective and supportive spouses (Trisha Miller and Deborah Strang)."

Stage Scene LA- Highly Recommended

"...A race against time to preserve the words of the world’s greatest playwright before they fade from memory propels Lauren Gunderson’s The Book Of Will, the fascinating, illuminating, crowd-pleasing latest from A Noise Within."

On Stage Los Angeles- Highly Recommended

"...Not being prone to superlatives, this will be an exception with a call to see the play. Celebrate the 400th birthday of the First Folio!"

Showmag- Recommended

"...Although I missed having Freddy Stuart's Burbage around after the first scene, The entire ANW ensemble reminds what a joy it is to have a company of actors who work so seamlessly together. As always, Geoff Elliott is wonderful as the beleaguered Hemmings, with Deborah Strang outstanding as Mistress Hemmings, as well as Shakespeare's widow. The blustery Ben Jonson, played by Alex Morris, adds his imprimatur to the venture when he contributes his celebrated introduction to the folio, and declares, "He was not of an age; but for all time." And, in capturing the spirit of this task, Gunderson has provided not only an entertainment but a compelling lesson in tenacity."

Stage Raw- Highly Recommended

"...Even though we are well aware that Shakespeare's First Folio was successfully published, The Book of Will, Lauren Gunderson's play about the Herculean effort to compile the plays into that folio, is surprisingly suspenseful - a gripping, edge of your seat yarn with enough plot twists for a Masterpiece Mystery episode."

Haines His Way- Recommended

"...There is more tragedy and drama mixed in with the comic shenanigans (mostly from Mahaffy and Alex Morris as the curmudgeonly Poet Laureate Ben Johnson) but finally The First Folio does get published, saving Shakespeare’s plays for future generations. Rabb also gets some laughs with his actor Condell always heartily championing Pericles and getting no enthusiastic response. Director Julia Rodriguez-Elliott has gotten strong performances from her cast. Angela Balogh-Calin has done her usual superb work on the period costumes and Ken Booth has lighted everything perfectly."

Its Not About Me- Highly Recommended

"...I had not been to the A Noise Within theater in Pasadena in five years, so I paid that company a long-overdue return visit last week because the description of their latest show, The Book of Will, sounded promising. And it did indeed live up to my expectations!"

Glamgical- Highly Recommended

"...The Book of Will is a celebration of one of the greatest writers of all time, the Swan of Avon, William Shakespeare. And just like Shakespeare’s plays, putting together the Folio becomes an experience of loss, dedication, and a sacrificial love for such a noble expression called theatre. The survival King’s Men understand that although a performance is a sizzling and titillating experience, it is ephemeral by nature. A book, on the other hand, can transcend centuries and generations."