If you are looking for a Shakespearean play with lots of laughter and drinks then Sh*tfaced Shakespeare is for you! I mean who would have thought to get one cast member completely and utterly sh*tfaced before performing one of the most well known written plays in history? Well... it was a fabulous idea and made for quite the show!
Personally, I am not the biggest theater goer and do not normally study much of Shakespeare's work so I didn't know what to expect but after reading about who Sh*tfaced Shakespeare was and what they were about, I was immediately intrigued by the modern twist the cast members put on Elizabethan theatre. Our group had the pleasure of watching the cast perform "The Merchant of Venice" at the Leicester Square Theater. Given that this play is already a romantic comedy, Sh*tfaced Shakespeare made a parody out of a comedy making it even more hilarious.
The drunk twist on "The Merchant of Venice" made the entire play unique, humorous, and fun to watch. Leanna Wigginton, playing the role of Jessica, was the chosen cast member of the night. From her unexpected line outbursts to ripping off her clothes, there was always an element of surprise that made it so entertaining. Even with brief knowledge of the play's synopsis beforehand, I never knew what was coming next as the liquor and constant audience involvement added unpredictability to the performance. It was in the audience's hands to queue another drink for Wigginton and hold the bucket for her if anything "went wrong". Engaging the audience and unknowingly pulling individuals up on stage made the play even more unorthodox and comical as they were unexpectedly forced to perform. Additionally, the improvisational skills of the sober cast members was extremely impressive as they had to deal with Wigginton's drunk line mess ups and inappropriate actions all while staying in character. I have done improvisational performances before in my sixth grade drama class and I can say, it's not easy! However, the cast was able to play it off well and did a great job of incorporating all of Jessica's drunk antics into the play.
At some points during the performance, I had wondered if Wigginton was actually that intoxicated or if she was just acting. However, I got affirmation after the show when I overheard two ladies talking, one of which was Wigginton's best friend, and she had confirmed for us that she was, indeed SH*TFACED. Getting that confirmation made the performance even more unique as no single performance will ever be the same. Sh*tfaced Shakespeare was a perfect start to our trip and really set a lighthearted, fun tone to the rest of our time here. It also gave me a good feel for the life here in the United Kingdom. After watching the performance, I found a new love for theatre and Shakespeare and for anyone visiting London, I highly recommend!
No comments:
Post a Comment