Shakespeare in Love - Altrincham Garrick

I HAVE been reviewing Garrick productions for nearly 40 years - I really am THAT old - and Shakespeare in Love gave me one of the best evenings I’ve ever had at this theatre.

Under the direction of Joseph Meighan, it captures perfectly the bawdy lawlessness of Elizabethan London, with the entire cast enjoying every minute of their time on stage.

We have two engaging, charismatic and likeable leads in Loui Quelcutti and Clara Alexandra-Booker who play out a purely fictional romance between Shakespeare and Viola de Lesseps, who capture the magic of the movie of the same name quite brilliantly.

The play begins with the Bard struggling for inspiration for Romeo and Juliet and we see him slaving over a hot quill, only to be bowled over by the lovely Viola, who becomes his muse. The love scenes have a tenderness to them that is certainly touching.

There are many other acting performances to enjoy including Connor J Ryan as the scandalously under performed Christopher Marlowe, Tom Broughton as Wessex and a show stealing performance from a four legged and furry thespian called Ness as Spot the dog.

It would be wrong not to hand out the plaudits to set designer Trevor McKie or Mike Shaw and his wardrobe team, for really giving us as flavour of the Eliizabethan era with their respective creations or musical director Mark Goggins for the musical element of the evening.

One thing I liked about Shakespeare in Love is the way it humanised the Bard, who lived, loved and even got drunk.

I hope some people don’t stay away because they’re fearful you need to know your Shakespeare to fully appreciate a feel good tale that offers a temporary reprieve from the grim times in which we live today.

A production you’re sure to full in love with and a high water mark for Altrincham Garrick.

Unmissable.

Until February 11. The box office is on 0161 928 1677. Star rating - *****

Photo - Nick Ogden.