Street Theatre Reviews
THE SHAKESPEARE JUKEBOX - Buxton Drama League
Well loved Fringe regulars The Shakespeare Jukebox made their live return to the stage (or should I say Bowling Green) on a sun-filled summer's evening last night.
Members of the audience and passers by are invited to make a donation to the Buxton Samaritans, choose a scene from the jukebox list and watch the players in action.
Last night the company opened with the ever popular Macbeth's Witches which instantly engaged the audience. There followed pieces from Midsummer Night's Dream, Hamlet, Henry VI, Twelfth Night, Romeo and Juliet. Each of the performers turning their hands to a range of characters and delivering Shakespeare's soliloquies with passion and understated wit.
My favourite scenes though featured a new member of the cast drafted in to allow them to obey Covid 19 rules about social distancing.
Elyse, daughter of Jayne, brought teenage disdain and impatience to her role as the wall between which the lovers Thisbe and Pyramus secretly converse - she had the audience in stitches as she defiantly opened the chink (a V sign) through which the lovers kiss.
But more followed with Mum Jayne getting her own back as Cleopatra berating and physically assaulting the hapless messenger.
Last year the Jukebox made a successful switch to online shows. This year they are performing a mix of live and on line shows. Of the online shows released so far my favourite has got to be the scene from A Midsummer Night's Dream where Helena bemoans the life of a singleton reminiscent of every break-up Friends' Rachel and Monica ever had.
Don't miss the next live performance on Friday 16th July or the latest online offering on 11th July and please support this important local charity.
Carole Garner
