The cast of the Fredonia Department of Theatre and Dance production of “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)” includes, kneeling from left, Katya Sacharow and Tali Kam, and, standing from left, Lillyanna Whipple, DJ Falone, Chris Buettner, and Ryan Okun.
Expect the best of the best when Fredonia’s Mainstage Series offers “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)” this December.
The Department of Theatre and Dance will present five performances of this comedic “cultural touchstone” from Dec. 4 to 7 in the Alice E. Bartlett Theatre on the Fredonia campus. Show times are 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 4; Friday, Dec. 5 and Saturday, Dec. 6; with 2 p.m. matinees on Saturday, Dec. 6 and Sunday, Dec. 7.
Tickets are available online 24/7 at https://www.fredonia.edu/about/ticket-office. Tickets may also be purchased on Monday, Wednesday or Friday by phone at 716-673-3501 or in person at the Campus Ticket Office in the Williams Center during the same hours.
“Comedy is key. Our objective with this and in the writing is pure comedic entertainment,” said Director Paul W. Mockovak, distinguished teaching professor. “The authors use Shakespeare as their subject so there are many familiar references but done with a twist or comedic angle. The play has been around for over 20 years and has had several updates. Ours is a compilation of the best of them all.”
Written by Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield, “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)” became a worldwide phenomenon upon its debut in 1987, earning the title of London’s longest-running comedy after a decade at the Criterion Theatre.
It is one of the world’s most frequently produced plays and has been translated into several dozen languages. Featured are all 37 of Shakespeare’s plays and with a fast paced, witty and physical approach, it’s “full of laughter for Shakespeare lovers and haters alike.”
“Our job is simply to bring it from the two-dimensional world of the script to the three-dimensional world of the Bartlett theatre,” Mockovak said. “Some of Shakespeare’s plays are given more stage time than others. One moment I particularly like is that we encompass all the comedies into one segment that covers the many plot devices that they use.”
While the original was written for three actors, the Mainstage version has been expanded to six actors.
“This gives more of our talented students the chance to participate,” Mockovak said “I also have six great understudies who are equally nimble with the text and pacing. Add in a design team, their assistants, stage management, building crew, and running crew and we have approximately 60-plus students involved in this production as well as faculty designers and supervisors. Let’s not forget our great front of house management and ticket office for performances.”
The director also noted this Theatre and Dance production will be “a visual feast of sorts.”
“Jessica Lustig (assistant professor) has designed fantastic costumes and that combined with the comedy and farce-paced humor should keep the audience attentive and entertained,” Mockovak said. “There is also an audience participation element. No need for anyone to worry – it’s a large group component I think the audience will enjoy.”
As for whether the play appeals more to Shakespeare lovers or Shakespeare haters, the director calls it a draw.
“The Shakespeare lovers I hope will enjoy the nod to the many scripts and famous lines and those who are less familiar will find humor in the approach and delivery of the humor,” Mockovak said. “My hope is that the audience takeaway is one of being entertained and that they had a good time.”
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