ED2015 4/5 Reviews ED2015 Comedy Reviews

Shit-Faced Shakespeare (Magnificent Bastard Productions)

By Stephanie Gray | Published on Wednesday 12 August 2015

I doubt that when Shakespeare wrote ‘The Merchant of Venice’ he envisioned it performed by a heavily intoxicated man in a gondola clutching an e-cig, but that’s the Fringe for you. The concept of ‘Shit-Faced Shakespeare’ is simple: a different cast member gets intentionally hammered each night, his classically trained colleagues stay sober, and together they attempt to create a piece of serious theatre. Hilarity ensues as the drunk actor causes all sorts of commotion, while the others are torn between letting the chaos unfold and trying to shepherd him through the play in one piece. I don’t really know what actually happened in ‘The Merchant of Venice’, but who wouldn’t forgo education in favour of a good laugh at somebody else’s expense?

Underbelly, until 31 Aug.
tw rating 4/5 | [Stephanie Gray]