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Shakespeare is revered for being a master playwright. However, as pretty as his words are, they do not hold the attention of the masses. Unless someone in majoring in English at university or has a special interest in Shakespeare, people are not inclined o spend time dissecting the text and examining the historical context.
This is why modern adaptations of Shakespeare are so important. When Shakespeare is reimagined in a modern setting, the age old universal truths are redefined in more relatable terms. Baz Luhrmann did a stellar job of it with Romeo + Juliet. Bogan Shakespeare has fine tuned it to the WA palate.
The scene opens in a pub in fair Ellenbrook, frequented by two families, both alike in fervent passion for footy. Alas, they are sworn enemies due to their quintessentially Western Australian grudge – Eagles versus Dockers.
And so begins a hundred minutes of Australian cultural references and witty wordplay that left the audience howling. My favourite was when Lady Capulet, a die hard Eagles supporter, tells her daughter that she was born with a silver spoon in her mouth while Romeo (a Docker’s fan), was born with a wooden one.
I also smiled to myself, seeing Mercutio, Paris and Friar Lawrence depicted by a female cast member. In Shakespeare’s time. men and young boys often dressed as women to play female parts. Whether it’s intentional or not, the reversal of gender roles makes a nice, contemporary flip on the script.
Lord Paris is reimagined as an AFL umpire in this adaption. This inspired decision fits the script so well. There may not be an aristocracy in Perth, so it makes sense to lean into what a crazed footy fan would desire. Of course a crazy fan would want to bribe a match official. In an era when Married at First Sight has warmed audiences to the idea of an arranged marriage, Lady Capulet’s machinations to get an umpire in her pocket reminds us of why we detest the idea of Juliet being with Paris. This is not a marriage of potential love. Juliet is merely a pawn in the Capulets’ campaign for premiership supremacy.
Bogan Shakespeare’s reimagination of Romeo and Juliet isn’t a simple replacement of Shakesperean text with random Strayan phrases. It is a carefully crafted play which customises every scene, every character, every word to fit the Western Australian landscape. While the characters are clearly caricatures, we are laughing because they remind us so much of someone we might know… or maybe even ourselves.
To B, or not to B…. that is the question. When the B stands for Bogan Shakespeare, I wholeheartedly say YES.
Get your thongs on and race to the box office – tickets are selling fast!
Trigger warning: As the general plot of this adaptation is faithful to Shakespeare’s play, suicide is depicted onstage.