The Shakespeare Conspiracy

Once you get past the initial let's-hook-the-audience spiel (in which words like "plot" and "conspiracy" are bandied about, and the good folk of Stratford-upon-Avon are cast as secret society members hewing to the standard Shakespeare story to ensure tourist coin flowing into the village coffers), then this reasoned inquiry into the authorship of the plays and sonnets credited to one William Shakespeare provides serious mind granola on which to chew. Narrated by noted actor Sir Derek Jacobi (no stranger to the Bard's work), The Shakespeare Conspiracy explores the currently trendy argument (first advanced in the 1920s, but really gaining notoriety in the 1980s and 1990s) that Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, penned the works we today associate with the biographically-challenged William Shakespeare. Here, several Oxfordians offer evidence against "Shakspere" and in favor of their man, notably the age-old contention that a commoner could not have written the plays, with their tremendous insight not only into the human condition, but--more importantly--the detailed workings of the aristocratic class and professions. Among the key pieces of evidence trotted out are de Vere's Bible, which features underlined passages that would later crop up in the plays; a plausible origination for the character of Shylock in a merchant named Lock, with whom de Vere had an unfavorable experience; and the disturbing near complete lack of reference to the plays or sonnets in any official documents pertaining to Shakespeare himself. While some of the Stratfordian counter-arguments are presented here, the most damning is not mentioned: namely, that we have a fair sampling of de Vere's actual signed poetry, and...ahem...it just ain't that good. Given the renascent interest in Shakespeare thanks to Kenneth Branagh and Hollywood, this interesting documentary (which garnered writer-director Michael Peer several European awards) combining scholarly assessment, generous film clips from the plays, and on-location footage, is sure to be popular. Recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (R. Pitman)