Shakespeare is an Idiot

Posted by roguereporter - January 28th, 2008 -

Published in 3/1 Sat., 3/2 Sun., 3/6 Thurs., 3/7 Fri., Dianna's South, MAINSTAGE, VIDEO

Mr. Marlowe’s English Class
Fresno, CA
shakesidiot.blogspot.com
Genre: Play-Comedy
Rating: PG-13, teens and older 50 minutes
Contains some language
Late-comers permitted within 15 Minutes

VENUE: MAINSTAGE @ dianna’s south 726 n. fulton *CLICK FOR MAP

“Remember high school? Remember reading all that Shakespeare stuff? Remember thinking how stupid those characters were?

Well, in our play, not everybody has to die at the end. Not everybody.”

TICKET PRICE: $5
10:00 PM, Sat., 3/1
2:30 PM, Sun., 3/2
8:30 PM, Thurs., 3/6
7:00 PM, Sat., 3/8

12 users Commented/Reviewed On " Shakespeare is an Idiot "

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102. Mystical_Raisin aka Marshall Myers said

in March 2nd, 2008 at 1:18 am

To paraphrase Jeffrey Rush “Love, Laughter, and a bit with a dog. . .”….. “Like oh my G-d, it was like totally making sense…” one naturally blonde Southern California native commented to me after the show. Skip thee hence for the Rogue’s the thing. . . ah, you know the rest. Brilliantly funny.

115. steph said

in March 2nd, 2008 at 3:57 am

Here’s where I tread lightly, as these are my friends and cohorts.

First off, the show sold out.

Second off, they’ve been the kings of promo (BITS=Butts in the Seats) this year.

The show has Mr. Marlowe teaching us, his students, about Shakespeare, using some local ‘actors’ to recite some stuff from some plays.

Mr. Marlowe has some commentary to share, indeed.

The show works as a 15-minute camp skit. As a 45+ minute show, I don’t know. This is an MTV world, and people expect edited pieces. The cutesy skit characters are fun…for about 1 minute.

Mr. Marlowe’s asides and comments couldn’t be heard by us in the back half of the audience (Will should sit on stage).

At one point they use an audience member. It’s a funny bit that works, but then…poof. It’s gone.

The ‘actors’ all do pretty well with their overacting, funny bits, and characterizations, but the show needn’t do the ‘Macbeth’ bit 4-5 times for us to get it. It was funny twice.

The improv moments don’t work, Will tonight seemed to not know his lines and Josh, Samuel and Renee tried to help him, but their weaknesses at improv showed.

Don’t get me wrong. I loved the concept and the denouououmont (can’t spell that damn word). I liked the prop-box, the bits, and the overall theme.

It just needs a very good editor.

Never thought I’d say that a show about Shakespeare has wayyyy too much Shakespeare in it.

141. Jaguar Bennett said

in March 2nd, 2008 at 12:41 pm

The storyline doesn’t really hold together, but the show is mostly a jury-rigged framework for presenting some brilliantly over-the-top monologues that skewer the overly reverent style of Shakespearean acting and the sheer horror of school theater education programs.

Renee Newlove is particularly fearless in presenting a drop-dead parody of precisely the kind of acting that she herself has done at the Woodward Shakespeare Festival.

Certainly not a must-see, but an enjoyable hour.

156. Acoustic Highway said

in March 2nd, 2008 at 9:22 pm

Great show guys. Got some great laughs. Rogue is such fun, hope your show is a great success. Everyone should go see this show.

Rick & Joanne Calhoun
Jim & Carol Rust
Patti & Harry Stevens

183. blake jones said

in March 3rd, 2008 at 8:50 am

If a show is funny *and* smart, you’ve got me like 85% sold. THEN add in some good acting and some clever surprises and I’m up past 100%. Nice!~

191. Walrus Gumbo said

in March 3rd, 2008 at 10:13 am

I’m in complete agreement with steph’s comments! A funny idea as a short sketch but this went on way too long! It’s a one joke idea beaten to death! This show didn’t convince me that Shakespeare is an idiot, only that he’s boring!!!

200. jessi from the undercurrent said

in March 3rd, 2008 at 1:19 pm

This is a really entertaining show! Mr. Marlowe is rude and skeptical (saying some of the very things we’ve all thought but have been too embarrassed or respectful to say), interrupting the overly dramatic performers to their grave dismay. It’s clear that those who performed and contributed to the show actually know their Shakespeare quite well, and it’s also clear that they’re having a great time as they parody those who take Shakespeare too seriously (or not seriously enough).

To read the rest of this review (and more reviews!), visit www.fresnoundercurrent.net/rogue_reviews

283. Fishstick said

in March 6th, 2008 at 11:32 pm

This show is as Fringe as a Fringe show gets in Fresno. The stupidest idea I’ve seen in a long time and pulled off brilliantly. My first standing ovation of the Rogue. I’ve been with the Rogue for all its years and this show proved the rule that the more outward you look and the less you care about safety and pleasing the audience the better you can do and the happier the audience is. Well done and I look forward to more.

284. Katie said

in March 6th, 2008 at 11:33 pm

Truman, how do I love thee, let me…..

wait a sec

I almost peed.

286. miapaschal said

in March 7th, 2008 at 9:12 am

I loved this show, and laughed so much my face hurt. I’m still laughing now - the irreverence, how the actors throw, no - hurl - themselves into the play with wild abandon, verbally and physically. And the four actors make a great ensemble - very well matched.

338. joyunconfined said

in March 9th, 2008 at 11:46 pm

I can’t believe I didn’t get around to reviewing this show yet!

I laughed so much I couldn’t catch my breath at points.

The accents, the parody of ‘highbrow’, the idiocy.

Loved the concept, loved the execution. I had a REALLY good time. This, I think was the intent.

So thanks, guys, for a good time!

389. Will said

in March 18th, 2008 at 3:38 pm

Thank you all so much for your reviews of the show. If you missed it, or want to see it again, we video taped the final two performances and posted them on our blog:

shakesidiot.blogspot.com

… enjoy.

Rogue 2008

Shakespeare is an Idiot

12 users Commented/Reviewed On " Shakespeare is an Idiot "

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