Shit-Faced Shakespeare – A Midsummer Night’s Dream: I Mean… What Could Possibly Go Wrong? ~ Adelaide Fringe 2019 Review        

 [COMEDY/THEATRE ~ AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE ~ GBR] Gluttony – The May Wirth, Wed 6 Mar. This is a rollicking and boisterous pantomime rendition of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. With only five actors (and an MC) there is obviously a lot left out of Shakespeare’s original script. But while the cast are professional Shakespearean actors, being true to the Bard is not the point of this show. This is about having bawdy fun to which the actors and audience can all contribute. The rowdier and more enthusiastic the audience becomes the sillier and more provocative the cast performs. Drunkenness features prominently, given that one cast member every night is apparently plied with enough beers and wine to make them shit-faced for the duration of the show. Tonight the MC tells us that one cast member has consumed six cans of beer and an entire bottle of Prosecco prior to appearing on stage. Should there be any danger of said cast member sobering up, two audience members are tasked with interjecting at any time to make the poor actor take on another drink… just to add to the potential mayhem. The result is obviously a lot of ad lib silliness and quick one-liners that even have the cast and crew laughing at times. Improvisation is a central element to this show, as is audience participation, and with a different cast member being intoxicated each night no two performances would be exactly the same. But this is always going to be a fun and entertaining show. Our inebriate tonight was Demetrius, who delivers some hilarious lines, while at the same time being able to stay in character and deliver lengthy passages of Shakespeare, albeit going off the rails at times. I’m sure it was not Shakespeare’s intention to have his actors hopping around the stage as kangaroos… The closest thing you’ll get to being in the pit of the original Globe Theatre! Slapstick, pandemonium, and excellent fun… While being shit-faced yourself is not recommended, perhaps having a few beverages under your belt might add to your enjoyment of the chaos as it unfolds. 4 stars Cathy Tune Shit-Faced Shakespeare: A Midsummer Night’s Dream continues at Gluttony – The May Wirth from 9.30pm until Sun 17 Mar. Book at FringeTIX on 1300 621 255 or adelaidefringe.com.au. Click HERE to purchase your tickets. #ADLfringe #GluttonyFringe #AList