- Will Wilhelm & Brannon Bowers
Will is a trans actor seeking purpose and belonging, despite not seeing their story reflected in media or history. In their most desperate hour, they hold a seance to summon one of the oldest and queerest playwrights of the English language – William Shakespeare! The two are becoming total besties and Will invites you to an impromptu party celebrating the new friendship. Join Will and Will as they reclaim the Bard’s old plays in all of their original homoerotic, cross-dressing, gender fluid glory. But to meet the guest of honour, we must perform the seance again, together.
Gender Play, or what you Will promises a mystical journey of queer joy, laughter, tarot and self-discovery through the classics.
5 STARS “A tour de force and a must-see! … captivating” – Around The Town Chicago
Healing for the soul. An absolute joy.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Will is an absolute delight and a very engaging performer. I love how they revisit familiar scenes from Shakespeare through a very original lens. A must see for fans of Shakespeare as well as for people like me who generally find Shakespeare boring and stuffy – Gender Play is anything but!
5⭐️
Before the show even started, I could tell it was full of care, from the pre-show chat, the set design, and atmosphere! The show was brilliant, encouraging laughter, connection, and curiousity. This show was an invitation to play, in many levels. Brilliant writing, acting, and audience involvement. Shoutout to the lighting designers and technicians – this beautiful show was beautiful, thanks to you. A fringe delight.
Will’s magnetic stage presence and charisma make for a truly captivating performance.
This show was brilliant on SO MANY LEVELS! Fantastic acting (their Shakespeare chops are on point) but so much humor and whimsy and magic and FUN. Loved every second. Winnipeg – you are in for a TREAT.
Will is a phenomenal performer with a true gift for connecting with their audience. Brilliant readings on Shakespeare interpreted with personal connections. So much joy and love in this show alongside stunning talent both in conception and in delivery.
I have been going to fringe for nearly a decade. Every year there are a few shows that I consider five stars. Those are the shows that holds your every moment. The ones you remember and can reflect upon. This show is one of those. Will delivers. Exceptional. Go and see. You won’t regret it.
5 stars isn’t enough. Absolutely amazing performance that keeps you mesmerized the whole time. This performer has an aura that is magnetic and drew me in to every story and sonnet. A must see for the soul.
5 STARS. I wish I could get a script book of this play, so I could read and re-read Will’s wisdom and humour until it sunk into the depths of my soul and hummed through the back of my mind every day. As it is, my soul won’t forget this show. Besides, half the beauty of it is Will’s magnetic performance and ability to connect with their audience, just I suppose as a written script (such as Shakespeare’s) can only really find life and breath by being spoken and shared.
Even if you don’t know much about Shakespeare I can recommend this show anyway, just for its exploration of how art makes us think and feel and how storytelling is imbued into our essences as humans. Gender Play is a beautiful and hilarious deep-dive into the ways we connect with each other as humans, how we express ourselves, and the legacy and impact of art. If you’re not sure if this show is right for you . . . give it a try anyway. I laughed, I cried, I danced*, and I felt my reserves of empathy slowly refill – both for others and for myself. Will is a delightful human with an incredible ability to speak to and with people. Welcome to Winnipeg, Will!
*There was a dance break (or stretch break!) halfway through the show, which was a brilliant way to give the audience a breather and let us get out of our seats to reconnect with our bodies (and with other audience members!). Genius!