After 5: The Bawdy Bard

In 2007, creative mind Jeff Jenkins had an idea – and The Springfield Shakespeare Festival was born.

Now in its fourth year, the festival is presenting “The Comedy of Errors” and “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged).”

The latter is a parody of the Bard’s works – all of them – that zooms at breakneck speed and brings some (much needed) contemporary references and humor to the classics.

I have to say that as much as I respect Shakespeare and know that his writings are some of the finest in the English language, I have never read anything by him all the way through. I tried. But I couldn’t do it.

Baz Luhrman’s post modern film “Romeo + Juliet,” which used Shakespeare’s words verbatim but featured a very different milieu, is the only thing by the Bard I’ve ever witnessed in its entirety – until now.

“The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)” was written in 1987 by the Reduced Shakespeare Co. and was first performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. It later ran at the Criterion Theatre in London for nine years.

Actor, teacher and director George Cron – along with three talented actors – have fashioned an up-to-date version filled with nonstop laughs. It runs through June 6 at Vandivort Center, 305 E. Walnut St.

Much of the play and humor is improvisational in nature and the original script implies that sort of lenience is encouraged. Some of the material is a bit bawdy for the kids; consider it PG-13.

“Directing a show like this is really strange,” Cron says. “There is a script, but the script allows for areas of improvisation. You never know exactly what’s going to happen, you never know what the actors are going to be improvising. It’s a little different at every performance.”

Things have evolved in the play during the years. As written, the scenes from “Titus Andronicus” feature Julia Child. In Cron’s version, it’s the Southern “butter queen” Paula Deen, who is the main character.

“Othello” is done as a rap number and three white guys rapping can only bring to mind the Beastie Boys.

The three actors (the entire cast) are Jenkins, Ryan Thomas King and Clayton Avery.

Jenkins is well-known as The Skinny Improv front-man and his roles in Springfield Little Theatre productions. King has done some work with The Skinny Improv, and Avery is a relative newcomer. Now a freshman at Drury University, Avery had taken an acting class with Cron.

When you go, and if you have seats close to the front, be prepared. You may end up being in the play. I assumed that the people dragged out of the audience and onto the stage were “plants,” but Cron assures the cameos are performed by actual audience members.

It’s a hilarious romp and, while the set is minimal, there are numerous costume changes that take place in the blink of an eye. It’s a great production and a whole lot of fun.[[In-content Ad]]