Reviewed by Tracey Paleo, Gia On The Move

Orgies and more orgies.

School of Night has put the fun back into the monarchy. War, comedy, rebellion, lust, beheading, endless nightclubbing, open masturbation and lot’s and lot’s of fucking. If I’m bold enough to say it, it’s because they were bold enough to put it on a stage, including a quite active display – and use – of the King’s very large penis. Modern bad girl/bad boy princes and princesses have got nothing on The Faggot King or The Troublesome Reign of Edward II.

The Warrior-King Edward Longshanks has died and his son has ascended to the English throne. Though the armies of Scotland and France menace his borders, the new-crowned Edward II remains oblivious. He is preoccupied with pining for his exiled lover Piers Gaveston whose return he is eventually able to procure. Gaveston’s return as Edward’s favourite, however, provokes the outrage of the church, the nobles and even his humiliated Queen who allies herself with the enemy to march on her sovereign.

Inside the intriguing insanity and bawdy shenanigans, The Faggot King is pretty historically accurate. What’s more, the acting really, incredibly, good. The casting is odd but they went for the comedic effect of having Edward played by the tiniest statured actress against, the two almost clunky self-righteous nobles, Mortimer and Lancaster. And everyone plays their part with extreme enthusiasm through some seriously uncomfortable, shock-value, sinfully guilty audience moments. But there is much recompense in the end of this tragic tale. It’s not all fun and games.

Overall though, it works, beautifully.

Recommended

Directed by Christopher Johnson

Produced by Jen Albert

Featuring: Heather Schmidt, Sondra Mayer, Adriana Colon, Jordan Worthy, Ale Elliott-Funk, Drew Petriello, Tiffany Cole, Eric Rollins, J.B. Waterman, and Kara Hume

Fight Choreography by Jen Albert

Costume Designs by Linda Muggeridge

Choral Direction by Daniel Halden

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