"ELIZABETH REX"

Saw a new play, "Elizabeth Rex" about how the queen sought consolation and

distraction visiting with the Shakespeare players after having commanded

the performance of "As You Like It" because she particularly liked the

strong character of Beatrice (played by a famous

female-impersonator-actor). It was the night before her lover, Essex was

about to be executed for treason, so she might have had mixed feelings.

As the plot developed, she became particularly interested in the actor who

played Beatrice, who challenged her because she had no heart in executing

her (former) lover, Essex. She insisted she had to do it because England

could not tolerate condoning treason. Arguments were mounted that it was

not treason, but a misunderstanding. Essex was trying in his own way to

protect the crown, drawing up a rebellion against some of her evil

advisors. Elizabeth attempted to dismiss the actor's objections, calling

him derogatorily--- a woman. He, in turn, accused her of being too much a

man. She insisted that she must be a man (strong) to preserve England

against her enemies. He interpreted to her that in acting the role of

all-man, she was denying an important part of herself--- Queen Elizabeth

was a woman, after all. In turn, she accused him of losing his essence as a

man by playing the role of women all his life.

Somehow, these challenges got to them and they made a deal that he would

teach her to become a woman and she would teach him to regain his manhood.

You can imagine what follows--- intense drama and biting wit, the power of

the queen versus the power of Shakespeare and the players. Meanwhile,

Shakespeare's own forbidden love was a companion to Essex in the Tower,

also to be executed. That was his longtime friend and benefactor, whose

life was eventually spared because Elizabeth melted a bit and took some

pity on Shakespeare, appreciating his power to give her insight as well as

distraction.

In the end, Elizabeth did not relent, and the execution was signalled by

the sound of a cannon, early in the morning. They had been up all night,

arguing, with other actors getting into the act, and it was clear that

Elizabeth's emotional wall was cracking. She was repeatedly questioned

about going through with the execution. Time was in the essence. At the

sound of the cannon, unlike her previous demeanor, she burst into

uncontrollable sobbing, indicating that she found her womanhood in the end.

In his risky and daring struggle to melt the heart of the queen, the actor

found his manhood.