Jackie and Kate, two contemporary poetry researchers who know nothing about Shakespeare, save their jobs by claiming to have found a long-lost Shakespeare play: ‘Love’s Labour’s Found.’ But will they be able to concoct a good enough cover story to get away with it as interest in the elusive play grows, or will they, as Jackie fears, get the sack and go to prison for academic fraud?
Love’s Labour’s Found is an endlessly witty production that is titillatingly absurd the whole way through. Writer and Director Tia Thompson demonstrates incredible comedic talents, the premise is comically novel, and the play is littered with wonderfully creative gags. The humour is witty, original, and smoothly integrated — the willingness to embrace the absurd creates a delightful farce. In terms of the actors, it is hard to select a highlight to describe, given the incredible performances across the board. Each character is cartoonishly absurd in their own unique ways, and each performance was masterfully delivered.
Libby Johnson gives a compelling portrayal of Jackie as an earnest and timid decaf tea drinker who grows bolder and more committed to the trick as the play progresses. Rachel Jardine’s depiction of the “so laid back she’s bloody horizontal” Kate is grounded and effortless. The University Dean, aptly named Dean Dean, is played by Max Dixon-Spain, who delivers a marvellous caricature of a ludicrous, out of touch yet ambitious academic official, that is wholly hilarious and absurd from his opening facial expression to his final line of flippant acceptance. Both Emma Hughes (as Sue, the manager) and Charlotte Nicholson (as Kate’s mother) skilfully perform characters that are thoroughly silly yet remain grounded.
The hair and makeup is noteworthy, with a largely naturalistic styling approach that is peppered with tasteful and comical cartoonish details that add to the polished nature of the production. In the pursuit of distinct settings, differentiation between scenes, and being visually interesting, many productions can unfortunately fall into the trap of having too many set changes (even when using minimal set pieces) with the detrimental impact of disrupting the performance. But Love’s Labour’s Found perfectly navigates the balance, creating a wonderfully immersive experience with seamless transitions between varying settings without relentlessly shifting chairs about.
I would highly recommend seeing Newcastle University Theatre Society’s Love’s Labour’s Found for hysterical writing, flawless performances, and an exhilarating hour of farce.
Love’s Labour’s Found is running until 22 August at McEwan Hall at Thistle Theatre at Greenside @ Riddles Court (Venue 16). Buy tickets here.
Image by Peter Flathers, provided to The Student as press material.
