The Beard of Avon - Synopsis - Act Two

Act Two

Through the troupe, Shakspere meets Edward de Vere, who is having a homosexual affair with a young Earl named Henry Wriothesley. When de Vere and Wriothesley visit the theatre, Geoffrey immediately makes advances towards de Vere, but attracts Wriothesley instead. Wriothesley begins an affair with Geoffrey, who decides to retire and become what he refers to as a "Trophy Whore" to Queen Elizabeth's Courtiers. De Vere, as a nobleman, would be ostracized if it were discovered that he writes plays for performances by commoners before the public. He asks Shakspere to pose as a playwright, and to produce his own plays under the name "William Shakespeare". A deal is struck and a writing partnership is formed — to which Shakspere will eventually make considerable contributions. He asks Geoffrey, who by now has made his way up to seducing the Queen herself, to return to the theatre to play the leading ladies. Geoffrey agrees, stating "I was working too hard anyway". Under de Vere's direction, Geoffrey (hilariously) portrays such roles as Ophelia in Hamlet, Cleopatra in Antony and Cleopatra, and Lavinia inTitus Andronicus. Geoffrey persuades Queen Elizabeth to attend the Company's productions, and "Shakespeare" becomes a household name. Anne, meanwhile, has worked her own way into de Vere's bed. While performing Katherina in The Taming of the Shrew, Geoffrey, jealous of Shakspere's popularity with Elizabeth, breaks into a soprano operatic aria, which makes him (literally) walk-off with the show. This infuriates Shakspere, who swears never to write again. Shakspere returns to Stratford to his wife, but is still haunted by the image of Geoffrey singing to him.