Archive Page, THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WM. SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED)

by Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield
Originally performed by the Reduced Shakespeare Company

Co-Directed by Tim CAHILL, Ben JONES, and Rob MERRITT

THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, (ABRIDGED) starts with a completely inaccurate biography of Shakespeare's life, and quickly grows insane from there, as three local actors (Tim Cahill, Ben Jones and Rob Merritt) attempt to perform all 37 of Shakespeare's plays in just 90 minutes. Written by Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield of the Reduced Shakespeare Company, the show is loaded with sight gags, ad libs and audience interaction. Among the highlights: TITUS ANDRONICUS done as a cooking show, OTHELLO turned into a Beastie Boys-style rap, and all 16 of Shakespeare's comedies condensed into one slapstick script because Shakespeare "used the same gag over and over and over." The actors spend the entire second act performing HAMLET, only it isn't like any version of HAMLET you've ever seen before! Watch for the sock puppets and be forewarned that audience participation will come into play...

THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, (ABRIDGED) has continued to run in London's West End for the past seven years, and has been acclaimed as one of the funniest comedies out there. Last year it was made into a PBS special, and continues to be an audience favorite.

THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, (ABRIDGED) embodies one of comedy's most essential impulses: the adolescent urge to take a baseball bat to the culturally revered. A mix of pratfalls, puns, willful misreadings of names and dialogue, clunky female impersonations, clean-cut ribaldry, and broad burlesque.

"The gung-ho vitality is impossible to resist," said Ben Brantley, The New York Times.

"This irreverent deconstruction of Shakespeare's work makes a dilly of poor Willy. A fantasia of zany energy that throws together Monty Python-ish drag and Mel Brooks-ish anything-for-a-laugh gags," said Michael Musto, New York Daily News.

The Actors

Tim CAHILL
Ben JONES
Rob MERRITT

The Crews

Stage Manager ................................................................ Rick Gooding
Lights and Sound .................................... Jim Beals and Jacqui Beals
Set Design/Construction ....... Kevin Lageschulte and Kevin Holubar
Set Dressing and Properties .................. Jan Beals and Rick Gooding
Stagehand ........................................................................ Eddie Morris
Makeup ......................................................................... Arlene McAtee
Program ............................................................................... Rob Merritt
Newsletter ...................................................................... Brenda Morris
Publicity ...................................... Rob Merritt and Sandy Schlesinger
Costumes ............................................................................. Lynn Maas
House Manager ..................................................................Maria Hazen
Webmaster .................................................................... Bill C. Roberts
MCT Board President ....................................................... Gene Beach
MCT Treasurer .................................................................. Dee Daniels
MCT Secretary .................................................................... Derol Hafar

Performed as a fundraiser for the Jamie Christenson Memorial Scholarship.
Nearly $10,000 was raised from this production and the associated donations.

The Program
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These are large files but well worth a look!

The Production Photos
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