Sometimes, you're lucky enough to see a groundbreaking or life changing performance. It might be a single actor giving his or her all to the role. Or it might be an ensemble that works so well together, you lose yourself entirely in their make believe. And that's what happened when we went to see The Propeller company perform Twelfth Night and Taming of the Shrew.
The Propeller theatre company are an all male troupe, who 'do' Shakespeare as it was done in Shakespeare's time. And, it turns out, do it very very well.
We first saw Twelfth Night, a comedy of mistaken identities, drunken cavorting and unrequited love. Plenty of laughs, often involving the debauched activities of Sir Toby Belch, his chum, his floozy and his fool. The scene in the garden is just hysterical! Chris Myles' Malvolio is a sight to be seen having taken 'cross gartering' to a new level... This is then balanced against the touching scenes between Viola/Cesario and Duke Orsino and the Countess Olivia and Viola/Cesario. As the lovelorn Viola, Joseph Chance broke my heart and I wanted it never to end.
The music is provided by the ensemble themselves, and becomes part of the action on stage rather than something separate. Wearing white masks, the ensemble are musicians, statues, props and in my mind somewhat similar to the chorus in Ancient Greek plays.
We left that night, delighted that we were to return the next for the Taming.
Like perhaps a lot of people, my experience of Taming of the Shrew was a mix of Kiss Me Kate and 10 Things I Hate About You. So I was quite unprepared for the drama.
Vince Leigh went from the piteous drunk, Sir Toby Belch, to conniving suitor Petruchio overnight. And never have I been so appalled by and attracted to a man at the same time. His violence and cruelty to Katherine made the audience squirm, but I'm pretty sure I wasn't the only one getting pretty hot around the décolletage whenever he was on stage.
There are laughs a plenty too - the bard is the king of farce and these boys were definitely up for it as well. Arthur Wilson gave a fabulously trashy performance as favourite younger daughter Bianca, flirting away with her 'tutors'.
But for me the relationship between the feisty Katherine and Petruchio stole the show. Dan Wheeler gave us a gothic Kate, intelligent and angry, who is driven to despair by her ruthless husband. To watch her lose her will and defiance and bow to her 'lord' was uncomfortable for the audience. It affected me deeply - so deeply that it inspired me to write this blog.
The Propeller Theatre are currently touring with Twelfth Night and Taming of the Shrew. If they are coming anywhere near you, I heartily recommend that you go. You will not be disappointed.
http://propeller.org.uk/
