Three-Man Show Features Complete Works of Shakespeare

The Marion Palace Theatre will stage the comedy play The Complete Works of William Shakespeare-Abridged for three performances in the Palace Theatre May Pavilion.  Show dates are scheduled for Friday, October 24 and Saturday, October 25 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, October 26, 2014 at 2:00 p.m.

This “fast-firing, gag-a-second comedy” covers all thirty-seven of Shakespeare’s plays-plus the sonnets-in less than two hours and promises to thrill, educate and entertain theatre-goers of all ages. Parents should be aware the show does contain some PG-13 humor and language.

Using only a trunk full of props, wigs and ridiculous costumes, three actors portray all the characters.  Palace Theatre stage veterans Daniel Bradshaw, Mike Cochran and Nathan Haubert work together to fill the multiple roles and keep the audience in stitches while they “expertly weave clever quips and silly slapstick” into Shakespeare’s comedies and tragedies.

The play, written by Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1987.  The show then went on to nine record-breaking years on London’s West End and has been the world’s most performed stage parody for the last twenty years thus earning it’s spot as one of the most popular shows in America and England.

Shakespeare-Abridged starts with an unexpected spoof of Romeo and Juliet, followed by a parody of Titus Andronicus (portrayed as a cooking show). Next is Othello, which is presented as a rap song. The trio of actors will continue to keep the audience amused as they compete in a hilarious football game that recaps the history of England’s Kings (King John, Richard II, Richard III, Henry IV, etc.) while giving a running commentary and details of each character’s rise and fall from power.

Artistic team members are: Director Charles Groth, Assistant Director Maranda Knepp, Light & Sound Steve Beltz, Costumes Susan Wenig, Consultant Amanda Zucker and Stage Crew/Dressers Rhonda Arnold and Barb Yaksic.

Tickets are $15 and may be purchased in advance at the Palace box office, 276 W. Center St. in downtown Marion or by phone at 740/383-2101.  Box office hours are 9:00am-5:00pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and closed Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.  Tickets may also be purchased at the door one hour before the show.

Sponsored in part by Marion Community Foundation Mary H. Hollaway Fund and supported by Ohio Arts Council.

Show and theatre information may be found at www.marionpalace.org.