Hi,

We're in Adelaide at last. Last night was Opening Night after a preview on Monday and both shows went really well.

We have the first reviews in - one from the Sydney Fig Tree preview and two from here - and they're looking good.

Here's some sample quotes, or check the whole review by following the links:

From Australian Stage
"The pace rockets along as the three tightly focussed actors clearly relish each role they adopt with playful interpretation."

From yaniblog
"part of what I truly love about this show (and it's predecessor), is the way the two women can switch from Regan and Goneril to Fairy Queen Titania to Lady Macbeth to Anne Boleyn to Cleopatra and make them so distinct and unique with nothing more than their skill as actresses and an army of scarves plus the occasional bit of jewellery. Oh, and a couple of killer corsets.

They also know how to build to a brilliant climax... the two final queens... are amongst the most powerful of the lot... although there really isn't any part of the show that isn't amazing.

I absolutely loved Ferris's brilliant comic timing...(her far too brief turn as a Golum-like Puck is brilliant)... but she can also turn on an intensity, particularly with Lady Macbeth, that was wonderful.

Perry is a powerhouse on stage... embodying everything regal and contained in Elizabeth I, providing a bloody-thirsty Tamora, a haughty (if sadly brief) Titania, three stages of Queen Margaret from several of the Henrys and Richard III and an amazing Queen Katherine pleading for her life from Henry VIII.

Just like last time, I find it very hard to tear myself away from talking about the women to talk about the actor playing all the male roles, but Trumper completely holds his own with these two amazing ladies... often having to become almost invisible while his leading lady shines, which I'm sure if harder than it looks.

Even if you don't consider yourself a Shakespeare fan, I still highly recommend that you check this one out."

From Curtain Call (Sydney Preview)
"The demands on all three actors to jump into different shoes, dispositions and accents are acute, but they do it as easily as changing pyjamas.

A baker’s dozen plays or so are drawn upon, in something of a ‘best bits’ fashion, which is tasty indeed. We get in the full Monty of intrigue, murder, allure, seduction, treachery, passion, betrayal, infidelity and more, while being reminded of just how pivotal Shakespeare’s queens are to his plays and how forceful their characters: think of how his lady fires Macbeth’s equivocating ambition, for example. Or of the vicious hags Lear raised; from hell, apparently.

In a cohesive, attractive, easygoing manner that’s still all too rare, Perry and co reanimate Shakespeare, bringing his still vital, fantastical words back to vibrant life."


Hope to see you at The Bakehouse.