Created by Jayson McDonald
Produced by Jonathan Paterson, RibbitRePublic Theatre/Plissken Productions | Vancouver, BC
Review by Barb Popel
45 mins / 14+ / Comedy, Shakespeare
The famous quotes came so fast and furious in this glorious mashup of popular quotes from Shakespeare that I gave up trying to take notes. I just sat back and enjoyed the inspired verbal cut and thrust, along with the rest of the hooting and guffawing audience.
Iago and Hamlet together? But aren’t they characters from two of the Bard’s most famous tragedies? Wicked Iago engineers the noble Moor’s downfall in Othello and vacillating Hamlet is, well, in Hamlet. But in Jayson McDonald’s witty Fringe treat IAGO vs HAMLET, the two characters meet when they both book the same rehearsal space.
Rod Peter Jr. and Jonathan Paterson in IAGO VS HAMLET. Photo by Nadya G.
There follows the rapid but smooth delivery of phrases, couplets and soliloquies from the aforementioned two plays plus many other oft-performed Shakespeare pieces. I counted Romeo and Juliet, Anthony and Cleopatra, the Scottish Play, Henry V, possibly The Merchant of Venice — and every once in awhile Iago (Jonathan Paterson) or Hamlet (Rod Peter) would switch into 2025 vernacular.
We even learn that Hamlet’s heart contains naught but “puppies, kittens, and rainbows.” There are also hilarious asides – you know, when the main character talks to himself, AKA addresses the audience, to describe what he’s thinking and his motives. For example, Hamlet’s “To be or not to be” soliloquy.
Rod Peter Jr. and Jonathan Paterson in IAGO VS HAMLET. Photo by Nadya G.
Fairly soon, each man is scheming against the other, so of course there’s a duel and the longest, funniest death scene it’s ever been my privilege to see.
If you have even a slight knowledge of Shakespeare’s plays (the English language is littered with phrases drawn from his plays), I’m sure you’ll enjoy IAGO vs HAMLET immensely. If you know nothing at all about Shakespeare, well, go anyway – there’s a great death scene!
IAGO VS HAMLET is playing at Arts Court Theatre from June 12–22. Tickets are $14 plus service fees at the Fringe box office (3rd floor, Arts Court, 2 Daly Ave.), and at the the three satellite box offices (LabO in the Ottawa Art Gallery, Fringe Courtyard, 67 Nicholas St and La Nouvelle Scène). Five and ten Show Passes are also available. Visit the Ottawa Fringe Festival’s website for the show’s schedule and check out their online schedule here.
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