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Ros Barber’s verse and its adaptation as a stage play, has won praise and awards. It has received some harsh criticism as well as rave reviews.
The story has been described as fascinating and ingenious. It has also been described overstretched, over-elaborate and almost impossible to follow.
Written in verse, the biographical work reveals that Kit Marlowe, played by Jamie Martin, was the real William Shakespeare.
The one-man play tells the story of Marlowe’s career in a dialogue between Marlowe and those who played significant parts in the events of his life. The difficulty with this is that one actor is expected to play 15 different characters, switching between roles at an alarming and rapid rate.
Arrested for atheism, Marlowe is forced to fake his own death and live in exile working as a secret government agent. In order to earn extra money, he sells his plays to William Shakespeare, a businessman and play broker.
Jamie Martin is valiant, energetic and tireless as the dissolute and wronged playwright and James Fiddes Smith adds atmosphere with his subtle mandolin playing.
An interesting hypothesis but hard work for one actor and difficult for an audience to follow.
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