The Fast And The Furious

Shakespeare fun for everyone in ‘Abridged’ version

Nathan Stockemer, from left, Summer Robinson and Aaron Ray will perform all of Shakespeare’s plays in 90 minutes at Fort Smith Little Theatre’s production of “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged).”
Nathan Stockemer, from left, Summer Robinson and Aaron Ray will perform all of Shakespeare’s plays in 90 minutes at Fort Smith Little Theatre’s production of “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged).”

Actor Brandon Bolin says he was drawn to directing because he thought he needed a different perspective on theater. "I wanted the experience of being on the other side of the stage, and having to work not just with other actors, but with backstage people, designers, producers -- as an actor, I think it's so easy to get locked into what you're doing and lose focus in what's going on around you."

At Fort Smith Little Theatre, Bolin has boldly taken on what surely must be one of the more challenging choices for a first-time director: "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)" requires just three actors to perform Shakespeare's library in its entirety. And since the show runs a mere 90 minutes, they must do this quickly. Bolin says this requires a lot of precise navigation.

FAQ

‘The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)’

WHEN — 7:30 p.m. Thursday through April 22

WHERE — Fort Smith Little Theatre, 401 N. Sixth St.

COST — $5

INFO — 783-2966

"As a director, I need to make sure we have enough people to help the actors, because it does move so fast," he says. "There aren't scene changes, the lights don't come down -- it all has to happen backstage, in those quick moments when they are off stage. We have to make sure that the timing is precise, making sure everything is moving smoothly. That's a big challenge."

Bolin says he has been a fan of the show for some time.

"I like it not only because I think the show is hilarious, but because you're getting Shakespeare -- but in a way that's completely accessible to everyone. Whether you love him, hate him, think he's boring, there's something in here that you will enjoy, and whether you realize it or not, you're still getting bits of Shakespeare, and his plots and characters. Shakespeare in an improv setting, with high brow and low brow humor, terrible puns, physical comedy -- multiple kinds of comedy that come together in one show."

Bolin says the show's broad humor is perfect for spring.

"As we're getting ready and closer to summertime, people are wanting some lighthearted humor," he says. "I've been hearing these lines for weeks, and I still crack up every time. You can come and laugh your head off and enjoy some live theater."

-- Lara Hightower

[email protected]

NAN What's Up on 04/14/2017

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