The Bard Pays a Visit to Tech's Backdoor Playhouse

Since last weekend, the Tech Players have been performing an adapted version of "The Complete Works of Shakespeare, Abridged". Evan Montgomery, Patrick Sizemore, and Tobias Turner are scheduled to do this hilarious three-man-show again this weekend.

They will perform on Thursday, Feb. 18th at 10 p.m., Friday Feb. 19th at 8 p.m. and twice more on Saturday the 20th. This Saturday's performances will include a matinee at 2 p.m. and one at 8 p.m. Tech students get free admission when they show their Eagle ID at the door. General admission is $10, students from schools other than Tech pay $5, and senior admission is $8.

A modern twist on the classic Shakespearian texts, this play contains the best parts of 37 of Old Willy's best works! This production has been cast perfectly. Each actor puts a different spin on his character, resulting in a spine-splitting mix of sarcasm, satire, and deliberate mispronunciation.

I had the pleasure of doing sound for this show and I have seen this it performed at least 12 times. However, I have found that this delightful twist on Shakespeare's "musty 400 year old plays" never gets old. Every night these guys come up with something new to keep the audience on the edge of their seats!

The best part of the show is the amount of audience participation involved. This is not a show you can fall asleep during. If you do not listen to their directions, the actors will punish you and make you laugh at the same time. So be prepared for a little harmless teasing when you go. A few lucky audience members are singled out every night and are made to take part in the performance!

"Cut the crap Hamlet! My biological clock is ticking and I want babies NOW!" shouts audience group C to the less-than-thrilled patron pulled on stage to play Ofelia in Hamlet. If you have the slightest knowledge of Shakespeare, or even if you don't, you won't be able to subdue the urge to giggle for more than a moment.

Some of the most notable parts of the show include a royal foot ball game, a sexually-charged sock-puppet show, and the funniest case of Hamlet anxiety I have ever witnessed. Highlights also include Montgomery's fabulous job portraying Juliet, Turner's Hamlet freak-out scene, and Sizemore's astounding abilities with "his stick".

I strongly encourage you to come see and take part in one of the funniest dramatic productions I have even seen.These guys literally know the show so well, they can do it backwards!