The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), put on at Logan’s Lyric Repertory Theater, is the comedic compilation of many of Shakespeare’s plays. It surrounds a trio of young actors that undertake the huge task of performing snippets of many of Shakespeare’s plays, sort of. The theater was filled with laughter, as this show makes jokes about the comedies and the tragedies. You didn’t know that Titus Adronicus, purported to be Shakespeare’s goriest play, can be funny? In Complete Works, it’s a cooking show. Gross, but hilarious.
As always, the audience is kindly ushered to comfortable chairs with a program in hand. The majority of audience members are teenagers or older. Given some of the adult humor, I would not recommend this play to anyone younger than 18. Even then, this show may not be for adults who are uncomfortable with innuendo and sexual remarks, which are laced generously throughout this play.
The cast, made up of only three individuals, does an impressive job given the fact that they are onstage nonstop with only a few short breaks. The actors, Camden Blankenship, Lance Rasmussen, and Mitch Shira play themselves: young men acting out Shakespeare’s classics. The actors have great talent and do well with improvisation, which in encouraged in Complete Works. Each show and production is different as the playwrights, Adam Long, Daniel Singer, and Jess Winfield suggest in instructions at the beginning of the script. Basically—have fun! Play to your audience. Blankenship, Rasmussen and Shira have a genuinely good time performing. They are not afraid to get silly by dancing, singing, and even beat boxing. They love what they do and it shows. All three actors work well together and seem to enjoy their time together.
I loved their costumes, which are simple Shakespearean era white shirts, tights, and skirt-tunics. The tights are the recipient of a lot of laughter from the audience. These wonderful costumes are designed by Nancy Hills. The set, designed by Shawn Fisher, is a very simple and versatile backdrop of old English cottages and buildings. The lighting (Bruce Duerden) is splendidly executed. My favorite lighting scene is when Romeo and Juliet drink the potion and become high. The lights turn the psychedelic colors of purple, green, pink, and yellow. It really added to the comedy of the scene. Bryan Z. Richards is in charge of the sound and does a great job with sound effects, especially during the fighting scenes. Fight choreographers Chris O’Connor and Wyn Moreno bring realistic stage fighting to this piece, and make it cool and funny—which is what Complete Works is made for. Typically, it is for a younger crowd and sword fights and punching are “legit.”
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) is for audiences who love ribald humor plus Shakespeare in a fast-moving, improv type piece.
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The Lyric Repertory Company presents The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) by Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield
Caine Lyric Repertory Theater, 28 West Center Street Logan, Utah
July 20, 27, August 4 7:30 PM
$15-30
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