I, Peaseblossom
Shakespeare's outsider fairy now has the stage to himself.
Overview
Acclaimed British actor and writer Tim Crouch has finally been coaxed to New Zealand shores to perform a quirky retelling of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Nights Dream as part of the global programme for Shakespeare Lives. I, Peaseblossom is the story as seen through the eyes of Queen Titania's lowly fairy servant.
A mix of contemporary language and lifted excerpts from the original text, Peaseblossom’s fevered dreams lead the audience through the popular, though often confusing love story – an entanglement between two young couples who have unknowingly wandered into a meddling fairy realm. Originally written for younger audiences, Crouch alters the performance depending on the crowd, hijacking the play to suit different audiences – proof that excellent content and imagination surpasses age.
Crouch’s neglected fairy connects with audiences through his outsider perspective. Relegated to the sidelines in A Midsummer Night’s Dream with just two credited lines, Peaseblossom now has the floor to himself to question Shakespeare’s themes of love and marriage. Crouch is something of a master when it comes to establishing a relationship between audience and character. I, Peaseblossom utilises a mix of improvised stand-up and tightly wound lines that garner emotional reactions. A wholly pitiable character with a supremely open heart, Peaseblossom can’t help but fill the audience with love and laughter – a quality that Tim Crouch says will affect everyone, except the "grinchiest" among us. Perfect for audiences of all ages in the lead up to Christmas.
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