Shakespeare Bash’d does it again at Toronto Fringe with its Victory Café location production of Love’s Labour’s Lost, directed by James Wallis.
The young King of Navarre and his three friends swear an oath of devotion to their studies, eschewing all forms of pleasure and recreation, including women. Enter the visiting Princess of France and her three ladies and the he-man’s woman-scorners club is overthrown.
Stand-outs include Jesse Nerenberg as the handsome, earnest and well-meaning young King; Hallie Seline (a very busy lady, also appearing in the rotating cast of 52 Pick-up) as the lovely and witty Princess; Jeff Hanson’s charming rogue Berowne; and Suzette McCanny’s sharp-tongued and playful Rosaline. David Ross is hilariously buffoonish as Don Adriano de Armando; Jade Douris is adorably cheeky as the wise young page Moth; and Christopher Fowler is comically simple as the lovable servant Costard.
Love’s Labour’s Lost brings some sharp-witted, lovelorn Shakespearean shenanigans. And you gotta love how the company uses the space to its full advantage – as an audience member, you can order a pint and some pub grub.
You have two more chances to see Love’s Labour’s Lost: today (July 12) at 7 p.m. and tomorrow (July 13) at 5 p.m. Get there early and you just might score some tix – I hear that there are still some to be had. The show plays upstairs at Victory Café, with the box office outside next door, just north of the patio on Markham Street.
life with more cowbell 