Shakespeare probably never imagined his work would one day be performed with one of the cast gloriously drunk. And yet here we are.
Sh!t-Faced Shakespeare returns to the Adelaide Fringe with its riotous take on Hamlet, and once again the result is complete theatrical mayhem in the very best way.
The premise is simple. One actor is chosen to be properly intoxicated before the show begins. The rest of the cast must then perform Shakespeare’s classic tragedy while somehow steering the production through whatever chaos unfolds.
On the night I attended, the Queen was the designated drinker. And she was magnificently, spectacularly drunk.
From the moment she appeared on stage, it was clear the evening was heading somewhere delightfully unpredictable. Her timing was gloriously erratic, her interruptions frequent, and her commitment to the chaos absolute. The audience roared with laughter as she gleefully derailed scenes, often leaving her fellow actors scrambling to keep the plot somewhere vaguely on course.
At times it almost felt as though she was pranking the rest of the cast, testing their composure and daring them to stay in character. But the performers handled it all with remarkable professionalism. No matter how wayward the moment became, they managed to gently guide the story back toward Shakespeare’s original path, or at least somewhere in the general direction of it.
Improvisation is the beating heart of this show, and the cast embrace it fully. Quick wit, clever ad-libs and razor-sharp comic timing keep the momentum moving even when the narrative veers spectacularly off script.
One particularly hilarious moment saw a burst of Spice Girls lyrics unexpectedly woven into a scene, proving that even the Bard can apparently coexist with 90s pop.
The production itself is impressively polished. Costumes, set, lighting and sound are all excellent, providing a strong theatrical foundation that contrasts beautifully with the chaos unfolding on stage.
Audience participation also adds to the fun, with one willing crowd member making a cameo appearance that quickly became another highlight of the evening.
Yes, there’s plenty of bawdy humour and the occasional cheeky double entendre, but that playful irreverence is exactly what the show promises. The result is an experience that feels less like watching a traditional Shakespeare performance and more like being swept up in a gloriously unpredictable theatrical party.
The audience loved every minute of it.
Engaging from the very first moment, Sh!t-Faced Shakespeare proves once again that even the Bard himself might have enjoyed a drink or two while watching the madness unfold.
Five stars for a night of theatre that is chaotic, clever and ridiculously fun.
Playing at the Vagabond, in The Garden of Unearthly Delights until Mar 22.
Tickets available here.
