NEWS phote Paul McGrath THREE actors, 37 plays! Left to right, Mike Busswood, Ben Odberg and Mark Gash perform The Complete Works of Shakespeare at Presentation House to Jan. 31. Brush up your Shakespeare “Suit the action to the word, the word ta the action, with this special observance, that you o'erstep not the modesty of nature.” Shakespeare, Hamlet. IT’S quite likely that Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield didn’t read that bit of Hamiet before penning The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged). A good job toe. This glorious = romp around, through and past the plays of the bard could not possibly be the fun that it is without their commitment to over-the-top, in-your-face, let’s-insult-each-other-and- the-audience comedy. It works too. The Complete Works has been running i: London for at least six years after migrating from New York, and follow- ups based an The Bible and the history of America incorporate the same irreverence of style. There is even another ver- sion of The Complete Works playing in Vancouver right now. But don’; bother secking it out, the production by I Love My Willy Players cunning at Presentation House until Jan. 31 is hilarious. I first went to sce this show in Langley sometime before Christmas. Since then, with the addition of focal actor Mark Gash, the production has tightened and seems far less self-conscious. The concept is, straightior- wardly, just what the title sug: gests. As the show begins, Gash, who has been collecting tickets at the deor, comes for- ward te explain where the exits are and haw to use the oxygen masks in the event of an emergency, He then introduces Mike Busswood, who local theatre- gocrs might remember from Glengarry Gien Ross and a Theatre B.C. production of Next, as a “premier expert” on Shakespeare from Capilano College! House lights thes come up onthe audience for the first of many umes ino the cvenmny, while our two experts compli mear ous on eur cultural and literary awareness aid secretly worry that we might know more than they do. (Tip: if you want some real fun, read King Joln befere you go and be prepared to debace what it’s really about.) The third mem- ber of the come- dy cartel is then introduced, Ben Odberg (Hendry Hall patrons will recall his good work in The Anniversary), who, while playing the female roles, turns vat co have 2 pen- chant for wearing bad wigs and vomiting on the audicace before major death scenes. Did I mention: this is not understated comedy? Faced with the challenge of making Shakespeare’s “musty, 4060-vear-old plays” accessible to a modern audicnce, our hapless hains choose to stage the bioedy revenge play Titss Andronicus as a Julia Child- style cooking show (“Bone appetit!”) and Othello as a rap by honkics that manages to rhyme Venice with penis. Did I mention thac refine- ment is not what this script is about? The 16 comedies are treat- ed as Hollywood-style formula writing (Four Weddings and a Transvestite), Macbeth gets 2 quick précis in macScottish accents, Romea and Juliet introduces the concept. of manly men wearing pink tights with pride and Troilus and Cressida meets Godzilla if 1 recall correctly. Have I clarified that there is little underscacement hap- pening here? Act TP doses with the Wars of the Roses history plays being wrapped into a sports commentary (“the quarter: back gives to the hunchback”) and the possibiliry that the audience might get to go home a bit carly since, after quick consultation, there is only Hamlet lett to go. Untortunately, Ben is over- awed by the prospect of tick ling what is arguably Shakespeare’s greatest play... ands cxits: downsrage with Mike in hor pursuit, leaving Mark to lamely improvise in their absence. (“Tf vou take the Tout of Orbella i's O helio!) PE owoulda’t want to. spoil the deficate treatment that Heonlet ultimately receives from our three thespians, but net only is the play recreated, the audience gets an insight into what makes a method actor tick. Gpening nighi, North Vancouver District Councilior Lisa Muri, drew the short straw and made her dramatic debut as Ophelia. Mike: “What's your name?” Muri: “Lisa.” Mike: “Can we call you Bob?” Mayor Den Bell, who was also in the audience, was so taken with this line of repartee he had Mun’s placename altered at Monday's council mecting to read “Bob Muri.” Subtle it ain't. 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