The Merry Wives of Hay Street
Sat, 21 Aug 1999, 10:24 pmGrant Malcolm4 posts in thread
The Merry Wives of Hay Street
Sat, 21 Aug 1999, 10:24 pmFancy a mug of lovely soup and some fresh bread for only $5? How about if we throw in a free show? This has got to be the best value in town - at least until the Festival street theatre hits Perth in 2000.Handzon Theatre Company is presenting its third (?) lunchtime performance in the Perth Town Hall, Hay Street. Never heard of Handzon? Well what if i mention the names: Jenny Davis, Michael Loney, Vivienne Garret, Polly Low, Rosemary Barr, George Shevstov, Jake Newby and more? That's right, some of the cream of Perth's talent have combined to present this great little venture.The Merry Wives of Hay St has been adapted from Shakespeare's play and directed by Jenny Davis. Jenny has craftily condensed the original plot to 40 minutes and transposed the setting from 16th century Windsor to suburban Dalkieth some time soon.The energetic, slapstick style will be familiar to those that have visited Kings Park on balmy summers' nights and also to anyone that caught the recent "complete works" at the Maj. If you are not familiar with any of these recent productions, then i can warn you to expect some shameless mugging, glorious hamming, endless smutty references, hilarious upstaging and extreme flatulence. Don't expect too much reverence for the Bard!Oddly enough, i can't help feeling that Merry Wives and Complete Works as opposed to Shakeseare in the Park, have actually demonstrated more "respect" for the original texts by not for one moment pretending that they are "doing Shakespeare". Rather they're choosing to have a damn good time doing their own thing - sending him up and have no pretensions to be actually doing the original play any justice.I should mention, quite a few people have commented that the acoustics in the hall rendered the actors inaudible on occasions. I think i heard every word - but i was sitting second row in the middle! Seating is unreserved, so get in early.The show runs twice daily Monday to Friday (with no performances on Tuesdays) 12.10pm and 1.10pm until 27th August. Tickets at the door or through BOCS.
Re: The Merry Wives of Hay Street
Sun, 22 Aug 1999, 05:37 pm> and i'll show you a dark theatreI once attended a show like this, many years ago - when I was trim taught and terrible (a couple of things have changed with time)- We had a rest day in Golder's Green Hipodrome and whent to Soho, as all 14 year olds do, and saw a show!The house was as black as a ...... with no light what so ever. The action took place with a series of fresnel lamps, that diplayed the colour and hue of the actors feelings or whatever. There was not actors only lights. However there was audio of possibly pre-recorded vioces that performed the show and the lights reacted to each as an individual. The antisipation that surely a person would appear went on till the end and a few 1 candle power house lights went on. However, I enjoyed it and speculated at the amount of quids they made from such a small outlay. But it's a bit like putting a light organ on a tape recorder and turning the lights out. I think the house was full, but I could not be sure as there was a number of exits and it took a while for my mind to focus from the rods and cones and accept reality.I can't remember the name of the show, being not what we wanted, as we were more intent on discovering the other and real culture of the area.Joe