Merchant of Stratford

by Maury Zeff

FULL LENGTH: In 1600 plague-ridden Stratford, loan shark and petty criminal—and sometime playwright—William Shakespeare struggles to feed his family and finish his “greatest play ever.” Each Shakespeare family member mourns the death of son Hamnet in their own way—daughter Judith haunted by visions of her dead brother; wife Anne obsessed with protecting her family; actor brother Edmund perceiving reality as one...

FULL LENGTH: In 1600 plague-ridden Stratford, loan shark and petty criminal—and sometime playwright—William Shakespeare struggles to feed his family and finish his “greatest play ever.” Each Shakespeare family member mourns the death of son Hamnet in their own way—daughter Judith haunted by visions of her dead brother; wife Anne obsessed with protecting her family; actor brother Edmund perceiving reality as one endless stage play; and William lost in sheer denial. Against this shattered family backdrop, William must “procure” a wagon of grain, finish his play, and keep at bay Puritan authorities who would imprison him and keep theatres closed for good.

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Merchant of Stratford

Recommended by

  • Michael Tuton: Merchant of Stratford by Maury Zeff
    “

    His son Hamnet is dead. The authorities are onto his crimes. The puritans are after his pen. And maybe worst of all, his brother is an actor. How's Willy gonna get out of this one when his faults are not in his stars but in himself? Love, family and puns.

    His son Hamnet is dead. The authorities are onto his crimes. The puritans are after his pen. And maybe worst of all, his brother is an actor. How's Willy gonna get out of this one when his faults are not in his stars but in himself? Love, family and puns.

    ”
  • Mildred Inez Lewis: Merchant of Stratford by Maury Zeff
    “

    A Zoom performance of this play, selectively chosen for PlayGround-San Francisco's alumni reading series revealed a comedy with beautiful language from Shakespeare and the playwright. Don't just stop at the comedy. There's plenty of insight into the human condition. It questions capitalism, exposes sexism and deals with the travails of art making.

    Note that the reading had a brilliant, multicultural cast. All this play needs are good actors.

    A Zoom performance of this play, selectively chosen for PlayGround-San Francisco's alumni reading series revealed a comedy with beautiful language from Shakespeare and the playwright. Don't just stop at the comedy. There's plenty of insight into the human condition. It questions capitalism, exposes sexism and deals with the travails of art making.

    Note that the reading had a brilliant, multicultural cast. All this play needs are good actors.

    ”
  • Diane Sampson: Merchant of Stratford by Maury Zeff
    “

    I saw a zoom performance of this play and found it enormously entertaining. It's VERY funny and tells an engaging story about a workaholic Shakespeare, his overacting brother, his close to fed-up wife and Judith, their still extant daughter. (There are some amusing minor characters, as well.) All try, in their individual ways, to come to terms with the loss of Hemnet, Judith's twin, and the poignancy of this story element resides comfortably with the comic aspects of the play. Highly recommended.

    I saw a zoom performance of this play and found it enormously entertaining. It's VERY funny and tells an engaging story about a workaholic Shakespeare, his overacting brother, his close to fed-up wife and Judith, their still extant daughter. (There are some amusing minor characters, as well.) All try, in their individual ways, to come to terms with the loss of Hemnet, Judith's twin, and the poignancy of this story element resides comfortably with the comic aspects of the play. Highly recommended.

    ”

Character Information

The roles of MICHAEL THE MILLINER and VALENTINE MOLLOY can be doubled, as both characters are at opposite ends of the power dynamic in this play.
  • William Shakespeare
    A brooding cauldron of anguish, rage, and suppressed grief. A gifted playwright who happens to also be a somewhat slightly less gifted businessman. Embraces life only so that he can make sense of it in his plays. Has no qualms about breaking the law...and the occasional kneecap. Has developed a curious case of amnesia around the events surrounding his son Hamnet's death.
    36
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • Anne Shakespeare
    Desperately protective of her family. Sees her husband's literary obsession as detrimental to her family's well-being. Loves him, but can't forgive him for it. Somewhat destroyed by her son Hamnet's death. She will never again allow the plague or a famine to visit their home.
    44
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Judith Shakespeare
    Younger daughter of William and Anne, surviving twin to Hamnet. Haunted by the specter of her deceased brother. After being exposed to so many of her father's plays, she longs to have the same agency that so many of his characters do. Unfortunately, her age and gender work against this goal in sixteenth century England.
    15
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Edmund Shakespeare
    William Shakespeare's younger brother, which kind of says it all. The first person in history to go around quoting Shakespeare. Ambitious actor, still "developing" his craft. His day will come, but not soon enough for him. Not always sure whether he's Edmund or playing the role of Edmund. All he really wants is his brother's approval.
    20
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • Michael the Milliner
    Just wants to survive this cruel life. He has a surprising love of theatre for a provincial, illiterate hatmaker. Wears an absurdly grand hat.
    20s to 40s
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • Valentine Molloy
    The local constable. Also a devout Puritan. He is offended equally by William's pursuits--criminal and artistic. If he can jail the great playwright of their time, London's theatres likely won't reopen. The thought of curtailing the decadent artist and his decadent art in one act is almost too good to imagine. Piety and dogmatic obedience to the Gospel is the only way he can exert some control over this difficult life.
    30s to 50s
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man

Development History

  • Reading, Theatre 33, 2021
  • Workshop, Theatre 33, 2021
  • Reading, Ross Valley Players RAW Series, 2021
  • Reading, The Klatch Parnassus, 2020
  • Workshop, San Francisco State University, 2019