The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)

By Adam Long, Daniel Singer, Jess Winfield

Directed by Kathy Hiteman

If you think it’s not possible to make Shakespeare’s musty 400 year-old plays accessible to a modern audience, prepare for a pleasant surprise. Your intellectual salvation is here! Come witness the magic, the genius, the towering grandeur of every play ever written by William Shakespeare, all of them together in two acts of raucous, hilarious, grab your gut, post modern revelry. The theater of the absurd is turned on its side with this ensemble cast featuring The Royal Family Cheerleading Squad, King John anchoring the defense at nose tackle, the Id, the Ego, the Superego, a punk named Iago and a ‘chump sucker’ by the name o’ Cassio. Hamlet’s Ghost is upstaged only by special effects that rival Avatar. Puppet sharks, butcher knives, a rubber skull and a battery-operated dinosaur all have their exits and entrances. It takes place against the familiar backdrop of knockdown, drag-out mud-fights, epic (if somewhat abbreviated) swordfights, a kidnapping, pre-modern romance, jealousy, murder (Murther!), and revenge. Careful observers may catch the conscience of the king, which is rumored to exist, but only via green monsters, sweat socks, ugly wigs, Titus Androgynous and an Ophelia named Bob. You don’t need to know (or even like) Shakespeare to get this one. It’s original, it’s fresh, it’s live. You dare not miss it!

Produced by Middleton High School Drama at Middleton Performing Arts Center, Middleton High School, 2100 Bristol Street,Middleton

Performances: March 3-5, 2011

Performance Times: 7:00 p.m.

Ticket Prices: $5 seniors and students, $7 adults

Call 608-829-9608 for reservations or more information.