Theatre: Magnificent Bastards Productions: Shit-faced Shakespeare

It's hard to know where to start with a show which is going to be different each performance you see. What is undeniable is that Magnificent Bastard Productions have come up with a winning formula. Take a well known Shakespeare play, some professional actors, and get one of them drunk. It's a gimmick, yes, but it's a gimmick that sells, fascinates and entertains in equal measures.

A compère greets the audience in a fashion that Bill Shakespeare would be proud of and explains the premise of the show. Of course, most of the audience already know, but this serves to make them feel like they are all in on the joke. What follows is an unpredictable, chaotic series of events as old ideas meet new ones as one actor is given, not only an inordinate amount of alcohol, but carte blanche to do what they like on the stage.

Whilst there you can enjoy some impressive Shakespearian ad-libbing and some stellar performances from those cast members who are not inebriated, but the gag of a drunk cast member runs the risk of getting quite old quite quickly. The Shit-faced Shakespeare crew have thought of this and the audience is given the opportunity to make the cast member drink more if they feel the action is not to their liking.

It's brilliantly executed. Some might say too well executed as it raises the questions of where the real risk lies. However, you only need to look at people who have tried and failed to copy or steal this idea to see how hard Magnificent Bastards have worked on this to keep this as entertaining, and yet, as safe as it can be.

The text is heavily and cleverly abridged, which may make it hard to follow if you don't know the play. This seemed not to bother most of the audience who entered into the spirit of the play, pints in hands and smiles on faces. One thing you can guarantee is a highly entertaining and unpredictable evening.

3.5/5 - Bring your friends and make a night of it

Look out for them at Edinburgh Fringe Festival and check out what they are up to on www.magnificentbastard.co.uk


Hear the full Brighton Moon show here:
http://www.mixcloud.com/Brightonmoon/a-dash-through-divine-comedy/