From left, Sean Gardell, Julianne McGourty and Michael Pray eviscerate yet another classic Shakespeare scene.
When recently retired Stageloft Repertory Theater founder Ed Cornely reigned as artistic director, he set aside time during each of his 20 seasons for at least one classic — and reliably money losing — Shakespeare production.
Cornely, back at the director’s helm for the first time since stepping down, brings an entirely different examination of the Bard — and had the foresight to line up a troika of comedic ad-libbers extraordinaire to carry the exuberantly off-kilter comedy “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)” now playing at the Sturbridge theater.
It certainly tickled the funny bone of Telegram & Gazette reviewer Paul Kolas, who conveyed unadulterated praise for this “breathless treat” of Shakespearean farce in granting the show a perfect four stars.
The show’s recipe for success is “to cram all 37 of the Bard’s plays into a fast and furious 97-minute splurge, performed by the splendidly protean trio of Sean Gardell, Julianne McGourty and Michael Pray, that will leave you shaking with laughter,” said Kolas.
With comedic asides galore to accompany an already zany script by Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield, Kolas noted that Gardell, McGourty and Pray “romp through this Monty Pythonesque whirlwind like silver-tongued gazelles.”
Famed Shakespeare characters all get their comeuppance, from the young lovers in “Romeo and Juliet” (with the balcony replaced by a piggyback ride), stalwarts of “Othello” (delivered in rap form) and inhabitants of “Henry IV,” which is contorted to include references to the New England Patriots’ deflate-gate controversy.
“They interact with the audience often, most notably with their unusually inventive take on ‘Hamlet,’ ” added Kolas, saluting the way “McGourty tugs the runaway Pray back onstage to play Ophelia like you’ve never seen her before.”
“The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)” is playing through May 17, with 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday showings, and 2 p.m. Sunday performances. Buy tickets to this show by visiting the TicketStage service at this link, or by calling Stageloft at 508-347-9005 to make your purchase.
