Fans of the ‘bard of Avon’ will be delighted by the New Theatre’s latest offering, Shakespeare In Love. This stage version of the 1998 motion picture is written by Lee Hall, based on the original screenplay by Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard.
The story begins with Will Shakespeare suffering writers block as he tries to complete the sentence “Shall I compare thee to…”. He’s working on ‘Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate’s Daughter’, but the main drama is happening off-stage. Besides being pressured by his financier, William’s love life is far from fulfilling. Viola de Lesseps, a confident and assertive noblewoman, dreams of acting on stage, despite the ban on women performing. She disguises herself as ‘Thomas Kent’ and successfully auditions. Will is later captivated by the ‘real’ Viola and finds renewed inspiration, ultimately resulting in his masterpiece, Romeo and Juliet.
There is an array of colourful characters in the background. Henslowe is a theatre owner; Ned Alleyn, a regular actor in Shakespeare’s plays; and Lord Wessex has an eye for Viola, who shuns his advances. Even Queen Elizabeth appears, advocating for women’s rights before it became fashionable. All the characters bring emotion and humour to this story, making Shakespeare In Love a perfect mix of fiction and history.
The collaborative script of Norman, Stoppard and Hall is filled with memorable dialogue. Lines such as “You kiss like a nun, there’s no sin, there’s no trespass” and “The kegs and the legs are open on me” had the audience laughing. Queen Elizabeth had a great line: “What a face you have. Like a brass plate on a coffin”. Similarly, the casting scene for the character of Romeo is comically exaggerated, making it one of the play’s most enjoyable moments. William’s choice of actor comes with an unexpected twist which gives the rest of the play ample fodder for humour.
Under the direction of Madeleine Withington, the production is impressive. With a cast of fifteen and creative talent of nine, the stage feels alive with constant movement. There is dance, there is conflict, there is intimacy. Something for everyone! Set design was evocative. The timber beams, occasional mist and variable lighting produced a true Elizabethan-era atmosphere. With actors running in and out of scenes with impressive animation, the feeling of a hectic theatre troupe working under pressure was powerful.
Shakespeare In Love is an entertaining exploration of the theatre, creativity, individuality, identity and the power of inspiration. And love is the greatest inspirer of all!
Shakespeare In Love is at New Theatre, King Street, Newtown until 14 December 2024. Bookings: https://newtheatre.org.au
Paul Kiely
For more of Paul Kiely’s writings on theatre, check out Absolute Theatre
Other reviews you might enjoy:
- Shakespeare in Love (MTC) – theatre review
- William Shakespeare’s Long Lost First Play (Abridged) – theatre review
- The Queen’s Nanny (Ensemble Theatre) – theatre review
Paul Kiely reviews shows in Sydney for www.absolutetheatre.com.au. He joined the team in 2018.
