Shakespeare in Love at Tower Theatre
A strong synergy among cast members is a key element for a successful show. Add a well-paced performance complete with harmonious singing, some gentle dancing, a dash of duelling, and you have Tower Theatre’s production of Shakespeare in Love. The acclaimed movie by Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard, later adapted for the stage by Lee Hall, presents a fun and emotional tale, weaving poetry, traditional conventions and plot twists worthy of the Bard himself.
William Shakespeare (Christopher Edge) has lost his muse, right when he is running out of time to hand in a commissioned comedy due to be performed before Queen Elizabeth (Victoria Flint). When a makeshift casting session is set up, he discovers a young lad who is the perfect, passionate interpreter for the protagonist of his (still very loose) play. While searching for the boy at the house of a wealthy merchant, he sneaks into a ball – accompanied by his friend Christopher Marlowe (Nvaron R Anderson) – where he catches a glimpse of the merchant’s daughter, Viola de Lesseps (Kizzy Parvin), and falls hopelessly in love. Will a prearranged marriage, scandalous accusations and the insistence on including a pirate character in the script, impede the lovers’ reunion?
The spacious area on the first floor of this local theatre can be daunting to fill in. However, the company manages to cleverly make full use of it, manipulating mechanical parts of the set and props like cardboard walls and sticks to recreate various settings such as a bedroom, the balcony facing the garden, a tavern and Greenwich Palace. The rapid alternation between group scenes and duets keeps the flow lively, occasionally interspersed with musical transitions – entrusted to musical director Vahan Salorian – with the acting group beautifully joining in the singing. The structure allows for a light and comedy-leaning tone, balancing the difficulties and injustices of the love story, which could otherwise weigh heavily on the dramatic side. However, the individual movements of some of the actors are exaggerated and repeated, feeling out of sync.
The colourful costumes add a vibrant dimension to the actions. Towards the end, though, the build-up of the ever-resolving and overly sweet conclusion risks dragging a bit.
Edge is firm and confident in his shoes as Shakespeare, while Collins is the electric presence we can’t have enough of. The snobbery of Lord Wessex is well played by Stephen Deaville.
Amusing and accessible, this ensemble production delivers entertainment that is not only fun to watch, but also appears to have been enjoyable to make.
Cristiana Ferrauti
Photos: Giulia Paratelli
Shakespeare in Love is at Tower Theatre from 19th until 22nd March 2025. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.
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