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A little nonsense with the Bard
"Compleat Shakespeare' in Norristown
Steve Cohen
A sparkling version of The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr (Abridged) is brightening the stage at Theater Horizon in Norristown. This small company, recently relocated from King of Prussia, gives an animated, high-energy interpretation of Shakespearian stories that's the funniest thing on any area stage right now.
Some may think that a play with such a title will be pedantic, and others may snobbishly fear (as I did) that it will trivialize the Bard. But neither is the case. The comedy respects the playwright and never puts him down. Instead, fun is found within his works.
Puns and inside jokes abound, and the production's special appeal is its physical humor. This cast cleverly utilizes the room and involves the audience. Erin Reilly has directed it brilliantly.
The title is a misnomer. No attempt is made to survey the compleat"“ or complete"“ canon. Such an attempt would surely lead to rushed renditions of drastically truncated speeches. Instead, the versatile cast of three recites at least one line from each play but concentrates on Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet and just a few others, commenting on them and re-examining them from unexpected angles.
There's shtick with collapsing knives, vials of poison and outrageous costumes. Andrew Kane creates a hysterically mad Hamlet, Dave Johnson is a prancing Juliet and Dan Hodge is impressively inept as a Romeo who trips while trying to scale the balcony"“ but these are just three snapshots among an album of vivid characterizations.
Coincidentally, all three of these actors will appear in the real Shakespeare's Hamlet for Lantern Theater, April 3 to May 10.
Some may think that a play with such a title will be pedantic, and others may snobbishly fear (as I did) that it will trivialize the Bard. But neither is the case. The comedy respects the playwright and never puts him down. Instead, fun is found within his works.
Puns and inside jokes abound, and the production's special appeal is its physical humor. This cast cleverly utilizes the room and involves the audience. Erin Reilly has directed it brilliantly.
The title is a misnomer. No attempt is made to survey the compleat"“ or complete"“ canon. Such an attempt would surely lead to rushed renditions of drastically truncated speeches. Instead, the versatile cast of three recites at least one line from each play but concentrates on Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet and just a few others, commenting on them and re-examining them from unexpected angles.
There's shtick with collapsing knives, vials of poison and outrageous costumes. Andrew Kane creates a hysterically mad Hamlet, Dave Johnson is a prancing Juliet and Dan Hodge is impressively inept as a Romeo who trips while trying to scale the balcony"“ but these are just three snapshots among an album of vivid characterizations.
Coincidentally, all three of these actors will appear in the real Shakespeare's Hamlet for Lantern Theater, April 3 to May 10.
What, When, Where
The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr (Abridged). Created by The Reduced Shakespeare Company. Through February 15, 2009 at Theatre Horizon, 208 DeKalb St., Norristown, Pa. (610) 283-2230 or theatrehorizon.org.
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