★★★
“What can this ghost say to what I have achieved.”
The one-man show performed by Ciaron Davis under the direction of Sam Johnston dives into the history of Shakespeare without glorifying him, which is very refreshing. It’s refreshing to see a version of Shakespeare without his ruff and eloquent accent, Davis portrays the rough n’ raw persona very nicely. Writer Michael Barry uses the Bard’s own work to highlight Shakespeare, the person, with the heavy mention of King Lear and William’s father, we learn more about the tortured soul.
The set is abstract but historically accurate, right down to the missing iron bar on the window. It’s entertaining to watch Shakespeare twist and turn within his mind as he’s isolating from the black plague. A parallel many artists faced with our own pandemic.
Holding an audience’s attention for a solid hour can challenge for many actors, but Davis captivates the crowd with pace, comedic timing and touching moments as he explores Shakespeare’s family and the loss of his son, Hamnet.
The theatrical devices used within the show however do confuse the narrative. Having used sound to portray the voices in Shakespeares’ head, and the voices of characters he interacts with in person, Johnston’s choice to have Davis then embody people from Shakespeare’s past is jarring. It makes you question every interaction beforehand as to whether it was all a figment of his imagination.
Mister Shakespeare runs at the Hill Street Theatre until the 27th of August.
Review by Jade Flack
