BWW Reviews: The Bad Boys of Abridgement are Back! The RSC at the New Vic, now through November 6th!
By: Trish Vignola Oct. 24, 2011
The "Bad Boys of Abridgement" are back. The Reduced Shakespeare Company (RSC) has hit the Big Apple with their newest installment – The Complete World of Sports [Abridged]. Running now through November 6th at The New Victory Theatre, the RSC, a three-man comedy troupe, looks like a cast of thousands. The Complete World of Sports [Abridged] takes on every sport (give or take) ever played in ninety minutes. That's like what…. one inning of Red Sox/Yankees Baseball?
I'm not going to lie. It's hard, coming from Sketch/Improv background like myself, to not know about The Reduced Shakespeare Company. Their fast, physical wit is what every Sketch Comedian and Improviser aspires to work toward.
I have to admit that this is the first time I've see these guys live. Nonetheless, I was glad for it. Nowhere is a comedic revue more appropriate about the history of sports than in New York City. After all, we are home to one of professional sports more memorable jokes – the New York Mets. What? Too Soon? Not for the RSC. They make at least two Mets references in less time than it takes to make your way down 42nd Street.
The Complete World of Sports comes through in the clutch. It's extremely smart and funny. It's a perfect mixture of jokes for both the adults as well as the children in the crowd.
The RSC cast, ReEd Martin, Austin Tichenor and Matt Rippy, do a wonderful job bringing the audience along for this fast-paced ride. By the time we get to the audience-participation part of the show, the adults were as eager, if not more, than the children to play. That's a pretty astounding fete to accomplish, especially with the savvy theatre patrons of New York.
Not giving anything away, my favorite moment of the show has to be the Synchronized Swimming competition at the end. Performed in mine, the physical comedy was spot on. It completely harkened back to Martin Short and Harry Shearer on Saturday Night Live. That reference might be thirty years old, but it only goes to prove, funny is funny.
The Complete World of Sports [Abridged], perhaps not for our youngest theatre patrons with comedy best suited for an audience thirteen and older, is a wonderful time. It is a great option for families who cannot get in to Spiderman: Turn off the Dark. The Reduced Shakespeare Company is in town now through November 6th and tickets are available through www.newvictory.org. The RSC is also available on Facebook, Twitter and iTunes.
Comments
Videos