BWW Reviews: Four Favorite Actors Musically Revive Chamber Theatre's SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDED) [REVISED}

Abridged, musicized, revised and revolutionized---Milwaukee Chamber Theatre presents an innovative version of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) [Revised] in the Broadway Theatre Center's Studio Theatre by adding a fourth actor to the popular three person production. This raucous and rambunctious performance, originally conceived by Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield, entertained opening night audiences with unbridled laughter for an entire two hour evening.

While cross dressing and discussing assorted bodily functions, these four incredible actors, comedians and musicians deftly cover the Bard's more than 35 plays and give a nod to the over 125 sonnets while also performing on keyboard, percussion, saxaphone, ukelele and singing vocals. What more could an audience ask for from Chris Klopatek, Rick Pendzich, Chase Stoeger and Marcus Truschinski. If these actors' names appear familiar, they are, and here MCT audiences expereicene their multifaceted talents through the comedy medium. The physical comedy, over the -top, wacky and witty humor parody of Shakespeare literally sings in several abbreviated versions of his plays. A difficult task for any actor or director to create with charm and chutzpah.

In this production, Director Ray Jivoff allows these "boys," all alumni of the University of Wisconsin-Whtiewater theater program, to romp freely through the script that also interacts with the Studio Theater audiences. Stepping up and down the aisles while borrowing programs from their hands, often the audience and actors merge in minutes. In one very special moment when the boys redo Hamlet, the actors try to uncover Ophelia's complex emotional layers. Several audiences members were invited on stage to assist the actors in developing Ophelia's scream, to unleash her id, ego and super ego during her iconic descent into madness.

Hamlet occupies the production's entire second act, as does a large portion of Romeo and Juliet in the first act. The actors play every part, interchanging them on whim, while some unlikely heroines appear. These actors switch between their roles and into musicians fluidly. One minute Truschinski sits behind a drum, the next behind a walker inhabiting an old man. Stoeger first sings accompanied by his guitar or ukelele, and the next he floats on stage in a blonde wig wearing a skirt of pink tulle topped with shimmering sequins. The never ending action rivets the audience's eyes to the stage, if by some chance they might miss something including one of Shakespeare's complete works. Blink, and all Shakespeare's comedies become bundled in one grand skit, because as these boys determine, in each of his comedies "all ends well."

For those in Milwaukee who have previously seen this frequently produced Shakespeare parody before, check out the wonder of these marvelous hometown, home grown actors at the Broadway Theatre Center. MCT"s red hot production will chase away the seasonal cold and warm all your funny bones. Each performance may be different considering the ample opportunities for improvisation, which these actors excel at with ease. This original and melodic approach to abidged Shakespeaere opens the door to stress free, holiday humor through December 14. Laugh, be light and merry with the Bard and these four fine comedians on stage at Milwaukee Chamber Theatre this season.

Milwaukee Chamber Theatre presents The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [Revised] in the Studio Theatre Center at the Broadway Theatre Center through December 14. For further information or tickets, please call: 41.291.7800 or visit milwaukeechambertheatre.org.

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