Love’s Labour’s Lost: Young Actors And A Love Of Shakespeare – Adelaide Fringe Review

Kay Brothers Winery, Sat Feb 14 Love’s Labour’s Lost was performed by The Little Fish, a company made up of ‘young and less young’ performers the youngest on stage today being Harmony Kapsley at 13 years of age. The Little Fish’s aim is to help local young actors find a love of Shakespeare whilst also developing their performance skills. Although we were unable to witness the backdrop of vines across fields at McLaren Vale as intended as the performance was moved inside due to the extreme heat, the cast and crew adapted well to the new performance space and it somehow still seemed quite regal sitting at the court of Prince Ferdinand in the barrel room of the winery. The production was well rounded with some strong performances and music played throughout the show added to the ambience and also helped to introduce other Shakespearean works into the mix. Standout performances were made by Ronald Densley who played Costard the character that gets caught “being in the company of a woman” and also his partner in all things fun, Phoebe Shaw who played dual roles of Maria and Jaquenetta who, as it happens, was that woman. Mark Drury as Berowne understood the text which made his comic timing in the delivery of the lines a joy to watch and listen to. Special mention must be made of Aiken Newnham as Minstrel and Amelia Lorien as Moth and songstress, he for his playing of all the instruments used during the performance and she for her beautiful singing voice. Well done to the rest of the company for today's performance. The Little Fish is a great vehicle for showcasing young performers down south so get along to see their August production of Antony and Cleopatra. Charissa McCluskey-Garcia