THE SHAKESPEARE REVUE. To 31 December.
London
THE SHAKESPEARE REVUE
devised by Christopher Luscombe and Malcolm McKee
New End Theatre 27 New End NW3 1JD To 31 December 2006
Tue-Sat 7.30pm Sun 3.30pm
Runs 2hr One interval
TICKETS: 0870 033 2733
www.newendtheatre.co.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 24 December
Pleasant moments among varied material.
More books have been written about Shakespeare than any other literary or dramatic figure. There are more than a few sketches and songs too, a number of them gathered into this entertainment, first presented by the Royal Shakespeare Company and now revived over Christmas at New End by Antic Disposition theatre company.
It’s a pleasant, fitfully-enjoyable compilation, opening with Bernard Levin’s anthology of Bard-speak in everyday use, and containing a high proportion of musical pieces. Inevitably, writers have taken similar approaches to Shakespeare for revue purposes; I counted 3 sketches built around the idea of tainting texts with popular material and styles.
While books have been written about the Bard’s own rudery, Adele Anderson and Dillie Keane thicken the sauciness in the scene from Henry V where Henry’s future wife, a French princess, takes a crash-course in English. ‘The English Lesson’ also allows a competitive seasonal singalong, with Franglais pronunciation and a strong tune adding to the merriment.
Alan Melville, a noted revue-writer of the mid-20th century, (with music by Charles Zwar) takes the professional angle; ‘Which Witch’ shows a failing actress trying to cling to some dignity as she considers playing in a touring Macbeth. Melville’s less happy with his other professional’s-eye approach, about a rep actress who can’t remember which heroine she’s supposed to be playing.
Older material easily loses out to changing styles of humour, one reason there’s plenty here that’s tolerably pleasant but never transcends performances where musical contributions are generally stronger than speech. Even Victoria Wood’s ridiculous amateur director ‘Giving Notes’ never quite rises from amusing to hilarious.
Leaving no doubt what’s meant by falling in love, Cole Porter’s ‘Let’s Do It’ provides some smartly sexual Shakespearean snapshots, as it should with 7 suppliers of additional lyrics. But serious moments make a mark too; Stephen Sondheim’s setting of the Cymbeline dirge, or co-deviser Malcolm McKee’s concluding song ‘Put Out the Light’, the words from Othello introducing a moving Shakespearean farewell.
No great Shakes, maybe, but with enough to provide something for most Will-alert audience members, a nice enough indulgence alongside the mince-pies and Christmas pud.
Cast: Francesca Casey, Helen Evans, Matthew Stevens, Nicholas White & Nicolas Sagar (Piano)
Directors: John Risebero, Ben Horslen
Designer: John Risebero
Lighting: Howard Hudson
Musical Director: Nicolas Sagar
Choreographer: Matthew Stevens
2006-12-26 00:55:50