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This is it! Sydney’s newest hit! Don’t miss it! THE LOVERS is at the Sydney Opera House until November 20.
Bell Shakespeare Company has created a BIG musical out of A Midsummer’s Night Dream. Using the lovers Hermia, Lysander, Helena and Demetrius, with the King of the Fairies Oberon, and spritely Puck, the writer and composer Laura Murphy has created a marvellous musical. Shakespeare wrote the comedy based on mistaken identity in 1596, but it resounds in 2022 with this show’s modern beats and pop songs. The language is contemporary, with short interspersions of Shakespeare’s words. The costumes switch between then and now. The fast-paced dancing is definitely non-Shakespearean.
The stage is set with a large statue of Shakespeare with lipstick kiss marks over his clothes. A black and white image of the Parthenon is on the back wall. The various subplots between two pairs of potential lovers and the fairies begins, as they elope and chase into the forest of large pink trees, floating around and up, covered in multiple lights changing colour with the mood.
The singing (28 songs) and dancing just keep coming from the amazingly talented cast and band. The songs are cheeky. Quips abound, as do contemporary references (Bill and Hilary Clinton). The unrequited love bits (i.e. desperation for sex) are hilarious. Love, jealousy, marriage, misunderstandings … and what’s not modern about that?
Creator Laura Murphy says. “I wanted to create a musical that demystified Shakespeare for young people.” She has succeeded in spades. For once, the audience members weren’t all over 50. The Playhouse was packed with excited young people, as well as older people. This musical can be enjoyed by all age groups (over 14). There was a standing ovation from the enthusiastic audience.
The cast and creatives are outstanding. Puck is played by Monique Sallé. What a Puck! She is wonderfully agile, has a great sense of comedic interplay, and has one of those faces that make you smile. The entire cast looked like they were having fun. Natalie Abbott is Helena, Blake Appleqvist is Demetrius, Stellar Perry is Oberon, Brittanie Shipway is Hermia and Jerrod Smith is Lysander – all big bold singers with a terrific sense of comic timing.
The band members are Konrad Ball, Cypress Bartlett, Rex Goh and Amanda Jenkins. The brilliant set and costumes by Marg Horwell are so cool. Magic lighting by Trent Suidgeest. Zippy choreography by Yvette Lee. All under the direction of Shaun Rennie, with musical direction by Andrew Worboys. And the rest of the crew behind the scenes make this show big and bold.
Everyone finds their own meaning in A Midsummer’s Night Dream. This version, THE LOVERS, doesn’t need a meaning. It’s a hit! It’s fun! It’s full of super-talented people.
THE LOVERS, produced by Bell Shakespeare Company, plays at the Playhouse in the Sydney Opera House until November 20. Don’t miss it.
https://www.bellshakespeare.com.au/the-lovers
Photography by Ben Apfelbaum
