Thrones @ Rigby’s Bar
Saturday, August 17, 2019
Thrones was a once in a lifetime experience that allowed audience members to bask in the foul fantasy world of Game of Thrones. Presented by EdgyX, the interactive theatre show took over Rigby’s Bar in the CBD and transformed it into King’s Landing, with actors donned in lavish brocades and beautiful gowns which evoked their characters perfectly.
Re-enacting every Game of Thrones fan’s favourite death scene, the show is based on the second episode of the fourth season The Lion and the Rose, more commonly known as “The Purple Wedding”, in which King Joffrey finally gets what’s coming to him on the day of his nuptials – painful death by poisoned wine. With most of our favourite players in attendance, from Tyrion and Cersei, known as Tyrius and Cassia for the show, to Margaery and King Joffrey, dubbed Jaffrey for the evening, the stage was set for an interesting night.
Seated at wooden tables and greeted by beggars, the audience was thoroughly entertained by the variety of performers. Jousting, knight fights, fire breathers and belly dancers were on the menu, as was a delicious three-course meal and GoT inspired cocktails, while characters roamed between tables conspiring with audience members. Riotous cheers and booing were encouraged, on punishment by whipping for the brave knights in armour, and audience members even had a chance to dance with the royal couple themselves.
Jaffrey (Max Laffont) was his usual cruel self, commanding all those who defied him (and there were quite a few who did), to “get on your knees,” while Margaery (Shannon Rogers) played the diplomat and strived to make sure no one lost their head, literally and figuratively. Queen Mother Cassia (Summer Williams), had a quieter role, though her glares at her “disaster in law” were not lost, and the Mad Dog (Matthew Parkin) did an excellent job at being terrifying while skulking behind his king. But Tyrius (Mike Moshes) definitely stole the show, weaving through the audience with an ever-present goblet in his hand and his signature swagger evocative of everyone’s favourite imp.
While the cast did an amazing job staying in character despite some technical difficulties with the audio, they could have benefited from the inclusion of a few missing members from the episode, like Sansa and Littlefinger, in order to scale up the drama and level of personal one-on-one interaction between the audience and actors, which was by far the best part of the night. Overall, Thrones was a faithful re-enactment of the iconic episode, successfully allowing audience members to escape the mundane and enter George R. R. Martin’s world of murder and fantasy for the night.
LINDIE NAUDE
