Confused by Confucius? Thoroughly thrown by Thoreau? Wish Swift was swifter? Then buckle up and hop aboard as the three cultural guerrillas of the Reduced Shakespeare Company zip through everything you didn’t get around to reading in school in All The Great Books (Abridged). This troupe takes you on a 98-minute roller-coaster ride through its compact compendium of the world’s great books. The literary canon explodes as the bad boys of abridgement unleash a brand-new comic outrage on an unsuspecting public.
Since its pass-the-hat origins in 1981, the Reduced Shakespeare Company has created 10 world-renowned stage shows, two television specials, several failed television pilots and numerous radio pieces, all of which have been performed, seen and heard the world over. You can witness their newest performance at Walton Arts Center on Tuesday, Oct. 7 at 7 pm.
The Reduced Shakespeare Company are presented as part of the 10x10 Art Series, an intriguing and innovative showcase of art forms, meticulously curated to satisfy the artistic curiosity of the Northwest Arkansas community.
To prepare for their performance, we asked troupe member Doug Harvey to answer 10 questions.
What can audiences expect when they come see this performance?
They can expect to laugh. Hopefully at the jokes, not us. But hey, a laugh's a laugh.
What makes a Reduced Shakespeare performance special or unique?
It's a mocktail of highbrow and lowbrow humor. There's something for every type of audience: young, old, happy, grumpy. Haters and pun-lovers alike. You need not be a fan of books or Shakespeare to enjoy it.
What drew you to this performance field?
A need for attention…and a chance to talk to girls. I've since fallen in love with it for so many other reasons, namely that I think theater (and laughter) can disarm people, change hearts and minds, and bring us together.
What are some memorable experiences you’ve had while sharing this performance with others?
I once mispronounced an audience member's last name during the performance and what came out was a rather Freudian slip. The audience member was an extremely good sport (though my cast mates are making sure to rib me about it forever.) We even ran into the same audience member at a local fair the next day and took a photo!
Do you have any pre-show rituals or warm-ups? If so, what are they?
I have quite a few. I like to do a Michael Jordan and "walk the court" before each show if I can. In other words, I envision myself saying or receiving a line in a particular spot, sort of like imagining taking the game-winning shot.
Do you have a favorite part of the show?
There's a particularly chaotic bit where the Professor and I are just a revolving door of costumes that Coach throws back in our faces. It's so fast we don't really have time to think about anything but throwing on a wig/mask/toga. Luckily, Grace, our costume runner, is extremely on top of everything.
Pick 5 words that best describe your work.
Zippy. Rocket. Earnest. Curious. Jamboree. I just picked that last one cuz it's a great word.
What is the best advice that you have been given?
Try to embarrass yourself once a day. Something akin to: Take risks and challenge yourself. It's the only way to grow.
To prepare for this show, did you read all these great books?
I can definitively say that I have read the title page to War and Peace.
What songs, podcasts, artists or comedians are you currently listening to?
Songs: Always coming back to Tom Petty, RIP. Podcast: The Rewatchables. Artist: David Alfaro Siqueiros. Comedian: George Carlin