This is nothing like your high school English class.
Actors Doug McDonald, Mike Grant and Gerard Gouthro are practicing their sword fighting, all the while shouting out Shakespearian lines at breakneck speed.
They are adding humour at every possible opportunity.
Gouthro, casually walks over to Grant and takes a close look when he does the line, “A hit, a palpable hit.”
This is one of many rehearsal nights that are filled with laughter at the Elmira Theatre Company’s Howard Avenue theatre, in preparation for this fall’s production of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged.
“It is nothing like what people think the title is — especially for people who hated Shakespeare in school,” said director Deb Deckert, who recalls English classes where students had to read and analyze passages from Shakespearian plays.
“It was never meant to be read and parsed,” said Deckert. “Shakespeare never ever meant for that stuff to be written out, including punctuation. It is meant to be acted out.”
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged does more than that. It pokes fun at the seriousness that surrounds Shakespeare’s work, making the play more like Monty Python and the Holy Grail than Romeo and Juliet.
And the three actors in the play — Grant, Gouthro and McDonald — are required to take on all the roles, which means more than a few scenes in drag.
Deckert said there are innumerable crazy scenes in the play, including when the actors present Othello as a rap.
“It’s hysterical watching them do hip-hop moves,” said Deckert.
“Even the light booth gets involved, responding to actor’s requests,” said Deckert. “It’s very different. They do the whole of Hamlet, then do it in fast motion, and then do it backwards.”
Deckert said that there is actually a show behind the show with the backstage work, as the actors will be making very quick costume and prop changes, making for some frantic moments backstage.
“When the actors come off, the crew has to be ready with the right costume, and the right prop.”
It will all lead to some great theatre for local patrons — whether they are fans of Shakespeare, or not.
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged will run from Sept. 10 to Sept. 19. Tickets are $18 each and are available through the Centre in the Square box office, at 519-578-1570, or 1-800-265-8977.