- Rod Peter Jr.
5 STARS – Edmonton Journal, SOLD OUT Edmonton Fringe 2022, SOLD OUT Vancouver Fringe 2021
“Outrageously funny and dementedly absurd” – Beer Tent review
Fringe vets Jon Paterson (AWOL, How I Met My Mother) and Rod Peter Jr. (The War of 1812, Escape from Winnipeg) play Othello’s plotting Iago and the ghost-haunted should-be king of Elsinore, Hamlet. They have double-booked the same rehearsal space and fast become tangled up in each other’s narratives!
Frequently breaking the fourth wall into modern vernacular, noticing each other’s scheming asides and slapstick humour, Iago vs Hamlet isn’t your Grandma’s Shakespeare.
“A final minute that would have earned this five stars even if the two just read the phone book for the rest of the play.” – Edmonton Journal
Absolutely hilarious. Pitting two of Shakespeare’s most famous characters against each other by having them arrive at the same place in their search for a place to plot their respective schemes, and then having them try to meddle with each other was gloriously entertaining from start to finish. The verbatim sections of Shakespearian text, the metered additions, the subtle jokes, and even the times when they poked fun at some of the Bard’s common devices (such as being aware of each other’s asides), were executed flawlessly. I didn’t want it to end (and by the end, I wasn’t sure if it had, in fact, ended).
An excellent show! The shifting from verse to modern speech was hilarious; and the actors’ wry humour and realistic recognition of some of Shakespeare’s more absurd plots made this show a must-see.
They strung the ending out a bit, but otherwise one of the funniest and most intelligent productions this Fringe season.
Never read Othello or Hamlet but still really enjoyed this! It starts off a little slowly but it’s witty, it rhymes, and the ending was absolutely hysterical!
Incredible! I was enthralled the entire time. The references, the quotations, the chemistry in the banter. 10/10!!
I can’t believe they wrote this in iambic pentameter! And the concept! It’s a Shakespeare spinoff! Fantastic.
Absolutely hilarious! Best show I’ve seen in years.
Definitely 5 *****! Outstanding performances!
“Iago vs. Hamlet” featuring Jon Paterson and Rod Peter Jr. is a brilliant theatrical showdown that captivates from start to finish. The performances are outstanding, blending sharp wit and comedic depth, with both actors delivering memorable portrayals of Shakespeare’s iconic characters. The energy in the sold-out venue was palpable, culminating in a well-deserved standing ovation. This show deserves every one of its five stars for its engaging storytelling and masterful execution!
Five stars aren’t enough!
SO well done. Hilarious!
Highly recommended.
An absolutely wonderful performance by these two talented actors. They each captured the essence of their characters with perfection – that being Iago’s backstabbing trickery, and Hamlet’s conflicting inner turmoil. Every minute watching this performance was a minute well spent.
Do you like Shakespeare? Do you like comedy? Do you like going to show’s that captivate you, eliminating the desire to check how many minutes are left on your watch? If you answered yes to any of those, this show is for you!
Saw this in Orlando and laughed so hard I cried. Brought my friend who wasn’t a theatre person ( and not a fan of Shakespeare ) and she absolutely loved it.
My cousin lives in Winnipeg and was asking what shows he should see that I saw in Orlando, and this was the top of my picks.
So don’t miss out. It was a full house with a standing ovation.
I can’t recommend this enough.