Shakespeare Unscripted, Impro Theatre LA, April 25, 2020 ****

Shakespeare Unscripted 
Impro Theatre LA online 
Sat April 25, 2020
Reviewed by Kate Herbert (Melbourne AU) 
Stars: ****
See link: improtheatre.com/ 
Here’s a review of another improvised play by Impro Theatre LA. This time, it’s Shakespeare Unscripted. K

Madi Goff as Camilla/Ophelia

This one is a delicious combination of cunningly wrought and accurate Shakespearean form and language with comical, parodic allusions and mistakes as gifts. 

In Padua, the Duke Dan O'Connor has two sons. The elder son, Antonio (Paul Rogan), who inherits the Dukedom, is fine-minded and committed to ruling fairly, while the second son, Sebastian (Brian Lohmann), doubts his brother’s capacity to take power and has a villainous desire to usurp the Dukedom.

There are love interests, political intrigues and disguises – all part of Shakespeare style.

One highlight is Rogan as Antonio, who really knows his Shakespeare and delights us with improvised, lyrical, metaphorical descriptions of his love, Camilla (Madi Goff), who is really the high-born Ophelia in disguise.

 

‘The heart is the king of the bodily ship…the admiral of the bodily fleet, and does govern our every decision’, and ‘Her eyes do sparkle with a thousand royal gems…Her smile doth illumine every room.’

 

The other highlight is Lohmann who, as wicked Sebastian, improvises a compelling soliloquy of evil intent and incorporates metaphors, couplets and rhymes into his insidious, demeaning slights against his brother.

‘I do weep for such a ruler who would know not how to wage a war when it need be waged…Where is the steel within the heart of my brother? It is a willow branch that breaks.’

Keep watching, every show is different because it really is all improvised.

By Kate Herbert

Cast
Dan O'Connor - Duke of Padua

Paul Rogan - Antonio

Brian Lohmann- Sebastian  

Kari Coleman - betrothed to Antonio

Madi Goff - Ophelia of Napoli /Camilla

Kelly Holden Bashar - Duchess of Padua

Paul Hungerford - Claudio

Technical Director - Brian Jones

Technical Improviser - Arlo Sanders