What I liked
Hilarious original take on the comedy. The storylines were effectively well-woven, given that this play has been cut to 70 mins the overall flow was seamless, steady and satisfying. Loved the inmate theme. Perfectly cast. The costuming was subtlely spot-on. THE FISH SCENE IS SO GOOD.
Now to the most important aspect: How F-ing refreshing it is to have zero “male gaze” present for the duration of a Shakespeare play. Zero. See the show, you’ll feel what I mean. I now want to see every Shakespeare play with this same setup! Say Yes Collective, major kudos.
What I didn't like
More time spent clarifying the inmate theme would have been nice. Some lengthier unnecessary moments (specifically monologuing) and a bit confusing of a final monologue with respect to the theme/ story that was cut together. Music was a little weird. More singing? But overall, I’m in love with this little gem of a show.
My overall impression
This show has love smeared all over it. The characters are clear and vibrant, the casting game-changing, the thematic book-ends concise bits of brilliance, the cutting almost perfect, the performances as true and kind and weighty as deserved, and the direction smooth and wonderfully accessible for the space. In other words, a reimagining of a 400-year-old script that would make Hollywood executives have an “aha!” moment.
