The Shakespeare Revue
Wylds Farm
until 26th July
Having never attended a show at Wylds Farm prior to attending this performance, I was struck by what a charming rustic venue the setting provides for the Petersfield Shakespeare Festival. Which this performance of The Shakespeare Revue, is part of. The barn is which the performance takes place, is a lovely venue for material of this kind to be performed in. It is pertinent to note that a versatile space means that neither the stage nor the seating is raked, so bear that in mind when selecting seats for a performance.
Prior to attending this show, I was not familiar with The Shakespeare Revue which was first staged 32 years ago in 1994. Although I do have good familiarity with Shakespeare’s most well-known work through English lessons past, I did wonder whether my general knowledge of the bard would be sufficient for me to appreciate and enjoy this production. For those with similar wonderings I would say that you don’t require an in-depth knowledge of Shakespeare to be entertained and come away with a smile on your face. This compilation of comedy sketches, monologues and songs effortlessly bridged with original material offered so much variation. I feel that it offers something for everyone.
The four-part cast of this production Harriet Benson, Alex Blackie, Christopher Hollis and Gina Jamieson are all gifted and versatile performers, seamlessly moving through at times quite rapid material. The transitions between sketches and paces ensure that the audience is never left twiddling their thumbs, so this is an action packed 2 hours (including an interval). The staging is simple, props minimal and for the most part the performers appear in evening dress (with the occasional cloak or hat for added merriment).
There was so much to be enjoyed in this production, but one of my favourite sketches in part one was titled ‘Which Witch’ which was a solo song performed by Harriet Benson. This was delightfully funny and would really strike a chord with anyone with experience in or appreciation of performing arts and casting. In part two the standout number for me was ‘The English Lesson’ which even included audience participation towards the end, the accents adopted by the cast for this song were superb. This was a titillating number based upon the famous French/English language tutoring scene from Henry V. Due to some of the ‘parts’ referred to in the song; it is quite a risqué number so may not be suitable for those who are sensitive to material of this kind.
I really enjoyed the entire experience of this production at Wylds Farm and would recommend that you see what other shows they have scheduled both for this year and for future seasons of the Petersfield Shakespeare Festival.
The Petersfield Shakespeare Festival is playing at Wylds Farm until 26th July 2026.
Reviewer: Lisa Dawn