In the beginning of the Reduced Shakespeare Company's "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)," Austin Tichenor, one of the three performers, asks, by a show of hands, how many audience members have read or seen a Shakespearean play. Ambushed by an unwavering sea of raised hands, he runs to fellow performer Reed Martin and says, "I can't do this!"
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But the show goes on, and the third performer, Matt Rippy, is called onstage to read a wacky description of the Bard's life off a series of jumbled note cards. It becomes apparent that, although we've all become familiar with Shakespeare's works and there have been and will continue to be an infinite number of renditions and productions of them, there will never be anything quite like this.
The purpose of this astoundingly fast-paced production is to squeeze 37 of Shakespeare's works into a 100-minute time span. The three performers spend their time running back and forth from the stage to the stonewall backdrop, putting on costumes at mind-boggling speeds and changing characters in a blink. Despite its fast pace, the show is not sloppy in any way. The movements are intricate, and the lines are accelerated but not mumbled.
There is so much more to the show than difficult stunts and rushed dialogue. Children want slapstick, adults want wit and the Reduced Shakespeare Company knows how to bring both. When Reed Martin, dressed as Romeo, kisses the dead Juliet (Matt Rippy) and yells "Get over it!," all the children scream, "Ew!"
For the older audience members, there is an allusion made to Sigmund Freud when the trio tries to "peel the layers of Ophelia's brain like an onion," and ask the audience to represent the id, ego, superego and more. The show also features up-to-date pop culture references (from "Jersey Shore" to "Twilight"), which proves that although it's been around since 1987, it's constantly changing.
The show does represent the core of the classic works and even has elements that are relevant to the Elizabethan Period, when many of the plays were first performed, like having male actors in female roles. One interesting thing the show allows us to see first-hand is that despite their individual genius, Shakespeare's comedies have very similar structures and themes.
Whether you are enamored with the Bard or you think he is overrated — and even if you've grown weary from studying his work in every one of your high school English classes — this show will provide endless entertainment.
"The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)" is playing at the New Victory Theater (209 W. 42nd St.) through March 14. Tickets ($12.50-$35) are available at NewVictory.org or by calling 646.223.3010.
