PLAY OFFERS HEVENLY SHAKESPEARE

CHICAGO -- One night about eight years ago, actor/playwright Fredric Stone dreamt he was in heaven auditioning for William Shakespeare. That dream became "Will and Testament (a life after death comedy)," a one-man play in which an actor named Fred meets Shakespeare in a celestial hot tub. God even makes an appearance.

"Will and Testament" will be performed at 10 a.m. matinees Tuesday and Wednesday in Forrest H. Rose Theatre on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University. Tuesday's performance is sold out. Tickets are available for Wednesday's show.

Stone also will lead a workshop titled "An Actor's Approach to Shakespeare: His Characters and Language" at 4 p.m. Tuesday. His appearance takes the place of the Dr. H.O. Grauel Memorial Lecture established last spring.

The play incorporates 12 of Shakespeare's monologues into contemporary dialogue between the actor and the disembodied voices of The Bard and God. The humor arises from the otherworldly situation the Everymanish Fred finds himself in.

Life after death is not so different from life on Earth, in Stone's view. Fred, actor and human being, has been auditioning for Shakespeare and God all along. "The struggle is the same," he says.

Stone's goal in writing "Will and Testament" was to share Shakespeare's brilliance with modern audiences while providing insight into his own career -- that of an actor.

If people associate Shakespeare with academic drudgery it's because of the way he's usually taught, Stone says.

"All you do in high school is analyze these plays that are difficult to read. That leaves a bad taste in your mouth. You think it's esoteric, boring and not relevant."

The contrary is true, Stone says. "He has a way with words that is so poetic and powerful and insightful and universal. That's why he's not dated."

But Stone says the stage is the place to experience Shakespeare, whose plays were only compiled and published after his death.

"Shakespeare was meant to be performed."

Stone is a New York native who appeared on Broadway in "All Over Town" and toured nationally with Zero Mostel in "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum." A resident of Chicago since 1979, he is a member of the Shakespeare Repertory Company of Chicago. His film and TV credits include "Thief" with James Caan, "Crime Story" with Dennis Farina," and "Howard Beach: Making a Case for Murder" with Daniel J. Travanti.

Actors aren't really different from the rest of us, Stone insists. "They're a little more exposed, a little more out there. ... They're willing to take risks in terms of life choices and emotions. It's a risky business."

Like any artist, actors have a need to express themselves. "This is just the form," Stone says. "Musicians do it with an instrument, an artist with a paint brush."