The Complete Shakespeare, Abridged

History is filled with great artistic endeavours, such as The Odyssey, The Divine Comedy, and Avatar. The problem with these is that they tend to be hard work and, to be frank, a bit long (and in the case of Avatar, horrifically dull). In the end, hauling yourself through these works becomes a bit of slog with you ploughing on through the tedious material, simply because people keep telling you that they are classics.

Thank goodness then for Red Lion Theatre, who bring us The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), which not only promises to compress ’37 plays into 110 minutes’, but somehow manages to fit in a whole lot more.

The tone is set early on, with all three cast members (the excellent James McNicholas, Owen Roberts and Lucy Wooliscroft) taking to the stage to give us a brief biography of the Bard. This quickly becomes a farce, with mis-information and on-stage bickering demonstrating the pace and energy of the show. You cease to wonder to how the cast will cover so much material, but instead get caught up hoping their characters can hold through to the end, fighting against a tide of mistakes and egos.

The plays display fantastic doses of both brevity and invention. We see Titus Andronicus re-imagined as The F Word, Othello turned into an eighties rap, and Anthony and Cleopatra summed up as a hilarious ear-piercing death shriek (part of a recurring joke during the performance). Repetitive comedies are dealt with by simply melding them together into one performance.

The majority of the show is spent on the more famous works, with Hamlet in particular being a focus of attention for a large part of the second half. This play is used as a showpiece for the actors’ talents, with their desire to perform the big speeches being frequently undercut with skilfully foreshadowed gags.

It’s telling that despite the sheer volume of work being covered, at no point does the show seem rushed. The cast have time to voice their aspirations, their feelings and at one point to run away from the show entirely. The plays become a façade that hides the shows central plot of three young actors trying to make it big in the West End. ‘This is London,’ we’re reminded, ‘we’re in Zone One!’

Throughout, the jokes flow freely. There is a refreshing, friendly, DIY feel to the show that enables the cast to mock themselves, the audience and Shakespeare himself. The level of audience participation at times feels like you’re watching stand-up comedy. Perhaps most exciting of all, the show allows you to boast that you’ve seen the complete works of Shakespeare live in the theatre. And who doesn’t want to be able to say that?

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) is performing until 7 May (Wed-Sun) at:

New Red Lion Theatre
271-273 City Road
Islington
EC1V 1LA

Tel: 0844 412 4307