World Famous Comics: The Reduced Shakespeare Company - The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)
The Reduced Shakespeare Company - The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)
Starring: Adam Long, Reed Martin, Austin Tichenor, Daniel Singer Directed By: Paul Kafno Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated) Binding: DVD Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC Number of Items: 1 Region Code: 1 Release Date: May 01, 2003 Running Time: 88 minutes Studio: Acorn Media Theatrical Release Date: 2000
Product Description: Studio: Acorn Media Release Date: 07/08/2003 Run time: 90 minutes Rating: Nr
Amazon.com: Ah, Shakespeare. The great bard. You've heard he's a terrific writer. One of these days, you may actually get around to catching one of his plays. Yeah, right. Well, with the help of the Reduced Shakespeare Company, not only can you catch all of Shakespeare's plays at once, but you can have a riotous good time doing so.
Three men performing 37 plays in less than two hours may seem a bit of a stretch. But Adam Long, Reed Martin, and Austin Tichenor--all members of the Reduced Shakespeare Company--pull it off beautifully with The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), a slapstick show that summarizes the playwright's stage work (with the sonnets thrown in). Never read Titus Andronicus? No problem; it's presented here as a cooking show. Can't keep your Shakespearean histories straight? Visualize them as a football game. Wondering what exactly is the deal with that guy Othello? Hear his story as a rap song. Hard as it is to imagine, this video of the stage show (originally seen on PBS) is one of the funniest, most clever productions around. Long is hysterical in his roles of Juliet and Ophelia (among others), bringing a hip, edgy feel to the plays while remaining surprisingly true to the stories. Martin and Tichenor will amaze with their acrobatic movements and frequent costume changes, and the three together are a marvel of timing and rhythm. Best of all, whether you know Shakespeare inside out or have yet to read a word of him, The Complete Works will have you in stitches. --Jenny Brown
A pleasure, not an education ^ I read a number of reviews of this presentation before I purchased it. Some reviewers expected too much! I think it can be summarized in the following statements: 1. It is quite humorous, even at the points where it might seem a little "low-brow". 2. You certainly will appreciate it more, if you have more familiarity with Shakespeare's works. 3. It is not well-suited to provide a "summary" for those who are reading Shakespeare, but it will make the journey more pleasurable! 4. I would compare the style of this work to Monty Python on the one hand, and P.D.Q. Bach on the other -- well worth the experience if you like either of these.
good movie for all ages ^ this was a creative and inventive not to meention funny take on shakespeare. very well done, enjoyable to watch and entertaining.
A delightful romp through Shakespeare! ^ This is a delightfully condensed re-telling of Shakespeare's works.The "company" is three guys with the fabulous idea of taking really long things and condensing them into short comedies. I had rented this and found it funny, but my 12 year old loved it so much I bought her a copy. She made a point of sharing this with her friends, and still runs it off and on! The RSC has a website: [...] , and it looks like they have podcasts and are on the road and even reducing LOST! I recommend this DVD!
Too funny- but not for all ages ^ This is condensed Shakespeare at its best! Although a bit ribald in places, these guys are sooo hilarious. The play in it's entirety is NOT for all ages, although there are parts that the kids will enjoy. Ah, if the Bard himself were to see this adaptation, he just might enjoy it too.
FUNNIEST THEATER-TAPED DVD I'VE EVER SEEN ^ While I'm ignorant on Shakespeare works, I enjoy laughing. This DVD got me rolling. It's hilarious beyond expectation. Unsure about it's content, I bought it used, both my wife and I were laughing uncontrollable. Caution: keep the pause button at a fingers length because you will need to use it frequently to allow your own laughter to subside. Otherwise you will miss some of the very fast paced gags and dialogue that never seem to slow down for laughing periods.
Being review #100, and the first review of 2010, for a DVD that was released seven years ago seems frivolous. But this comedy team, it's content, and she sheer delight of comedy entertainment, regardless of your academic knowledge of Shakespeare, demands a review...6 stars if it were allowed. And it's impossible to pick out a segment or a point in the production to call the pinnacle of it's comedy. It is 88 minutes of continual amusement at the expense of a sacrilege abridgment of The complete Works of William S. The acting and antics of Adam Long, Reed Martin, & Austin Tichenor, clowns all, are in themselves worthy of the experience even if your inexperience with Shakespeare allow none of the subtle bits connected with the bards writing. Props rival those of Gallagher and his "sledge-o-matic." Audience interaction is as funny as the stage production. Costumes add to the humor. The 3 brilliant players occasional tickle their own funny bones similar to the self-amusement of Red Skelton.
Also be ready with the reverse on the remote. In "Hamlet" the side-splitting is so fast you'll find yourself backing up to catch all the humor, all the dialogue, all the antics, & all the Shakespearean abuse. SUBTITLES and/or CC help in catching all of the super fast ridiculous take on Shakespeare. And when it's all over, and your breath recovers (and those side aches from laughing) there's plenty of special features. The DVD case warning says it all: "High-speed hilarity. Not for people with weak hearts or English degrees!" It just takes a willingness to laugh till it hurts.
Highly recommended. The last time I wanted to award 6 stars was not for comedy, but for a British Drama/Mystery/Historical DVD set called: Foyle's War: Series 1-5 - From Dunkirk to VE-Day.
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