The most revered dramaturg of all times becomes the man of the hour through this one-man comedy exploring some of the most interesting aspects about his life and work. Guillermo Nazara shares his views on this new piece currently heading to the Edinburgh Fringe – and reveals if, to discuss this show, he must be cruel, only to be kind.
O happy dagger! This is thy sheath; there rust, and let me die. Boy, if I could get a nickle for every time I’ve thought that during a show. I’m dramatic, okay? And despite my love for the Bard, his refine relationship with words not always aligns with the talents of those who utter them… Poetic, isn’t it? Well, except if said by those whom I’ve mentioned before. Putting my bile aside for one minute (and I think I’m breaking my own record), none of this should concern the people behind this show. Yes, you’ve read right – I just made you waste some precious seconds through a pointless introduction… I told you I couldn’t keep it apart for too long!
Enter Sheldrake on Shakespeare, or the Stratfordian Roast, as I like to call it… Cricket-sounding pause… Yes, I know it’s horrible. Could we move on? Making a short stop at London’s Barons Court Theatre ahead of the Edinburgh Fringe, this stand-up comedy show is a charming, playful giggle on all things Willie – and by that, I meant the author, you perv. From some of the writer’s most famous quotes to several fun facts covering both his professional and (not-so-well-known) personal life, former teacher and current performer James Sheldrake offers us an entertaining, occasionally amusing recount on all the points that constitute the greatest myth in English (and also worldwide) literature.
Probably closer to a light-hearted presentation rather than a one-man play, there’s no doubt about Sheldrake’s knowledge and love for the iconic dramatist – which the script evenly exudes. However, this does not translate into the delivery of its content, which is still in need of further revisions. Beginning with quite a well-chosen, slight preshow idea (the Tannoy system featuring songs from Shakespeare plot-based musicals and finalizing with the soundtrack from the Hollywood classic starring Ralph Fiennes and Gwyneth Paltrow), the text could have drawn inspiration from those predecessors, and what their goal was all about: to find and tell a story, and within it, build the elements to support its structure.
Though entertaining on the whole, we don’t really get much of a feeling of moving forward. Instead, it’s more like being told random details which, had they been outlined in a different, more cohesive way, would certainly have helped the piece to both take off and, most importantly, stand on its own. Unfortunately, this lack of direction prevents the pacing from going anywhere – usually prompting the vibe of being stuck on the same point all over again on numerous times. This is also not aided by the use the flip cards, frequently erasing the sense of spontaneity (either faked or real) that a show like this so much requires.
Sheldrake has, in some manner, caught lightning in a bottle through the piece’s main concept, but there’s still work to do if he wants to cause the thunders to strike. Find the guiding thread that makes him, Sheldrake the character, explore and comment (sometimes with fairly good comedic skills) on the works and experiences that turned the man into a legend. And perhaps, by feeding from what gave him greatness, he could find some room in the same field for himself too. Fueling from Shakespeare’s ageless legacy, we are such stuff as dreams are made on.
Sheldrake on Shakespeare will be playing at the Edinburgh Fringe from 4 to 12 August. Tickets are available on the following link.