Melbourne Theatre Company’s Shakespeare in Love

While in the past plays have typically inspired films, the opposite can be said for Melbourne Theatre Company’s Shakespeare in Love. Adapted from the 1998 film of the same title, the Academy-winning spectacular left some big shoes to fill for playwright Lee Hall and director Simon Phillips.

Part speculative fantasy, part historical reenactment, Shakespeare in Love has all makings of a great drama: great love followed by great loss, a ploy for murder and Queen Elizabeth I of England.

The cleverly designed set is minimalistic and moves in circles as the actors perform the tale of a young William Shakespeare who is out of love and lost in the harrows of writer’s block.

With the help of a young Kit Marlowe – whom many scholars believe to be the real Shakespeare – Will painstakingly drafts an early version of his most famous play. During auditions, Will casts a young man who he comes to discover is in fact his object of affection, young lady Viola in disguise. A wealthy romantic whose dream is to be on stage, Viola finds that the only means to do so is to dress as a man.

A passionate affair between Will and Viola ignites, as do the Bard’s writing abilities. What follows is the “creation” of Shakespeare’s masterpiece Romeo and Juliet. The play within the play comes alive when Will and Viola’s romance begins to mirror the same steps as star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet. 

Shakespeare in Love is cheeky, sincere and extravagant, especially where the costumes are concerned.  Though it rarely strays far from the film, the small ensemble cast – many of whom play multiple roles – come together companionably to create something wonderful.

Dog lovers, this might be the play for you: it is also worth mentioning that the highlight of the play is watching the cast act alongside a real dog in three of the scenes. A small slice of the ambition and fun of Shakespeare in Love. 

Shakespeare in Love
Till Saturday, 17 August 2019
Melbourne Theatre Company, 252 Sturt Street, Southbank
mtc.com.au/plays-and-tickets/season-2019/shakespeare-in-love