Last Thursday I did not know I was up for such a laughter ridden evening. I have never seen a play at the Schwartz center so I did not know what to expect. Where they going to be like the plays put on at the Lawrence Art Center at home? Would it be filled with even more jokes? Would the actors be like any old theater kid or would they be serious 100% of the time with little time to goof off or laugh. I knew I was going to see The Complete Works of Shakespeare Abridged, but I did not expect it to be so thorough with room for humor and education.

I was excited to see a black actor taking on the leading role. That was in fact the first time I had ever seen a black woman play a major role in a theatrical production. She and the rest of the cast took on various roles in order to relay the significance behind Shakespeare’s works. It has been said that humor is the most telling sign of intelligence. This cast in particular did that and more. At times I thought that the story lines were in impromptu,  but they have mastered their craft in such a way that they do not come across as overly rehearsed. Though almost everyone in the small cast took on multiple roles, some more than others, each person still maintained a piece of their identity through out the production. I even enjoyed the stage set up. It was the first thing I noticed when I walked in. At the focal point of it all there was a sarcastic picture of Shakespeare, he looked scarred yet annoyed.

The production seemed especially relatable to all audiences, but especially for college students. This was also the first time I went to a play where I did not know any of the cast members, in the past I would go to such events to support a friend, not because I particularly enjoyed the experience. After seeing this I told everyone that they should check it out the following weekend it is out. The Complete Works of Shakespeare Abridged has made me even more inclined to visit the Schwartz center on my own accord.