The Complete Works Of Shakespeare (Abridged)

The Complete Works Of Shakespeare (Abridged)
By Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield. State Theatre Company of South Australia. Aug 1 – 3, 2013, and touring.

The Q, Queanbeyan Arts Centre. 24-27 August and touring Australia

This show could be summarised as Shakespeare meets Puppetry of the Penis—without the penises. How does that work, I hear you ask. With codpieces. Codpieces with battery operated LEDs. You’d be amazed what you can get away with in a PG-rated show with a stuffed, strobing peacock on the front of your dacks. This production has taken what is a sort of dorky intellectual script and livened it up with good slash of bogan irreverance. The opening was a bit slow on the night I saw it – after the first ten minutes I was considering giving it a one word review (“Lame”) – but the pace picked up after that with sight gags, wild costumes, fabulous set, and butt jokes. Lots of butt jokes. The humour is very Mick Malloy and the three comedians, Damien Callinen, Nic English and Tim Overton, get the timing spot on. If you enjoy your comedy brash and bawdy, you’ll love this.

Cathy Bannister

Robert Dunstan's review of the Adelaide opening follows.

State Theatre Company of South Australia enjoyed much success when they presented three-hander comedy The Complete Works Of Shakespeare (Abridged) a couple of years ago under the direction of then artistic director Adam Cook. It proved to be a delightful, light-hearted romp through Shakespeare’s plays and has now been returned to the stage as part of the company’s education series.

Nic English and Tim Overton joined original cast member, comedian Damian Callinan, for its return season in Adelaide before an extensive national tour takes the work to regional centres in Victoria, NSW and Queensland.

As a part of State Theatre’s education program, Adelaide audience members consisted mostly of high school students so it was interesting to see how they responded to such a piece that also involves some audience interaction.

The play begins with Callinan explaining the premise of presenting all of Shakespeare’s plays before the two other actors join him and then offer up a quick version of Romeo & Juliet, which quickly sets the irreverent tone for what is to follow. Shakespeare’s comedies are combined into one while Titus Andronicus is presented as a cooking show. The histories are then acted out as a game of football – AFL in the case of Adelaide – with the crowns of the various kings being used as the ball.

As interval approaches they announce that they have performed all the plays apart from Coriolanus which they refuse to undertake due to its vulgar title. It is also realised they have also not presented Hamlet and so, with some trepidation – Callinan is left alone on stage as the other two desert him claiming it is too hard to do – but they return after intermission to perform it as the entire second half. A couple of audience members are also enticed on stage to help out with hilarious results. After taking their bows, the actors return to present a quick version of the play along with a very quick version lasting less than a minute and then perform it backwards.

The three actors all acquit themselves well, while Ailsa Paterson’s gaudy costumes add to the frivolity and the simple set – a kind of wooden caravan (with a roof) that opens out to display a series of funny props including various swords – works splendidly.

At over two hours in length, the play almost outstays its welcome although it is not without many, many, many funny moments.

Robert Dunstan

Tour Dates

Mildura Arts Centre (Vic), 6 - 7 August; Burnie Arts & Function Centre (Tas), 10 August; Lighthouse Theatre, Warnambool (Vic), 13 August; Wyndham Cultural Centre (Vic), 15 August; Esso BHP Billiton Wellington Entertainment Centre, Sale (Vic), 17 August; Riverlinks Shepparton (Vic), 20 August; Albury Entertainment Centre (NSW), 22 August; Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre (NSW), 24 - 27 August; Manning Entertainment Centre, Taree (NSW), 29 - 30 August; Gardens Theatre, QUT, Brisbane, 2 - 3 September; Logan Entertainment Centre, Logan (QLD), 5 September; Redland Performing Arts Centre, Cleveland (QLD), 7 September; Cairns Civic Theatre, Cairns (Qld), 11 September; The Riverway Arts  Centre, Townsville (Qld), 13 - 14 September; Pilbeam Theatre, Rockhampton (Qld), 17 September & Cremorne Theatre, QPAC, Brisbane, 21 September - 6 October.

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