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Miranda McGee, Justin McCombs, and Geoffrey Warren Barnes II in “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)”
Photo credit: Mikki Schaffner Photography

An abridged and uproariously funny romp

When you think of William Shakespeare, what comes to mind? Genius playwright. Creative. Prolific. Humorous. Dramatic. Tragic. Sometimes long-winded and confusing. Painful high school papers. Dead (for quite a while now). Yes, all that and…

When you think of William Shakespeare, what comes to mind? Genius playwright. Creative. Prolific. Humorous. Dramatic. Tragic. Sometimes long-winded and confusing. Painful high school papers. Dead (for quite a while now).

Yes, all that and more, but none of those descriptors come close to capturing the comedic brilliance that Cincinnati Shakespeare Company delivers in their 25th Anniversary Season Opener, “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged).” Written by Jess Winfield, Adam Long and Daniel Singer, this show tackles the seemingly impossible mission of bringing to life the entirety of Shakespeare’s work (including a nod to his 154 sonnets) in less than two hours through the Monty Python-esque vision of a wildly talented artistic director (Sara Clark) and the hilarious exploits of three actors. From comedies to histories to tragedies, this show is an utterly irreverent romp through the Bard’s work, leveraging every one of the revered playwright’s tropes, endearing yet inexplicable costumes and props and an unexpectedly delicious dose of improvisation and audience participation. Abridged but in no way limited, this show is uproariously funny as it showcases the brilliance of Shakespeare with a nod to modern day non-sensibilities, reminding us emphatically that “all the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players” (Jacques in “As You Like It”).

Geoffrey Warren Barnes II
Photo credit: Mikki Schaffner Photography

While Shakespeare may have provided the inspiration and foundation material, the success of this show is driven by the unleashed comedic chops of the three resident ensemble stars, Geoffrey Warren Barnes II, Justin McCombs, and Miranda McGee. They successfully deliver wickedly quick dialogue that interweaves the delicate intricacies of Shakespearean language with the more visceral and obvious humor of modern day miasmic pop trivia. With the audience laughing so hard, they may miss how exceptionally talented these three actors are, were it not for the moments of poignant social commentary that pop up unexpectedly. Barnes’s physical comedy is a feat in and of itself, but he also manages to deliver low-brow slapstick in the most high-brow of manners. McCombs outrageously channels the epitome of Puck’s sentiment “Lord, what fools these mortals be!” throughout until he reminds us of the sheer power of Shakespeare’s dramatic monologues and his own prowess as an actor. McGee opens and closes the show with an infectious energy that carries the audience along for the ride, dissolving us all into giggles at her obvious delight at the absurdity of their antics. We shall forever more enjoy the immortal words, “To be or not to be,” or is it, “Be to not or be to?!”

With no intention of spoiling your personal discovery of this show, it does fully embrace a bawdy and raunchier approach that will leave your cheeks aching and your sides splitting. That said, you may want to leave your younger ones at home for this one, lest you be compelled to explain certain topics that may be better served with more life experience under their belts. But rest assured that the CSC has already found a solution for those of you looking for a well-deserved break by offering a “Playdate” program on August 4 and 5 that will provide artist-led childcare during the performance (only $15 and free to subscribers)! And for those of you concerned that you may not be as familiar or enthralled with Shakespeare, this show manages to find a sweet spot for everyone throughout the rapid-fire plot dipping. By the end of the show, you will have embraced Shakespeare’s epitaph, “With mirth and laughter, let old wrinkles come.” (“The Merchant of Venice”) Quick Hint: Take the time to look through your program and enjoy the Shakespearean Comedy Bingo from “Good Tickle Brain.”

Photo credit: Mikki Schaffner Photography

Cheers to Cincinnati Shakespeare Company on their 25th Anniversary and a fantastic season opener. “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)” runs July 20-August 11, with performances on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. If you have not already been to CSC, it is an outstanding arts venue that embodies the vision of the original Globe Theater to embrace the audience and make them an integral part of the performance (not to mention an excellent bar right outside the show doors). This organization is clearly living the words of Shakespeare: “Be not afraid of greatness.”

Christi Geary is the proud mom of two girls (8 and 11), best friend and wife of her husband Brian, and an Associate Director at the Procter & Gamble Company focused on shopper innovation insights and analytics. She enjoys and participates in art of every kind, feeds an insatiable curiosity for learning every day through books and connecting with others, pursues different forms of exercise when she can find the time to balance out her foodie predilection (highly recommend DanceFix and Pilates Reformer), and delights in spending time with family and friends. Writing reviews for the arts is an absolute privilege and one she cherishes every day, with the hope that sharing her perspective will inspire others to embrace the arts.