Oli Burton has directed an amusing and entertaining BARD TO THE BONE, as part of the Impro Theatre Festival at the New Theatre in Newtown.
The play is introduced as Shakespeare as you have never seen it before and this introduction is very accurate. It is suggested that audience participation is required however except for briefly at the commencement of the performance, this does not eventuate.
We meet a blacksmith, in fact a very black blacksmith, as he is a Moor played wonderfully well by Jon Williams. An emissary (Marko Mustac) from the Duke has been sent to offer the blacksmith a position in the castle. The emissary tells the audience that this is part of an Equal Employment Opportunity program. The Moor sees this as his opportunity to enter the castle and wreak vengeance on the Duke who had previously invaded his land in Africa.
As this is improvised theatre many aspects of theatre come into play. There is melodrama, physical comedy and a lot of the unexpected. The language is florid and silly, adding to the charm of the play. At one point a lovesick princess proclaims, “Thou hast cleft my heart in twain”. The Moor’s accent ranges from something you would hear in the film SHOWBOAT to Martin Luther King but this adds to the silliness of the evening. Ewan Campbell gives a wonderful performance as El Diablo del Fuego, As he describes himself, “up here for thinking, down there for dancing.” The Duke Of Verona (Michael Gregory) is scheming with El Diable del Fuego to acquire great riches and, “all the land he can see”.
Bryce Halliday provides a deft musical commentary and accompaniment on electric keyboard.
BARD TO THE BONE is a fun production that would appeal to a wide variety of tastes. The Impro Theatre Festival opened at the New Theatre, Newtown on Tuesday July 31st and runs until Saturday 4th August. There is a different play each evening.
© Mark Pigott
Tags; Sydney Theatre Reviews- BARD TO THE BONE, New Theatre Newtown, Oli Burton, Impro Theatre Festival, Jon Williams, Marko Mustac, Ewan Campbell, Michael Gregory, Bryce Halliday, Sydney Arts Guide, Mark Pigott.