You get the feeling that Shakespeare himself would probably approve of the riotously fun spin the hilarious crew at Booze & The Bard put on some of his most well-known plays.

Five talented actors, one wheel of fortune (or should that be misfortune?), copious amounts of alcohol, a sprinkling of audience interaction and a whole lotta laughs. Double double, toil and trouble; fire burn and cauldron bubble. I thought Macbeth was supposed to be a tragedy?

Our plucky cast of five got stuck into the action right off the bat, choosing the tribute for the night, who had to down six shots of whiskey (1 like = 1 prayer), before attempting to improvise their way through an hour of more drinking, some acting, the occasional merry jig and/or death scene, and a number of well-delivered monologues. While this reviewer does not encourage overindulgence, having a drink in hand will definitely add to the experience – after all, why should the cast be the ones having all the fun?

A particular standout was the seamless way the cast blended Shakespeare’s text with a more modern interpretation of his words – it felt fresh, irreverent, and helped to streamline the plot, but didn’t drag or hinder the story. The hour-long running time was just right – not too long as to tire out both the cast and the audience, yet not too short that it left you wanting more.

Keeping the plot chugging along was the wheel of (mis)fortune, ably spun by some willing audience members. It was the perfect amount of audience engagement, and the audience was also encouraged to join in on the fun, egging on the actors as the story progressed. They were confident and capable, carrying the show well and handling every change from the wheel with cheeky grace and a well-timed joke or quip.

The show is hilarious, a little bit rude, and has a whole lot of heart. I’m sure it would be just as the Bard intended.