Oli Fuller
This tale of Queen Juana I of Castile, and the inferiority of the men around her, brings musical excellence to the modern historian.
The Queen is Mad retells the true story Juana I of Castile, sister of Henry the 8ths wife, Catherine of Aragon. The unexpected Queen of Castile was deemed mad by the men of the country for being a woman with a voice, something I’m sure all women can relate to even in todays society. The show discusses how her struggle with the idea of womanhood, and her refusal to stay within the role she has been taught, has lead to her being known by her country as “Joana la loca” in an effort to diminish her power. The show is empowering and beautifully captures her struggle through the medium of musical theatre.
Though I felt some of the songs were not particularly memorable, the performances were incredible, with Joana herself, played by Maria Coyne, being a clear stand out star. The power of her voice holds the room in awestruck silence, an expression of talent that needs to be celebrated.
The costume design, by Eve Mary Oakley, was innovative, with tricks throughout such as modern jackets reversing into medieval cloaks, and a pregnancy bump with skirt fabric which could be quickly attached above the costume. These design features worked beautifully and will definetly be inspiring my future design work.
One quam I had with the piece was the role of men within it. While I understand that a significant part of Joana’s story is about the oppression placed on her by men, I found it upsetting at times that a show about such a powerful woman didn’t have enough female cast members to even attempt passing the Bechdel Test. I found that in some scenes, the men in Joanas life almost felt as if they had been written to play a role more important than the leading lady, which was disappointing from such an empowering musical.
This show is remarkable and I want to congratulate the team, both onstage and off, for bringing this musical to life in Edinburgh. Though the Queen may be mad, she is outstandingly talented. If you’re a history buff in Edinburgh this show is not to be missed.
Recommended Drink: Pair this with a Finely-aged Red Wine, but check that it hasn’t been poisioned first.
You can catch The Queen is Mad until August 24th (not the 20th) at Studio at ZOO Southside from 16:15 (75mins). Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.
Jasmine Silk
Jake Mace
