Will and his Wee Willie!

Rating: 2/10 (3 February 2002)

I know it's fiction, but you'd think that they'd get a few things right. Shakespeare lived in Bishopgate outside London at the time he wrote "R&J"; there wasn't any reason to have him living in a rooming house within the city. Burbage's home was The Theatre, which was owned by his father, James; he wouldn't move to The Curtain, which was also owned by his father, until 1597. But, I digress...
Ned Alleyn married Philip Henslowe's step-daughter in 1592, making the men partners in The Rose. Alleyn ran the productions and Henslowe handled the money. Even if they were in trouble, it's unlikely that Burbage would have come to the rescue since James Burbage, literally, kicked Alleyn out of the Burbage company when he accused Burbage of cutting him out of his share of the profits. And the real Alleyn was 6' 7"! But, I digress...
I never bought that this Will Shakespeare wrote the greatest plays in the English language: he is a self-centered, unprincipled, horny jerk for whom everyone is a means to an end. He should have tried out for the British track team, with all the running around he does, instead of torturing us with his delusions of genius! And what's with the Mad Max get-up? But, I digress...
How did Viola learn of the audition when she wasn't at the bar? How did the Queen know Viola was "Master Kent" when she was a last-second replacement for Sam? Why didn't the Nurse investigate the ruckus in Viola's bedroom? Why didn't Wessex break his contract? He could have sued for damages, and De Lesseps would have been ruined. And Will just happened to be in the same church in a desperately-cynical attempt to save his immoral mortal soul Viola was at, praying for HIS immoral mortal soul? Give me a break!
Shakespeare in Love is overrated (and overheated) tripe, complete with plot holes big enough to drive a platoon of tanks through! But, I digress...