CHILDREN’S THEATER REVIEW : The Grove Tells Tales of the Young Bard : ‘William of Stratford’ Commingles Fact, Fiction to Offer Glimpse Into Shakespeare’s Life

Good old Will. Always up for an adventure, and if you got in a scrape, he’d stand by you to the end. And clever? You wouldn’t believe the tales this fellow could spin.

Mark my words. People will remember that William Shakespeare for a good long time. . . .

Like a relative fondly turning the pages of a family scrapbook, “William of Stratford” gives audiences a lovingly embellished glimpse into the life of young William Shakespeare. “William of Stratford,” written and directed by Greg Atkins on a commission from the Grove Shakespeare company, continues through April 25 at the Gem Theatre in Garden Grove.

As viewers will quickly see, “William of Stratford” is no documentary. It is, as Atkins writes in his program notes, a liberal mingling of fact and fiction, mixing “the good and the bad, taking us back to a time of heightened emotions, desires and dreams.” Based on last Saturday night’s performance, it is a richly colored, if sometimes over-flattering, portrait of a young man bound for greatness. And it may give audiences, especially older children and adults unfamiliar with the Bard, a better appreciation of the character behind the words.

To that end, Atkins’ script integrates a number of themes borrowed from some of Shakespeare’s best-known works--a star-cross’d lover yields to her fate, a beleaguered man rails against a greedy establishment--and his characters quote or paraphrase many of the Bard’s best-known lines.

It’s 1580 in Stratford, England, a small town on the Avon where private matters are public knowledge best discussed over an ale--or three--at the local pub. Accompanied by his friend Hamnet (David Tik-tin), young Will (Joseph Foss) is up to one of his favorite pastimes: poaching game on the land of the neighborhood gentry, a risky business made riskier by the presence of one Lodowick Greville (Ron Boussom), a deliciously nasty gamekeeper who tracks the boys, snarling and snapping like a junkyard dog.

Foss’ William is a charming storyteller, using his words the way most people use their hands.They soothe, they taunt, they attack, they caress. Even with Greville on their tail, he laughingly ribs Hamnet about his love for Judith (Shawn Tolleson), a buxom blonde Hamnet has wooed, not surprisingly, with the help of William’s words. Later, he is the sage, spinning tales of charms and fairies or weaving a simple parable to ease his sister’s (Kari D. Pickler) fears or to calm a naive village girl (Angela Eckhard). Later still, his words help him win the love of Anne Hathaway (played handsomely by Polly Firestone), a lady eight years his senior.

William’s love for Anne boots him solidly onto the path toward manhood. After withstanding a brutal whipping from Greville, and sparing Hamnet from one in the process, he strikes out for London, where he ultimately wins fame as a poet and player. This last sequence is one of the script’s few rough spots. Will’s transition from all-around good kid to man of destiny is a tad speedy and sets the stage a little too obviously for “William of Stratford: The Sequel.”

Despite the confines of the Gem’s small stage, and a limited budget, the visual elements of “William of Stratford” are good. Set designer John Peter Jockinsen has shoehorned a surprising variety of settings into the space with good results, supplying everything from a tiny, reed-filled pond for the forest scenes, to a glowing fireplace in the Shakespeare home. Terri L. Holt’s earth-toned costumes and sound designer Donald Peterson Jr.’s period music lend an air of authenticity.

“William of Stratford” marks the beginning of Grove Shakespeare’s “Great Shakes Alive!” program, a yearlong series of special events celebrating the 400th anniversary of his first recorded appearance as a noted dramatist in London. Activities include a “Shakespeare Birthday Party” during the April 23 performance of “William,” a fund-raising “Queen’s Birthday Dinner” on April 25 and a family picnic with Shakespearean entertainment on April 26.

‘William of Stratford’

A Grove Shakespeare production of Greg Atkins’ biographical play. Directed by Greg Atkins. With Ron Boussom, Joseph Foss, David Tik-tin, Angela Eckhard, Kari D. Pickler, Russell Hodgkinson, Polly Firestone, Gary Bell, Greg Rusin, Shawn Tolleson. Sets by John Peter Jockinsen. Lighting by David M. Darwin. Costumes by Terri L. Holt. Sound by Donald Peterson Jr. Performances are Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m.; Saturday at 3 and 7 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. Special group performances are given on Fridays at 11 a.m. Continues through April 25 at the Gem Theatre, 12852 Main St., Garden Grove. Tickets: $9 to $18. (714) 636-7213.