This is a mish-mash of facts, rumour, hearsay and gossip! First, there was no such character as the Earl of Wessex (Colin Firth). Second, Viola de Lesseps did not exist! (Gwyneth Paltrow). Third, Christopher Marlowe (Rupert Everett) is seen discussing the part of Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet, which was written in 1596, Marlowe was murdered in 1593! Queen Elizabeth 1 never went to the theatre, the theatre went to her! She was never known to have directly spoken to Shakespeare! The Apothecary, (Tom Wilkinson), would never have been dragged in 'of the street' as it were, the Lord Chamberlain's Men were the most accomplished outfit known, decorum alone would have given the role to a professional. Nor would Wilkinson (Mr Fentiman), have been allowed to be 'the money', the company was paid by the Privy Council. For all that, it is a good story, which sails close to the Shakespeare mark. John Webster, the mouse loving kid, did exist, going on to write gruesome, bloodthirsry epics for the stage, such as 'The Duchess of Malfi' and 'The White Devil', Edward Tilney, Master of the Rolls, a Puritan, loved nothing better than stopping the playhouses over one pretext or another. Edward Alleyn, Ned, (Ben Affleck) became as famous as Shakespeare for his roles in Marlowe's plays at the 'Rose' owned by the impressario and philanthropist Philip Henslowe, (Geoffrey Rush), and, of course Richard Burbage, (Martin Clunes) went on to be the most famous 'Tragedian' of them all, thanks to a murder in Thame in 1597, and the words of William Shakespeare!
