By Mary Brassard
The Complete works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) from the Sandbox Theatre Company is being produced at the Midvale Performing Arts Building—and I commandeth you to do your part, brave knave, and answer this query: To go, or not to go to the Sandbox Theatre Company’s production of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)–that is the question. Whether it be nobler in the mind to vieweth a comedy from Sandbox Theatre Comedy, or suffer the slings and arrows of the misfortune of staying home and missing this ruckus night of hilarity. Feareth not, gentle reader. I can help you answer this question.
Sandbox Theatre Company is offering you an amazing opportunity to attend a live show that is intended to promote an understanding and appreciation for live theatre while having a good laugh over the works of Shakespeare. This hilarious play was born when 3 inspired, charismatic comics, having honed their pass-the-hat act at Renaissance fairs, premiered their comedic masterpiece at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 1987. It quickly became a worldwide phenomenon, earning the title of London’s longest-running comedy after a decade at the Criterion Theatre. The show is one of the world’s most frequently produced plays and has been translated into several dozen languages. Featuring are all 37 of Shakespeare’s plays, meant to be performed in 97 minutes, by 3 actors. The show is fast-paced, witty, physical, full of laughter and can equally entertain those who love Shakespeare and those who dread live theater.
Directed by Jeff Davis, Shakespeare (Abridged)(Abridged) lives up to these promises. All 37 plays are represented, and the show is a frantic whirl of hilarity. Davis leads this 3-person cast in a triumphant night of Shakespearean fun. Davis’s direction displays an adept hand at comic timing and he really gels the cast into a tight team.
They begin with Romeo and Juliet. And from the beginning, I was hooked. They move quickly from play to play, grouping some into themes, such as all of the tragedies interpreted as a football game. The show is full of many gags and jokes. One of my favorites is the interpretive ribbon dance. It’s the closest thing to a Chippendale show that you are likely to see in Midvale, Utah.
The 3 men taking on this Herculean task are Director Davis), Madman Madriaga (yes, his name is Madman and he lives up to it), and Scott Moore (and yes, I have a little crush on him even though I’m a married woman.) All three men are phenomenal. First off, as a fellow actor, I cannot even fathom learning this amount of lines, blocking, and prop wielding, let alone doing it well. This is a show requiring much work and dedication from the cast and this cast is up to the task. They are polished in their chaos and I never felt they were reciting memorized lines. They made me feel as though this was the first time they had done this, and as though it was all by the seat of their pants, which is how it is meant to be presented.
Davis is hilarious in this role. He has an absolute childlike charm, like a man learning and performing Shakespeare with an innocent wonder. He is tasked with playing most of the female parts (Juliet, Ophelia), and he does it with a delightful flare and enjoyment. It feels new and fresh, and not like an old joke. I loved his moments of juvenile excitement. For example, his delight in learning Ophelia drowns, and his portrayal of this nightmarish and wet event, is very laugh out loud funny.
Madriaga has enough energy to light the state of Utah! (Though exclamation points are not considered appropriate in modern writing, trust me, this calls for one.) If a star can be a luminous ball of burning stream and energy, then Madriaga certainly is one. He shines in this part. He is the member of the troupe that really starts off looking for the depth in Shakespeare. He prances around the stage, trying to live up to the panache of Shakespeare. Madriaga gave me many belly laughs through the night. His emotional breakdown in the final act is pathetically riotous. He makes the audience feel sad for him, but we somehow continue to laugh, too. He is very genuine in all that he does.
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Moore is the straight man, who isn’t very straight. He portrays many of the romantic leads. As Romeo, he is charming and silly. As Polonius, he is strong and Elizabethan. But where I liked him the most was as Scott Moore. These actors are really the characters of themselves and Moore has such a radiating charm. He seems proud of his fellow actors and appreciative of the audience. He was wonderful to watch in all of his subtleties. One of my favorite parts of the night is when Moore is abandoned onstage and left to vamp with the crowd. He is so delightfully funny. I was really rooting for him in this impossible situation. Moore is the most natural of the three, bringing the perfect balance to the trio.
As an ensemble, these men are intoxicating. They are very convincing as a close-knit group with long-standing dynamics and relationships. This adds to the fun, as I felt like I was watching a group of friends that I would love to hang out with.
Another area where this group shines is the audience interaction. There are several moments in the evening where the audience is drawn into the show. Sometimes in small ways, being mentioned and waved to, and other times, in large immersive ways, such as a lengthier bit where we all dive into the psychology of Ophelia. Our cast of men shows an adept hand at breaking the fourth wall and getting us all to participate that it feels inclusive and inviting without crossing the line into forced and uncomfortable. I felt able to participate at the level I would most enjoy.
The stage crew is also wonderful. They are excellent at juggling and handling the many props of the night, and they add some humor and fun without overdoing it and stealing focus from our leads. And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Chester, who adds a great deal of depth as lighting crew, supporting cast, and many other things.
The one blaring problem with this show, the major misstep, the tragic shame, was that there weren’t nearly enough people in the audience. A comedy is best served with a crowd full of laughing, happy patrons. The audience they did have was appreciative and plentiful with their laughter, nevertheless, they should be playing to a full crowd. Go see this show, and afterwards, spread the word to family and friends. You’ll definitely want to once you’ve seen it. I hope that by closing night, Sandbox Theater’s fabulous version of Shakespeare (Abridged) is done for a busting-at-the-seams, sold out, excited, deserving group of theater-goers. Good night, good night, parting is such sweet sorrow from this wild ride of a play, that I shall say goodnight, and go see-eth this show, till it be morrow. Get thee to this play!
(Note: This show is rated PG-13. Teenagers will laugh their heads off in Shakespeare (Abridged), but parents may want to be aware that this is definitely in the PG-13 category.)
The Sandbox Theater Company presents The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) Midvale Performing Arts Center, 695 West Center Street, Midvale, UT 84047 August 25-26 September 8-9, 15-16 7:30 PM Tickets: $10.00, $7.50 students with ID, tickets can be purchased at the door Facebook Page Facebook Event
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