Writer: Shaul Ezer
Director: Jen McGregor
Laura, a research student (Kirsty Eila McIntyre) hallucinates the presence of Christopher Marlowe (Nicholas Thorne), in this entertaining alternative-authorship romp.
An irreverent tone is set from the off, with the Musician (John Kielty) indicating that he’s happy to punctuate the action, but not to act in the story itself. This means the suave and canny Marlowe must turn to Laura to play multiple parts, which she does with gusto.
Adam Buksh completes the cast, playing the part of Moroccan diplomat Ahmed Bilqasim. It’s suggested he may have used the name of an obscure Stratford-upon-Avon property developer called William Shakespeare as a front for his own penning of plays.
Much of the show is good fun, with playful storytelling and banter about various Shakespeare plays. The performers all manage that difficult task of presenting as relaxed and confident, enjoying the humour and sparking off each other, while keeping the show scrupulously on track.
If the pace is good, the action dips slightly in the middle, as it strays from being drama and turns into more of a detailed discussion. Of more interest is the exploration of Marlowe’s possible career as a spy recruited to infiltrate groups of English catholics on behalf of the first Queen Elizabeth.
That Marlowe’s violent death at the age of 29, in the presence of the underworld agent Robert Poley, robbed him of a more impressive legacy, is something most theatre lovers would agree with.
Runs until 19 August 2023 | Image: Contributed
The Reviews Hub Score
Slyly amusing
