The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged), presents all 37 plays of the master in only 97 minutes! Written by Adam Long, Daniel Singer, and Jess Winfield, it was presented in June 2006 by the Theatre Company of Saugus as a special cabaret-style fundraiser production in support of their building fund.
The director was Michael Fitzgerald. The performers included: Jen Colella as Tybalt, Friar Lawrence, and Lavinia; Jacqui DiGenio as the Prince, the Nurse, and Gertrude; Omar Najmi as Romeo, Mark Antony, and Polonius; Michael Sakovich as Juliet, Othello, and Cleopatra; Lisa Scopa as Titus Andronicus, Brutus, and Laertes; and Keith Swiniarski as Macbeth and Hamlet.
An irreverent, fast-paced romp through the Bard’s plays, this record-breaking hitwas London’s longest-running comedy – 10 years at the Criterion Theatre. It was praised by the Los Angeles Times as “wildly funny” and by the Montreal Gazette as “the funniest show you are likely to see in your entire lifetime”. “Pithier than Python, Irresistible” said The New York Times. “If you like Shakespeare, you’ll like this show. If you hate Shakespeare, you’ll love this show” said The Today Show.
Warning! This show is a high-speed roller-coaster type condensation of all of Shakespeare’s plays, and is not recommended for people with heart ailments, bladder problems, inner-ear disorders and/or people inclined to motion sickness. We cannot be held responsible for expectant mothers.
“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. The conversion of the histories into a football game is very funny. So is a rap version of OTHELLO. HAMLET truly soars and allows the actors to come into their own as manic clowns. At its giddiest, its tone recalls the fabled Bullwinkle cartoon shows.” said Ben Brantley, The New York Times.
“This irreverent deconstruction of Shakepeare’s work makes a dilly of poor Willy. A fantasia of zany energy that throws together Monty Python-ish drag and Mel Brook-ish anything-for-a-laugh gags.” said Michael Musto, New York Daily News.
“Fresh, energetic and funny. A wild and silly frolic.” said Pia Lindstrom, WNBC-TV
Theatre Company of Saugus 