Reducing Shakespeare
complete works of Shakespeare to be staged ... all at once
The Reduced Shakespeare Company is kicking off the performance season at the State Theatre. The three-man troupe – known for taking long, serious subjects, and reducing them to short, sharp comedies – will be taking on Shakespeare’s entire life work, an astounding 37 plays, in just over an hour and a half. Cheeky yet informed, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged), is a fast paced condensation of the playwright’s entire repertoire. The production is the brainchild of the English performers, who began performing in 1987, and have since pleased audiences and critics alike with its comedic, down-to-earth presentation of some of the English language’s finest literature. The group is notable for having the (self-proclaimed) world-record for the shortest-ever version of Hamlet, clocking in at 43 seconds, and performed with Scottish accents. They also parody Titus Andronicus, portraying it as a cooking show, and do Othello through a rap song. Knowledge of Shakespeare’s work is helpful, but not necessary. All that is needed is a ticket and someone to call 911 is case you pass out from laughing. Come see as Eau Claire hosts London’s longest-running comedy as it brings the witty whirlwind of intellectual vaudeville.
Reduced Shakespeare Company · Oct. 1 · The State Theatre, 316 Eau Claire St. · 7:30pm · Adults $20, box seats $30, children and students $10 · 832-ARTS • www.eauclairearts.com
