‘I’m thrilled to have caught the final night of this production, it really was something special!’
The time is Elizabethan England and this comedy by Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick, co-written with John O’Farrell, opens energetically as the ensemble bid us ‘Welcome to the Renaissance’ – and a corresponding farewell to the grim Middle Ages – in this musical comedy which pokes fun at the very idea of a musical as well as a satire of everything Shakespeare including whether he actually wrote any of the works.
The Bottom brothers, Nick (Reuben Browne) and Nigel (Charlie Smart), are trying to keep their acting company, which includes Tom Snout (Josh Belward), Robin Starveling Liam Hunand), and Peter Quince (Myles Waby), afloat but the success of their rival, William Shakespeare (Benjamin Stratton), sees their benefactor Lord Clapham (Luke Joseph Breathnach) threaten to withdraw his support, although moneylender Shylock (Jonathan Norman) is in the wings offering to lend a hand.
When Nick’s pro-feminist wife Bea (Beth Bradley) offers to become the breadwinner, he heads in desperation to Soothsayer Alley where he encounters Nostradamus – or rather his nephew Thomas (Tom Watson) – who foretells a future where stories are dramatised in song and dance.
With Shakespeare bewitching the belles Rosalind (Francesca Jasmine) and Viola (Lauren Arney) with his rapier wit, Nigel is penning poetry in his pursuit of Portia (Briana Kelly), although her father, puritan and anti-theatre crusader Brother Jeremiah (Bradley Adam’s), assures him there will be hell to pay.
As Nick’s make-or-break show launches us into a delightful medley, all appears to be going well until the troupe’s new York actor (think about it…) takes off his disguise and reveals himself to be… well, that would be telling but all’s well that ends well as someone once said and we are treated to the very first American musical as the story comes full circle.
Director and choreographer Ewan Jones has certainly held nothing back with this excellent production and its talented troupe, brought together with the assistance of casting director Marc Frankum CDG, certainly hold a candle to the Tony-award winning Broadway original which I had the pleasure of seeing some ten years ago. Whilst Browne, Smart, Stratton, and Watson deservedly get the mentions with leading roles, to a man and a woman, each one of this cast shone tonight and I can’t praise them highly enough in both their individual and ensemble roles.
The icing on the cake was the off-stage live band led by Musical Director Mal Hall on piano and which included flutes/clarinet/saxophone (Andreas Pompe), guitar (Kai Picker and Christian Lauterbach), bass (Stefan Kreuscher), drums (Thomas Elsner), trumpet (Markus Privat), trombone (Andreas Weil), and violin (Anja Geyer-Wohlleben), and was further complemented by Anna Short’s sound design with support from Arundell Music Services, recording engineers Christian Lauterbach and Bernhard Frantsits, and recording studio Schwesternheim Recording.
Stewart J. Charlesworth’s inventive Elizabethan set design adjusted seamlessly as we segued between scenes, and was complimented further by his period perfect costumes which were cleverly designed to facilitate the necessary quick changes that allowed the cast to dazzle in Jones’ many wonderfully choreographed routines, illuminated by lighting designers Jamie Platt and Joe Bloodworth, and which perfectly brought the Tudor period to life.
With superb wordplay and demonstrating both a knowledge and love of Shakespeare and Broadway, the songs are catchy and remain playing in your head long after the production has finished. Gags abound, some obvious, others less so, but ensuring an eclectic appeal to a wide audience. It’s always pleasing when runs are extended and I’m thrilled to have caught the final night of this production, it really was something special!
The English Theatre Frankfurt is the largest English-speaking theatre in continental Europe and after forty plus years, is a major player in the Rhein-Main region’s cultural scene. Further details at www.english-theatre.de
Review Date: 11th April 2026
Star Rating: FIVE