Words: Clíona McCann
Mother, Maiden & Crone is an offbeat queer reimagining of Macbeth from the witches’ perspective. Set in gay Club Limbo, a jaded drag queen, bimbo shot boy and kleptomaniac DJ are faced with a tyrannical (and deeply heterosexual) hen-do. Chaos ensues as the hens terrorise the bar and the witches are forced to teach them a few lessons in respect and etiquette.
Each character reflects an archetype of a typical heinous hen party; the entitled bridezilla, the attention-seeking maid-of-honour, the secret cheater, and the gay best friend who ‘doesn’t shove it down your throat like the rest of them’. Ewan Burns writes directly from the heart. The script feels fresh and authentic, entirely avoiding the clichés Shakespeare adaptations are often prone to. Burns packs three jokes into a line before you’ve even caught one. The dialogue is sharp and witty and is further elevated by the cast’s stellar line delivery.
Among the ridiculous amount of Shakespeare adaptations that hit the Fringe annually, Mother Maiden & Crone reigns above them all. It is engaging and aware of its own hilarity- it doesn’t take itself too seriously but can deliver on dramatics when the plot requires. The social commentary is expertly handled, exploring straight peoples’ treatment of queerness as something exotic they can try on for a night.
Under Lewis Gemmell’s direction, Mother, Maiden & Crone is utterly hilarious. Chock full of visual gags and with a sprinkling of slapstick, it is campy, irreverent and wonderfully Scottish. Gemmell’s direction is particularly good at making the entire audience feel in on the joke where niche references could otherwise feel isolating.
You can tell the cast is having the time of their lives! Scene-stealer Erin McGivern as McBride is an absolute riot going full Jacqueline McCafferty. The role of Hector, club Limbo’s owner rotates between a cast of local drag legends- I had the pleasure of seeing the deliciously smug Carla Zoni step into this role.
Small details like this really highlight how at its core Mother, Maiden & Crone is a love letter to the Edinburgh queer scene that inspired it. At the core of this show is community, with an entirely local cast and crew making it simply electric to watch. An entirely sold-out run at The SpaceUK promises a bright future for this production- Mother, Maiden & Crone was a highlight of this year’s Fringe and is one to watch.
Follow the show on Instagram to see where they go next!
Qulture Magazine 
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