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NEWS
Condensed Shakespeare even raunchier after midnight
By Brittany Matthews, "The Independent Florida Alligator"
If it doesn't have sexual references, crude sarcasm and a fast-paced
plot, most students aren't interested in seeing a play. Throw in
Shakespeare, and more heads will turn away.
But when three guys dressed in red Converse, pink tights, laced black
basketball shorts and sometimes even wigs play every Shakespearean
character ever created, it adds up to a comical 90 minutes.
Friday was the opening night of The Complete Works of William
Shakespeare Abridged.
The Black Box Theatre at the Nadine McGuire Theatre and Dance Pavilion
on UF's campus, which was packed with at least 100 people, felt like it
had been transformed into a live Will Ferrell movie - the actors didn't
have any restrictions on what, or whom, they made fun of.
"These guys have gotten to take everything they've ever learned about
Shakespeare and throw it out the window," said Mary Runyon, who flew
from New York to see her boyfriend perform.
To keep the audience in check, the actors continuously brought out
outlandish props - they even incorporated a remote-controlled dinosaur.
A giant rendition of Shakespeare's head was used as an on-stage dressing
room and the costumes themselves were entertaining.
One UF student, who transferred from Korea one year ago to pursue an
accounting graduate degree, was laughing despite the language barrier.
"The actors and the action is funny," said Yeonhee Shin. "I just wish I
could understand it all."
Jennifer Setaro, an early childhood education junior, agreed about the
play's humor.
"I want to go to a midnight showing," she added. "I heard it's even
raunchier."
Regardless of the play's Saturday Night Live style, at times,
interpreting the Shakespearian stories doth ask too much, methinks.
The fast-paced plotline kept things moving, but only knowing three or
four of Shakespeare's works made the rest of the characters a little
hard to follow.
The dirty jokes, Gator references and guy-turned-Juliet were the
highlights, but laughter could be heard throughout the play.
With a MySpace.com profile for "Willy Abridged!" the crew of this
Shakespearian cast wants you to be Willy's friend.
The play runs Thursday through Sunday, June 14 to Aug.12. More
information can be found at the Web site,
www.willyabridged.com.
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