Summer Shakespeare mounted by well-versed professional pantomime actors Sara Georgie, Gregory Cooper and Nick Tipa was well attended and thoroughly enjoyed.
Relocated from Chingford Park due to gathering storm clouds to the Dunedin North Intermediate hall, the setting lost much of the expected bushy ambience but the overall impact remained undiminished.
Subsequent attendees to the outdoor shows should prepare for rather than be put off by wet grass.
A fast-paced, side-splitting distillation of topically pointed social and political comments, the show fast-tracked through the complete collection of the Bard’s works to make merry of the darkest clouds.
Given the lightning-speed costume changes of wigs and swords, doublets and hose, the challenges of staying in character for the many personages who cross the stage are coupled with the problems of a politically correct super-sensitive world.
Men are veneered with beau-dacity to conceal their idiocy; women are gullible and prone to hysteria; experts are post-eminent; dummies are flung over castle parapets with gay abandon; breasts balloon; and severed heads fly.
The audience, never immune to the comedic jest, are treated second by second to an excellent foray into the eternal wisdoms and riddles of human tragedy and triumphs which make Shakespeare an essential component of all educations.
Director Lara McGregory, producer Kim Morgan, stage manager Sacha McConnon and their crew have excelled themselves in this masterpiece.
The indefatigable Georgie, Cooper and Tipa make the show essential viewing.
Their well-honed craft is replete with saucy repartee, rapid iambic pentameter and tongue-twisting wit.
There is never a foot out of place, never a dummy left hanging, or sword diverted from its true course, and both rapid and slow-motion timing is exquisite.
The audience were convulsed with laughter right down to the final seconds; the applause was thunderous.
