Lisa Clatworthy enjoys a laugh-a-minute show celebrating the 400th anniversary of the Bard’s death
It’s Shakespeare, Jim, but not as you know it. The Shakespeare Revue is indeed about Shakespeare, but it’s certainly not as you expect to hear his words. The show takes the Bard and his world famous plays as its muse, but it then proceeds to play with those words, set them to music and make fun of our obsession with ‘our greatest playwright’.
If memories of school English lessons spent discussing the Bard’s intentions mean you’re no fan of Shakespeare’s plays, don’t write the Revue off. You don’t need to remember anything from those days, or even know the plot of any of the plays, to enjoy it. In fact, this show is a great way for fans of the likes of Monty Python, Fry and Laurie, Victoria Wood, Cole Porter and Alan Bennett to enjoy some Shakespeare. It’s two hours of turns and acts by some of our best composers, writers and comedians, each taking Shakespeare as their starting point, but with their own comedic talents coming to the fore.
“A great way for fans of Monty Python, Fry and Laurie, Victoria Wood and Alan Bennett to enjoy Shakespeare”
With just five actors and a pianist on stage, The Revue skips along, taking in opera, music hall skits, tap dancing and plenty of Shakespeare quotes. From wondering how the Elizabethans did without Velcro through casting Victoria Beckham as Yorick to saving the plays from Amazon, every crevice and corner of Shakespeare’s complete works is brought up to date and mined for laughs.
So say good riddance to your sofa for the evening and book your seats at Cambridge Arts Theatre for some mirth and merriment.
The Shakespeare Revue is at Cambridge Arts Theatre until 21 August.
Interested? Read more here.
