Writers: Elizabeth Godber and Nick Lane
Director: Paul Robinson
Rather less than more! It soon became obvious that a knowledge of Shakespeare’s original was more likely to inspire confusion than aid understanding. The characters’ names remain, but their nature disappears in a teen-dream of Ibiza in 1999.
The premise is an ingenious shift of Shakespeare’s party of callow young noblemen forswearing women and fighting off (or not) the temptation of a party of similarly noble women in the vicinity. Ferdy and Yvette are to be married and he sets off with his mates to Ibiza for a stag weekend. Meanwhile she is heading to Malaga for her hen party when the flight is cancelled and they accept the alternative – Ibiza!
Elizabeth Godber and Nick Lane retain such plot features as the letters that get confused, but generally head for full-on farce, irreverent, not to say downright rude. From time to time notes of an instrumental introduction break into the dialogue and the ensemble or individuals belt out favourite songs of the era: Going to Ibiza, obviously, but also I Feel like a Woman, I’d Do Anything For Love and so on, all with more or less (that phrase, again) links to the action. The accompanying movement (choreography by Stephanie Dattani), is wild, but well disciplined, raunchy and energetic.
The eight cast members change characters, allegiances and costume at the drop of a hat in Paul Robinson’s on-the-button production, Jess Curtis’ costumes varying from the conventionally attractive to the sexy to the undeniably gross. Timothy Adam Lucas makes a particular impact as Ferdy with his movement and probably the best singing voice on offer while Annie Kirkman matches him vocally and switches between Yvette and a most unlikely Holofernes to great effect.
Thomas Cotran as Berowne retains more of the Shakespearean text than the others and has moments when he could almost be taken seriously, but makes up for it with a wicked calumny on the Spanish police as Dull. Alyce Liburd’s Rosie is full of mischief and, as Moth, she is responsible for much of the fun in the company of Alice Imelda’s Jaquenetta and, especially, Linford Johnson’s cunning Costard, David Kirkbride’s monstrously preening Armado the victim of most of his wiles. Jo Patmore as the unfortunate Boyet charmingly combines glumness and animation.
In the end it’s all a wonderfully silly romp, as quite possibly the original was back in 1591.
Runs until 19th April 2025
The Reviews Hub Score
Wonderfully silly!
