Upon arriving for the Arkansas Repertory Theatre‘s last production of the year, “Compleat Wrks of Wllm Shkspr (Abridged),” I really didn’t know what to expect.
Of course, I knew that William Shakespeare’s most notable works were going to be condensed in a sort of hilarious spoof, but I didn’t realize how funny–and interactive– it was going to be. I mean, when is the last time you saw “Hamlet” acted out in less than 30 seconds or even backwards? How about “Othello” being rapped to Milli Vanilli?
Probably never. And that’s what makes this production such an entertaining comedy for just about everybody.
Directed by The Rep’s resident director Nicole Capri and written by Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield, the “Compleat Wrks of Wllm Shkspr (Abridged)” is an entertaining look at the most famous works of one of the most beloved playwrights of all time, Shakespeare– led by the dynamic trio of Avery Clark, Patrick Halley and Ethan Paulini.
The production starts off as an introduction to the crew, known as the Repertory Shakespeare Company, who travel around acting out the Bard’s best works. As it turns out, their truck, which is a prominent prop on the center of the stage that houses their rotating wardrobe, has broken down and they’re stuck in Stuttgart for the time being. For Halley, it’s the perfect time to talk about the South and it’s interesting quips, like the age-old Southern expression, “Bless your heart” and its backhanded connotation.
Then, it gets to the good stuff: the crash course in Shakespeare’s literature, starting with, of course, “Romeo and Juliet.” The group acts out the legendary play in a little over 12 minutes, reciting some of the most famous prose while acting out some of the action-packed scenes in western outfits. A dose of “The Matrix”-style slow-motion is incorporated in the duel, which is then followed with the most notable scene of the story where Juliet professes her love for Romeo on the balcony and its done in most silly of fashions– on top of the truck in the center of the stage.
Tons of other plays are thrown in– “Titus Andronicus,” “Othello,” “MacBeth (The Scottish Play),” “Julias Caesar” and “Four Weddings and a Tranny” (all of his comedies wrapped into one skit), each with their off-the-wall antics. This includes Clark showcasing his butcher skills as the host of the cooking show “Cutthroat Kitchen”– a spoof of “Titus Andronicus.” “It’s finger-lickin’ good,” he says at one point.
The group saves one of the best for last: “Hamlet.” The tragedy fills just about the entire second act, with the audience waiting just a few minutes for two-thirds of the group to return from a trip to Walmart for props. And it’s the act where we see a cameo from Si Robertson from the crazy-popular show “Duck Dynasty”– not really, it’s Halley, but he pulls it off pretty well– and a short appearance from a spooky ghost (Paulini).
The trio really play off eachother well, making the audience feel like they’re really a part of this Shakespeare group’s goofy and inventive act that travels around. Paulini’s obliviousness and perfect comedic timing add an extra dose of humor, while Clark’s knowledge of Shakespeare and his willingness to go all out at in certain scenes make it even funnier. And Halley– he keeps things flowing seamlessly with his cleverness and strong presence.
Bottom line: From hand puppets and a short appearance from volleyball Wilson from the Tom Hanks film “Cast Away” to tons of other silly antics, the “Compleat Wrks of Wllm Shakspr (Abridged)” is a rollercoaster of fun for the whole audience that can only be found on The Rep stage.
There is a week left to see the show– it runs until June 29.
Purchase tickets for the shows online here, call (501) 378-0405 or visit the theatre Box Office, 601 Main St., Little Rock.
For more information about the play, click here.