Zany Shakespeare parody opens April 28 at Warwick Winery

| 29 Sep 2011 | 08:24

    Warwick, N.Y. - The Illustrious Theatre Company at the Warwick Valley Winery, best known for its summer outdoor “Shakespeare in the Orchard” productions, will warm up for the summer with an irreverent, zany comedy, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged). The play will run on two successive weekends beginning April 28. Authored by Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield, The Complete Works... was a record-breaking hit in London in 1987, followed by a successful run at the West Side Arts Theatre in NYC in 1995. In this parody of Shakespeare’s works, three actors perform all 37 of his plays in about 97 minutes. Shakespeare’s sonnets are reduced to eight lines, his comedies condensed to a single short sketch, and his tragedies are unmercifully spoofed. Ben Brantley of the N.Y. Times wrote, “the play embodies one of comedy’s most essential impulses: the adolescent urge to take a baseball bat to the culturally revered.” The humor has been described as a combination of Mel Brooks, Monty Python and Bugs Bunny. The Illustrious production of The Complete Works... is directed by Mary Clifford, the company’s artistic director, who will also be directing this summer’s Romeo and Juliet. The cast of Complete Works includes Thom Gomez of Monroe, N.Y., Michael Frohnhoefer of New Windsor, N.Y., and Steve Runske of Vernon. Performances are at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 7:30 p.m. on Sundays. Seating, cabaret style, begins 90 minutes before curtain for those planning to order food from the bistro-style menu; food orders must be placed at least 45 minutes before curtain. Tickets at $17 ($15 for seniors and children under 12) are on sale at the winery, located at 114 Little York Rd. in the Pine Island section of Warwick, or at The Bookstore, located at 20 Main St.in Warwick, or can be ordered by phone at 845-258-4858. Advance purchase is recommended. For directions, log on to wvwinery.com or theillustrioustheatre.org, or call 845-258-4858. For theeatre information, call 973-764-4936.