Will tells the wild story of young William Shakespeare’s (Laurie Davidson) arrival onto the punk-rock theater scene in 16th century London — the seductive, violent world where his raw talent faced rioting audiences, religious fanatics and raucous side-shows. It’s a contemporary version of Shakespeare’s life, played to a modern soundtrack that exposes all his recklessness, lustful temptations and brilliance.
"“Will,” both reverently faithful and cheekily disloyal, splits the difference. Mr. Pearce clearly loves the language and in true Shakespeare style, he has appropriated plenty of it. But he and his collaborators have chosen a visual style, a vernacular and a soundtrack (heavy on electric guitar, light on hautboy) that captures the gritty, flamboyant swirl of 16th-century London."
"The edgy young theater folk wear leather waistcoats and have safety-pin piercings; the fashionable well-to-do wear slashes of pink eye shadow across their faces and gel their hair into elaborate pompadours."