74 DRAMA
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)
featuring The QEH Shakespeare Company
Following last year’s box office success of The Importance of Being Earnest, the Sixth Form and staff (the ‘part-time’ Company members) once again joined forces to create a performance brimming with laughter and a significant dose of insanity.
Having heard rumours circulating involving a “gangsta’ rap”, I was rather intrigued (if not a little apprehensive) by the supposedly diverse and potentially complex performance to come. Even the programme was lavish: reading of George Naish’s ‘valium addiction’ and James Philpott’s experiences with the ‘Azerbaijan Acting Academy’, the madness and absurdity of the evening was early established. From the deployment of light sabres and secret handshakes to a perfectly choreographed rugby match between the Kings of Shakespeare’s Histories, the Sixth Form cast expertly timed the comic nuance and fast-paced tempo of this unorthodox interpretation of the playwright’s works.
The highlight (and the horror) of the evening’s entertainment was perhaps the much anticipated ‘Othello Rap’, as several of the staff cast members eagerly burst onto the stage - straight into their R&B dance
moves - a potentially disturbing experience for the underprepared audience. In addition, the Headmaster and Deputy Heads made their cross- dressing return to the QEH theatre as the three witches from Macbeth.
The credit, however, must go to the enthusiasm of the Sixth Form cast members, who seemingly effortlessly generated a captivating and simply hilarious piece of theatre. Harry O’Conor and Matt Marrs enthralled with their convincing portrayals of the infamous female characters Juliet and Ophelia respectively, while the melodramatic display of Shakespeare’s Hamlet in the second half was a vibrant and dynamic climax to the performance, as the cast valiantly performed it “faster, even faster” and finally “backwards” !
Russ Cope and the technical team were allowed to have their bit of fun too, cheekily teasing Alfie Reynolds as Hamlet whilst he crawled back and forth across the stage, chasing the ever-changing position of a spotlight, finally declaring the infamous line: “To be or not to be?”. Even the costume department had a predilection for the crazy, apparently raiding the wardrobe of Mini Mouse, as an oversized pink and white polka dot bow tie appeared on stage. Of course, many thanks must go to both of these teams, along with the recognition of the hard work and creative direction of Ms Cawte and Miss Morgan, who make these productions possible.
One of the most hilarious and refined productions to grace the QEH theatre, rendering the audience aching from an evening of non-stop laughter, The QEH Shakespeare Company paid homage to the Bard in style.
Mike Sole
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