Who’s Who:
Equivocation’s characters—and the historical figures behind them
By Christy Denny |
The characters in Equivocation are all based—to some extent—on actual people. Photo by Jenny Graham. |
Historical figures and events inspired Bill Cain’s Equivocation—but as in any
artistic work, urban legends and Cain’s imagination created certain plot points.
Here’s a look at the truth and fiction of the characters featured in the play.
THE KING’S MEN
The acting troupe formed in 1594 as “Lord Chamberlain’s Men.” In 1603, Britain’s
King James I assumed financial sponsorship of the company, changing its name to “The
King’s Men.”
Shag: We know him as William Shakespeare, but “Shagspeare” is Bill Cain’s
favorite of the many spellings for the name. Shag, about 42 years old during the
events of Equivocation, occasionally acted but was primarily the troupe’s playwright.
Richard: Based on Richard Burbage, he is the managing director of the
company. As in this play, the real Richard ran the troupe with Shakespeare from its
inception. Additionally, Richard played some of Shakespeare’s most famous characters,
including King Lear, Othello, and Hamlet.
Sharpe: This character is inspired by Richard Sharpe, an actor who began
his tenure with The King’s Men as an apprentice portraying female characters. Bill
Cain’s Sharpe is a young, handsome man who is quite aware of his own talent but
extremely dedicated to acting.
Nate: Nathan Field was an actor in The King’s Men. In Equivocation, Nate
is the sensible, level-headed one of the troupe.
Armin: Based on Robert Armin, an actor in The King’s Men who played a
variety of clown/jester roles. The historical Armin did in fact play the Fool in King
Lear as Armin does in this play.
AND…
Judith: Shag’s daughter, who is the twin sister of the deceased Hamnet. In
this play, she and her father have a strained relationship because Shag still mourns
her brother’s death, secretly resenting her for surviving. Though we don’t know the
nature of the real father/daughter relationship, we do know that Shakespeare primarily
lived in London, but kept his wife and children living in Stratford-Upon-Avon.
IN THE ROYAL COURT
King James I: King of England. The son of Mary, Queen of Scots, he was also
King James VI of Scotland. The real James wrote a variety of works, including a book
on the subject of witchcraft, Daemonologie. In Equivocation, James wants Shag to write
a play based on James’s written account of the Gunpowder Plot. And he wants it to have
witches.
Sir Robert Cecil: Both in history and on stage in Bill Cain’s play, Cecil
arranged for James to take the crown after Queen Elizabeth I refused to designate a
successor. Cecil serves as the top royal advisor, wielding great influence upon James’
decisions. Physically, he possesses a short, hunchbacked body. This causes James to
nickname him “Beagle”—again, both on stage and in real life.
Sir Edward Coke: Chief prosecutor in the trials of the Gunpowder Plot
conspirators. Incidentally, he is Cecil’s brother-in-law.
