Review: THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (abridged) (revised) by STNJ is a Gem

"May The Bard be with you."

-The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) (revised)

Put The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (STNJ) Outdoor Stage on your summer entertainment schedule. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) (revised) is now being performed through July 31st. The show enjoys wonderful direction by Jeffrey M. Bender and is cleverly crafted by Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield. Gather your group, pack a picnic and relax under the stars as you delight in the raucous and zany journey through Shakespeare's entire cannon. The show was last seen on the Outdoor Stage in 2008 and this season's production has some great new surprises. This show is a gem that will surely please a broad audience from youngsters to adults.

In The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) (revised), 37 plays are being presented in a dynamic 97 minutes. Whether you're a classics aficionado or new to Shakespeare's works, you will appreciate each and every moment of the show. Pieces are presented in the most inventive ways including a rap version of Othello and football plays with kings from the Histories. Shakespeare's Sonnets, his Comedies and original words and phrases are all included in the performance. And while hilarity ensues, the tenor of the The Bard's works has been meticulously maintained.

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) (revised) is performed by three of the company's brilliant actors, Jon Barker, Connor Carew and Patrick Toon. The thespians thrill the audience with their fast-paced dialogue and farcical characterizations. The three perform unforgettable portrayals like Carew as Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Toon as King Richard in Richard III, and Barker as Hamlet in The Tragedy of Hamlet. You will be on the edge of your seat wondering what will happen next.

The Artistic Staff does a great job of bringing The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) (revised) to life with scenic design by Ben Kramer, lighting design by Hamilton E.S. Smith and costume design by Tiffany Lent. Jackie Mariani is the Production Stage Manager.

Don't miss STNJ's Outdoor Stage production of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) (revised). You'll be musing and chuckling about it long after the curtain call.

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) (revised) runs for approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes with a 15-minute intermission. The Outdoor Stage amphitheater is located at 2 Convent Road (off Rte. 124) Convent Station in Morris Township. Performances are Tuesdays through Sundays at 8:00 p.m., with a special twilight performance on Sundays at 4:30 p.m. Thanks to generous support from the National Endowment for the Arts, guests 18 years old and under can attend free. This is a perfect opportunity for young people to experience great theater. Bank of America customers can purchase tickets for the Outdoor stage at a great discount of $25 by using the cods "BOFA" and/or with the presentation of their bank card at the box office. For more information call the box office at 973.408.5600 or visit www.shakespearenj.org.

Photo Credit: Jerry Dalia

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