The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) is great fun

From Left to Right: Braden Griffiths, Aaron Coates and Geoffrey Simon Brown

Lunchbox To Go is a way for Lunchbox Theatre to bring theatre to various locations across the city. Their first production sees them partnering with the Shakespeare Company and Storybook Theatre to bring The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) to schools across the city and to the Beddington Heights Community Centre.

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) by Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield is a hilarious romp through all the works of Shakespeare put on in a satirical manner. The play stars Braden Griffiths, Geoffrey Simon Brown, and Aaron Coates as themselves, diligently putting on the play for the audience. The play often breaks the fourth wall, to check the time (by finding someone who has a watch) or having someone eat a hand (from their reenactment of Titus Andronicus).

The play opens to a parody of Romeo and Juliet, with Lady Capulet and Mercutio removed (among many others). The trio then moves into Titus Andronicus presented as a cooking show. All of the comedies are presented as one skit as they all use the same device. Othello is a hilarious poorly beatboxed song. MacBeth is performed in horrendous Scottish accents. Hamlet is eventually performed backwards.

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) demonstrates the comedic powers of Griffiths and Brown, as Coates usually plays the more serious of the trio. Brown is usually cast to play the woman of the piece, which is funny the first time but wears thin at times. Sometimes the humour is a bit over the top and a bit obnoxious. But otherwise The Complete Works is hysterical and light, well guided by director Kevin McKendrick, who has a few tricks up his sleeve.

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) runs at Lunchbox Theatre until April 24th, then moves to Storybook Theatre until May 6th. More information is available here.

Tagged as: Lunchbox Theatre, review, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), The Shakespeare Company