What I liked
The Writing: Ryan W-J Smith’s talent at creating a script that feels like a modern-version of a Shakespeare script cannot be denied. This farcical tale that is sort-of like all of the Shakespeare comedies rolled into one is clever, witty and full of laughs—and manages to keep itself in rhyme and meter throughout.
It ESPECIALLY works well in the places where characters appear to break out of the script and are commenting ON the script, the director, their roles and society itself—essentially breaking the fourth wall and supposedly becoming their actual actors….and yet, remain completely in the form and meter of the script. Brilliant moments, those.
The Actors: The actors as a group are fantastic. I want to point out a few that are specifically worth mentioning:
- Megan Barker: Her presence was remarkable on stage and I expect to see much more of her in the years to come. She has exceptional grace and style.
- Faith Kerns: Her moments were bold and fantastic when they came and very, very worth their explosion. One of the highlights of the show for me.
- Katey Zouck: Everything she did I appreciated in her performance. Everything. It was practically flawless.
What I didn't like
For me, the priest part was overly broad in the production—too much so, somehow. TOO broad, too far, too much. Even getting the joke and the intention, it somehow was either too much—or maybe it was just that it was a joke that went on too long. The same repetition of “dirty joke interrupted” when others entered his room, etc. The character just became repetitious for me and stopped being funny, which made my enjoyment of the story stop and start in the latter half.
My overall impression
Having seen Macdeth, I was eager to see whether the comedy performed by the same team would have the same impact on me and be equally as funny. And for the most part, it was. If you’re interested in seeing a great, funny, fantastic show of bawdy, sexual-innuendo filled jokes that weave together a love story that could easily have been told during Shakespeare’s time—come see this show.
It’s a great, fantastic parody of Shakespeare’s comedies—covering the mistaken identities, the goofy and sudden “instant true love” and even the strange and convoluted drug-induced death plans that seem to overwhelm the ideas of love that Shakespeare’s stories abound with. The acting is top-notch (for the most part) and the writing is fantastic—especially when the play “falls apart” and the characters get pissed off at the writer and begin to berate him while still speaking in the appropriate meter. Truly a joy to see when this happens.
The only place it falls short, for me, is strangely in comparison to the other show they perform—and this is perhaps an unfair comparison. Making a bawdy comedy out of Shakespeare’s bawdy comedies is not NEARLY as big of a stretch as it is to make one out of his tragedies. So for me, this play does not feel quite as great an accomplishment as Macdeth—but that is neither the fault of this production, its writing or its talent. Everything here is very, very worth seeing. And if you get a chance to do so—you bloody well should.
