“The Complete Works of William Shakespeare-ABRIDGED”

*** It isn’t often that I see a play that has two acts in which my rating is different for each. Please note that the production currently on the stage at Oil Lamp Theater, Adam Long, Daniel Singer, and Jess Winfield’s “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare-ABRIDGED” is a two hour farcical look at the works of the great Bard. It has been revised with the revisions being done by all of the authors sans Adam Long. I will preface my notes by telling you that because of the heavy theater openings in the Greater Chicago area, I attended a preview, so it might have been the performers first live audience ( in farce, the audience reaction plays a role in the totality of the production).

This is a true farce and i splayed to the hilt. I must say, Shakespeare aficionados will not see all of the humor, but those who like to laugh, will find themselves caught up in the cleverness of the show, in particular, the second act which is all about “Hamlet”. In the first act, the three actors in this show take us through a myriad of works by Shakespeare. They are a trio of Shakespeare lovers , friends who truly want to engage us, the audience , into fans.

For thos eof you who know the Oil Lamp, it is a very intimate storefront in downtown Glenview. The audience is limited to  8 rows or so, each row containing 6 seats. The slick production is directed by JT Nagle, and it appears that Nagle had more fun with the second act than the first as well. I know the actors and the audience did! If the entire play worked like the second act this would have been rated *****!

Michael Ashford is our leader as far as the story goes. Elizabeth Renfro begins the show, setting up what htye are doing and what the parameters are. Michael joins her. He is very , very formal in his manner and presentation. They get the audience somewhat involved and then when a question is asked, we meet Samantha Garcia ( who is the comic character ). Each actor has their own personality and the go on and off, changing plays and roles with great ease. The set( Marcus Klein) is three red curtains on the back wall where thye make their entrances and exits. Otherwise, not very elaborate, but in reality “The Play is the thing”. Ellen Marcus does a great job with the props and the costumes (Janelle Smith) are pretty simple. The lighting ( Hannah Wien) and sound ( Connor Windle) are right on.

This is not a play where tech truly is of import. The wigs and props are and of course, the three actors, as they go from role to role. Ashford must lose a pound per performance as he does his thing ( he seems to be perspiring from head to toe), but he is dynamite. Garcia is in fact the funniest of the performers making each character work. In the second act, the play becomes immersive with lots of audience participation during “Hamlet”. Her work with the audience member she brings on stage is hysterical ( and the audience member, “BOB”, had a good time as well). Audiences love to get involved and that is why the second act is so much fun. Near the very end, they do “Hamlet” a second time in a fast forward speed production and then to close the show, they do the same scene in reverse- to a blackout! Bravo!

This show is not as much a play as it is a tribute to live theater and of course the amazing work of the playwright, poet, actor William Shakespeare. It will continue at The Oil Lamp Theater located at 1723 Glenview Road in Glenview. This is just west of Route 43/Waukegan Road. They will continue thru February 16th with performances as follows:

Thursdays  7:30 p.m.

Fridays       7:30 p.m.

Saturdays  3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Sundays    3 p.m.

WEDNESDAYS  11 :00 am and  3 p.m.  on January 29th and February 12th/February 5th at 3:00 p.m.

Tickets are available at www.oillamptheater.org

To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare-ABRIDGED”.