much ado cast

Much Ado About Nothing

Oddsocks

Lichfield Garrick

*****

What a performance! Even before 'curtain up' the six talented players of the Oddsocks company were mingling with the audience at Lichfield Garrick, selling programmes and exchanging witty banter. This was going to be no run of the mill presentation of Much Ado About Nothing

The multi-talented cast made up of Andy Barrow, Rebecca Little, Anna Westlake, Joseph Maudsley, Gavin Harrison and Ben Locke all equally impressed with strong and energetic performances.

They appeared to be enjoying performing as much as the audience enjoyed their performances. The action moved on apace as the text of Shakespeare's play was enhanced with clever additions from this versatile troupe of actors.

Not only did each actor take on two or three roles requiring quick costume changes, but they also sang, danced, were their own onstage band and even managed to operate the lights and sound! One of the actors told us in a post show Q&A session ‘we twiddle lots of knobs when we are backstage’

Oodles of comedy, singing, audience participation , and sharp improvisation moved this classic piece from scene to scene with hilarity and pace, engaging the audience from the  initial introductions through to the side splitting finale. We never thought we’d be treated to wonderful renditions of Tainted Love, War, Creep and Holding Out For A Hero in a Shakespeare play, not to mention the dad dancing!

Met with a standing ovation by the audience of eight-to-88- year-olds, this play has been brought bang up to date with clever and witty additions (including a mobile phone dating app!) and reworking of the original script.

For those who think Shakespeare dull, dated, stuffy and 'not their thing’, Oddsocks turn the Bard’s works into something quite unique, accessible and acceptable to all.  Did ‘Will’ ever envisage entrances would be made via a fireman's pole?

 A great night’s entertainment for all ..... and yes , we REALLY DO mean ALL. To 08-06-16.

Rosemary Manjunath and Elizabeth Smith

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