In attempting to showcase the entire folio of the Bard, most people would be overcome by the sheer magnitude of the project. But, by staging “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged” The West Allis Players is able to present all the highlights within two hours – and in a very funny way. This romp is directed by Mary Beth Topf.
A comedic troupe of six actors as themselves – Tom Flanagan, A. C. Hampshire, Derek Jacobs, Bill Kaiser, Dan Terrio and Randy Tranowski leave no stone unturned as they tackle the comedies, tragedies and histories of the man from Stratford-on-Avon. It takes 20 minutes for them to
present “Romeo and Juliet,” but once the “players” realize that they will never get through all the works until past midnight, they speed up their pace and the show really gets going.
A few highlights include their realization that they must present these plays with today’s theatergoers in mind. They decide that the best way to showcase “Othello” (the black general known as the Moor of Venice) is by rapping a recap of the plot. To speed through many of the lesser-known royal plays, the sextet stages a football game between all Shakespeare’s kings with a crown as the prize. Their presentation of the final play, “Macbeth,” was really well-done!
Derek Jacobs and Randy Tranowski in West Allis Players “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged.”
Kaiser does the lion’s share of narration and keeps the story moving while Tranowski handles the brunt of the physical comedy. He jumps off stage – jumps back onstage and plays most of the female parts, nonplussed when his character loses his flowing wigs in the process.
I’m not the biggest fan of all the moments when the actors call for the house lights to be turned on, but the audience as a group then gets a chance to be a part of a few scenes without leaving their seats.
“The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged” runs at the Liberace Auditorium of West Milwaukee Intermediate School until April 30.