Beard Of Avon, The

Amy Freed's contribution to the "who wrote Shakespeare" controversy is a sometimes sharp and witty, sometimes dubious and too-cute comedy that receives an A-level production at its SCR world premiere. Sparkling performances by Mark Harelik (as Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford), Douglas Weston (as Shakespeare) and Nike Doukas (as Queen Elizabeth) help lift the text and make it fly, though not without much flapping of wings.

Freed asks us to believe that Shakespeare was a rube without innate genius who gives up his pastoral life -- and hectoring wife, Anne Hathaway (Rene Augesen) -- for a chance to join a troup of traveling players.  Will goes from spear-carrier to bit player to rewrite man by the time the troupe makes it to London and he is introduced to the Earl. A closet dramatist because of the upper-class stigma attached to theater, the Earl has all the erudition and poetry Will lacks but can't quite structure and finish his plays satisfactorily.  Will is brought in to front for him -- and to do a bit of script-doctoring ("flesh it out, Will").  Next thing you know, Will is not only fixing but writing plays, including one based on an idea by the Queen herself. His request for creative control and public recognition lands him in trouble with his snobbish masters, who aren't about to admit their artistic and personal shortcomings by giving this upstart his due.

In a less-than-credible subplot, Anne goes to London herself and, while disguised in a fright wig and lowcut blouse, sleeps her way into society (she even beds the unsuspecting Will). 

Bawdiness and sprightly language are Freed's long suit, but a heavy dependence on whimsical (and anachronistic) humor take their toll, particularly in the second act when the plot begins to wear thin.  The Beard of Avon could use a rewrite by the country bumpkin himself, Will Shakspere.