SHAKESPEARE'S MOTHERS: MAD, BAD AND DANGEROUS TO KNOW Straylight Australia Bakehouse Theatre Until 12 Mar 2011 Review by Jamie Wright When asked to list Shakespeare's most dangerous characters, you might name ambitious Macbeth,unpredictable Hamlet, determined Richard III, or scheming Iago. But what Straylight Australia is here totell us is that we shouldn't discount the women, especially if those women are – literally or figuratively –mothers. Taking twenty dangerous mothers, the trio – two women and one man – act out scenes from playsincluding 'Macbeth', 'King John', 'Richard III', 'Henry VI', 'Titus Andronicus', 'King Lear' and 'Coriolanus'(amongst others), and adding commentary and the occasional humorous remark. All three play multiple characters, and do so convincingly; the scenes are well-picked and thecommentary clever and funny. The set is mostly bare, but the space is used well and lighting (byStephen Dean) helps create mood. An interesting look at some of Shakespeare's lesser-known characters, and an opportunity to see scenesnot often performed on stage. Rating: 3.5 stars (out of 5)