If anyone goes to something called "Shakespeare Bingo” and feels even remotely surprised or disappointed when it turns out to daft, manic and rude, then they need to have a word with themselves. And the word should be “Duh!”
The premise, for which we need to thank the combined genius of Pat McDonagh and Ian Robson, is that a bunch of people perform a truncated (ahem) ‘adaptation’ of a Shakespeare play, in this case “The Comedy of Errors”, while the audience try to spot certain traditional Shakespearean motifs and cross them off on a “Bardo!” card.
Knowing this, what follows turns out to be an hour of studenty good-humour, full of colour and verve. I especially enjoyed all the guys-dressed-as-chicks wearing velvety foam Madonna-style pointy bras, and all the chicks-dressed-as-guys wearing cute little sporran-like velvet codpieces. There was also a lot of fun with plastic macs and wee pails of water. Also in its favour, is a free cup of tea you are given on the way in. Lovely.
You might be wondering, then, why this is only a three-star review. Well, the truth is that, as much as I enjoyed it, I did think it the Bingo aspect of it was over too soon. Also, it might be the venue’s acoustics, but it was difficult to make out the actors’ speeches at times, which again meant that once the Bingo was over, it seemed rather to drag. Great energy, though, and a show that does exactly what it says on the tin.
Times: 1-27 August, 10am