A comic and incisive imagining of Shakespeare's Heroines in modern life by a promising young cast, says Brooke Theis
The Tickled Gecko theatre company really brightened up a rainy Tuesday evening. The Back Room of the Star Inn was the perfect setting to enjoy the performance, with the lingering scent of freshly popped popcorn dense in the air and a hot chocolate in my hands (an order which proved divisive at the bar), I was treated to an enjoyable evening of comical theatre.
The production of Heroines, written by cast-member Maddie O’Brien, is an imagining of what life was like for the Shakespearean heroines after the plays had finished. The play consisted of seven monologues: one from each character as they broke away from the party setting connecting them all. This propelled the action well, and demonstrated real discipline as the remainder of the cast froze for the duration of each monologue.
We saw Queen Titania handling the tribulations of infertility, Olivia grappling with her sexuality, Viola with the issues of gendered dressing, Kate managing the pressures of a controlling husband in a loveless marriage, while Helena and Hermia tackled friendship issues and the complications of inter-marital affairs. Each performance administered their individual issue in an intimate, revealing fashion, providing comic relief where appropriate. Particularly impressive was O’Brien’s performances as Olivia and Bianca: both were commanding and dynamic, which entirely engaged the audience. Likewise, Sam Jarvis as Helena delivered a natural and nuanced depiction.
While both witty and pointed in tackling some important female issues, there were some inconsistencies with the Shakespearean plots. This was slightly distracting, but was not reductive to the success of the performances.
With such a young cast, this was an encouraging insight in to the future promise of the next generation of British theatre/comedy.
The Guildford Fringe Festival runs until July 30 and is packed with theatre, comedy, cabaret and music. Tickets are very reasonably priced and many events are free! For more information and tickets, visit: guildfordfringefestival.com
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