Mother, Maiden And Crone theatre review: Club night chaos
Macbeth’s witches are faced with a disastrous hen do in this delightfully queer, farcical and wild retelling
One of the loosest Macbeth adaptations at the Fringe, Mother, Maiden And Crone follows an evening at a bar which begins with the arrival of a hen do and ends in a foam party fatality. The show, driven by a drag artist and with strong pantomime energy, is bawdy and irreverent. Pastiches of Shakespearean language mesh effectively alongside the shade which is flung mercilessly, while the cast hurry along the action with panache and poetry.
Ironically, for a piece so anarchic and extravagant, its weakness is the lack of structure and discipline. The ensemble embodies caricatures (the twink, the bridezilla, the ageing cool DJ, and so on) but bring sympathy to most of them, and the rousing finale speech describing a death is brilliantly paced and comic. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always build its scenarios effectively and the plot wanders off (the big threat facing the club is presented and then becomes irrelevant). Episodes collide with each other, leaving too much to be shoved into later scenes. Despite the weak dramaturgy, it’s a fun ride; cheeky, sporadically incisive in wit and character, romping through its night-time slot with an appropriate Dionysian atmosphere.
Mother, Maiden And Crone, Bedlam Theatre, until 30 August, 9.30pm.