The dear luvvies and their references to the ‘Scottish play’ have always made me smile – possibly more at them than with them. I think I got this from my father, who took me to see A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in London when I was probably about 8 years old. Amazingly for London, it was not raining on that day mid summer’s eve, and we had a glorious time watching what is basically the world’s first romcom.
The team at the SRT did a similarly amazing job producing what is essentially a condensing of 37 plays into 97 minutes with three rather brilliant and talented actors: Erwin Shah Ismail, Tia Andrea Guttensohn and Shane Mardjuki. These thespians produced a high voltage and volume hour and a half of slapstick amusement, while quoting some of that Baird’s most memorable lines such as this great one from ‘the Scottish play’: ‘To be, or not to be: that is the question…’ and ‘Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio, a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy.’
The Complete works of Shakespeare [Abridged} is London’s longest-running comedy, and is an irreverent, fast-paced romp through the best bits of the Bard’s plays. I was accompanied by my 15-year-old daughter, who found the whole spectacle entertaining. I believe it may even be a catalyst for her to actually watch some of the plays on YouTube!
The Complete works of Shakespeare [Abridged] gets five stars from us and a recommendation to go and hoot with laughter for 97 mins.
Get your tickets here: https://ticketing.srt.com.sg/srt/booking/shake0921
