3 Bros - Three guys. Thirty-six plays. Two hours. Can it be done?
Sure, it can! All right, you'll have to condense a bit, but those comedies are all really the same anyway, and hey, the rules of royal succession were so weird that the histories sound like some arcane football game, so let's just do that with that, and you know, we can fit the sonnets on an index card if we really have to, and does Hamlet really have to be so long?
Yes, The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr (Abridged) is exactly what it sounds like: a fast-paced, irreverent, nearly manic take on such a cultural treasure as Shakespeare's entire body of work. And it's a laugh riot.
Three Brothers brings the popular show to Cedar Rapids this weekend (it's playing at the Paul Engle Center for Neighborhood Arts) and to Iowa City next weekend (at Public Space One). Kerry Kieler directs. Richard W. Adams, Justin Mangrich and Nick Ostrem star as... well, Richard W. Adams, Justin Mangrich and Nick Ostrem.
The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr (Abridged) smashes directly through the fourth wall and takes us on a journey through what are widely regarded as the best plays of all time. We start with a two-man, ten-minute version of Romeo and Juliet; Ostrem and Mangrich play all the parts, while Adams narrates. The result is energetic, silly, and quite fun. They continue through Shakespeare's plays in this vein, often contextualizing them in clever and funny ways. For example, Titus Andronicus could be a cooking show... albeit a rather gross one. And Othello could be brought up to date with a little bit of hip-hop. And Troilus and Cressida... well, they're not quite sure about that one.
A big deal is made over whether Troilus and Cressida should be presented as as scholarly lecture, an interpretative dance, or something in-between. Adams is eager to share his theory that the works of Shakespeare were really written by Elvis Presley, Mangrich is calling on his ballet training, while Ostrem has donned his boxing gloves and is ready to go. This leads to a complete breakdown, as Adams struggles to explain the plot to Ostrem and Mangrich sits down in the audience in protest.
Compleat Works has many moments like this, where the plot of the show is more about interpreting Shakespeare than doing Shakespeare. It's a show about collaboration, creativity, and conflict. This means they parody some cliches about the theatrical process (getting the audience to play along as they "workshop" Ophelia's scream), but it also means they bicker in front of the audience, one-up each other with exaggerated performances, and at times completely break down and refuse to continue with the project. The first act ends with Mangrich leaving the theatre, being emotionally unprepared for Hamlet.
All this back-and-forth and metacommentary requires a really tight ensemble that feeds off of each other well. This group does a fantastic job; they're tuned in to each other, they're always willing to go all the way for a bit, and they understand that the show requires a lot of rapid-fire switching of roles, both as different Shakespeare characters and as the straight man or funny guy in a scene.
As individudal performers, they're great comic actors. Adams is charming and smooth; he can sell a really silly bit with a straight face, he's able to turn on a dime, and when things aren't going well for the project, he's able to summon a hilarious full-body panic that keeps the show rolling along. Ostrem shows a lot of range in this piece, and his different Shakespearean characters are very distinct. He also has excellent comic timing, and can always be counted on to set up a gag or hit it precisely. Mangrich is the loose cannon of the group, over-the-top, larger-than-life, and absolutely hilarious. His exaggerated rage with Tybalt is priceless, and his petulant refusals to play along with the game are some of the best scenes in the show.
Director Kerry Kieler's guidance shows in the cohesiveness and steady pacing of the show. It appears to start rather slowly, but they're just getting warmed up; this piece is a marathon of manic activity, and the performers push through with restless energy. The staging is effective, the physical comedy is well-choreographed, and the entire feel of the show is one of a sweaty, visceral, long-form improv in iambic pentameter. The high level of commitment, flexibility and energy from this company makes this production a success. It's a testament to the spirit of "the show must go on," the willingness to try anything. Near the end of the show, when Mangrich worries about whether they can do Hamlet justice, Adams encourages him: "We don't have to do it justice. We just have to do it!" With Compleat Works, Three Brothers does both.
The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr (Abridged) runs June 8 - 10 at the Paul Engle Center for Neighborhood Arts (1600 4th Ave SE in Cedar Rapids), and June 15 - 17 at Public Space One (129 E Washington St in Iowa City). Show times are 8:00 (2:00 on Sundays). Tickets are $10; call 319.621.0024 or get them at the door.
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