5 stars from us!

Mullets and tartan flannel abound in this hilarious and engaging adaption of Macbeth, the latter a subtle nod to the original setting of the play while taking it to a place it has never been before. Of all of Shakespeare’s plays, Macbeth is the one that I have seen the most. I have seen it performed in a vineyard, in a school library, and tiny suburban theatres. I’ve seen an all-female cast, a punk rock interpretation, and multiple film adaptations. But I’ve never seen a version which posits the titular Thane of Cawdor as ‘Macca’ the wannabe president of the Port Adelaide Cricket Club.

For a famous tragedy, Macbeth makes a surprisingly great comedy. The laughs come thick and fast from the opening scene. The small cast superbly takes on multiple roles with engaging performances which play on stereotypes without ever feeling like they are punching down. There is a real love for the characters which shines through, even as they murder their way to amusingly minor roles of power.

The WA based BS Productions have clearly done their homework, with SA references which could pass as local, though the brief appearance of a West Coast Eagles gurnsey betrays their roots, and is probably another first for Macbeth adaptations. They also evidently love the source material – despite the local setting and Aussie slang, quotes from the original text pepper the script and sly references will satisfy literature nerds. While there is no need to have seen a more traditional interpretation of the play to enjoy this, some familiarity will make the experience even funnier.

Bogan Shakespeare has promised to return to the Adelaide Fringe, and I can’t wait to see what they might take on next.

Proudly reviewed by Nat Castree