By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
BY ALL reports Shakespeare was a fast writer but Geelong Repertory Theatre is taking the bard to new speeds.
The Geelong Rep’s latest production is The Complete Works of William Shakespeare – Abridged, ploughing through 38 plays and 154 sonnets in 100 minutes.
Surely you jest?
No, but the good actors of the Geelong Rep promise a rollicking romp with men in funny trousers, whimsical olde English, ugly wigs and a fair bit of projectile vomiting.
And what about the bad actors? Well, the Geelong Rep doesn’t have any but it does have seasoned thespian Geoff Gaskill directing a cast of “unparalleled flexibility and unquestionable talent”.
Gaskill will tackle all that left-over high school English class anguish where students struggled to find the real meaning of Shakespeare amid what often read like a foreign language.
Despite the continuing profound influence of Shakespeare on the western world, it’s the popular sound bites that really permeate society’s consciousness.
“Alas, poor Yorick”, “what’s in a name,” “to be or not to be”, “my kingdom for a horse”, and “wherefore art thou, Romeo” will all get the Geelong Rep treatment.
As if that’s not enough, the troupe will throw in music, sock puppets, severed heads, and a Hamlet to die for.
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare will be performed at Woodbin Theatre 8pm this Friday and Saturday and two matinees from 2pm Sunday.
Tickets are available from Geelong Performing Arts Centre.
