Modern take on medieval tale

Geoffrey Chaucer’s cheeky medieval classic The Canterbury Tales is given a highly entertaining shake-up when it visits the Don Russell Performing Arts Centre on Thursday 3 July at 8pm.

Class Act Theatre performs an hilarious, fast-paced modern adaptation of this story, which centres around 30 pilgrims who set off for Canterbury to visit the shrine of Thomas Becket. They exchange stories along the way – tales of love and lust, stupidity and passion, chivalry and greed.

Six of these sparkling tales are presented in a show which soars from farcical comedy to touching romance. Each tale is performed in a different genre including Victorian melodrama, science fiction TV show, 1960s Carry On film and the Wild West.

Included in the six stories are:

 The Merchant’s Tale, a story of an old man who marries a young girl but as his sight fails, he grows ever more jealous. He has no idea that as she climbs a tree to pick fruit, a hunky man is hidden in the branches.

 Franklin’s Tale is about a newly married woman who fears her husband has been lost at sea. She makes a bargain with a young magician to ensure his safe return.

 The Miller’s Tale tells of a carpenter’s wife who tricks her gullible husband into sitting in a tub hanging from the roof to await a second flood.

 The Pardoner’s Tale is about three young men who decide that since so many people have died of the plague, that ‘Death’ needs a good talking to. They set out to find him.

Comic, scurrilous, bawdy and tragic – this promises to be an evening of fun for theatre-goers aged 10 and over. Admission is $25.70, $21.70 concession or $18.40 for students and groups of 10 or more. For bookings or information, call The Don T: 9493 4577 or visit www.gosnells.wa.gov.au to buy tickets online.