Review: iShandy

Where to start? Well probably not at the beginning, since Richard Hurford’s brilliantly bonkers new work has been inspired by Laurence Sterne’s landmark novel.
iShandy at York Theatre RoyaliShandy at York Theatre Royal
iShandy at York Theatre Royal

The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman was published in nine volumes between 1759 and 1767 and its author eschewed the usual narrative conventions. In place of a beginning, middle and end, there were tangents, diversions and explanatory notes as Tristram failed to tell the story of his life in any coherent fashion. So much so, that he isn’t born until volume three.

Most playwrights have sensibly avoided adapting the work, but Hurford takes the novel’s 500 or so pages, throws them in the air and somehow produces a play which is both infused with Stern’s original bawdy comedy and which feels bang up to date.

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Over the course of a surreal two hours there’s a modern day book group who for no reason at all become the characters in the novel, the living room turns into a womb and past and present meet when Sterne’s 18th-century creations come face to face with Apple technology.

There’s also a man dressed in a skin tight black bodysuit representing the footnotes in the original book.

Confused? While the premise of iShandy seems baffling written down, self-indulgent even, on stage it is simple funny, very funny.

Hurford’s script is a masterclass in new writing and Damien Cruden’s direction barely allows the effortlessly talented cast of six to draw breath. Each is blessed with sharp comic timing and carry the more surreal elements of the show (of which there are many) with ease.

iShandy might defy sensible description, but as a night out at the theatre this is hard to beat.

York Theatre Royal

To May 11.