Ever had trouble memorising Shakespeare in school? In sooth I knew not why I was so sad. It wearied me and generations of students. If you too tried mugging his lines as rap lyrics and writings spoofs on his plays in sweet revenge, then you would have enjoyed “The Compleat Wrks of Willm Shkspr [Abridged]” (sic).
Staged by The Royal Sheikh’s Spear Company at Shri Ram Centre in New Delhi last week, the play was a madcap condensation of 37 plays and 154 sonnets of Shakespeare in 97 minutes. The cast of three, which included the director Karam Vir Lamba, and Pranay Manchanda and Madhav Mehta, covered all of Shakespeare’s works in an enjoyable and heretical parody. Lamba in the introductory pamphlet had dedicated the play to all those “exhausted teachers, bored students, frustrated actors and anxious directors” who suffered Shakespeare like he did.
This was slapstick no doubt, but an intelligent one. Performing a hugely popular 1987 play by the Reduced Shakespeare Company — which ran for nine years in London — was a tall order. But the trio have a vocation for the spoof business. “Othello” was performed as a rap, “Titus Andronicus” as a cooking show, and “King Richard” as a game of American football. “Hamlet” was performed thrice, the shortest being just under a minute. This also included “Hamlet” performed in reverse
If that didn’t get you laughing, though Nestor swear the jest be laughable, Lamba also ran amock through the hall acting out violent vomiting scenes as Gertrude, Juliet, Cleopatra and Ophelia. He even took a member of the audience hostage when the other actors insisted that they also do “Hamlet”.
A complete and memorable rib-tickling comedy it was. Engaging the audience is an understatement. Lamba literally had them dance to the tip of his foil-covered sword. A girl in the audience was abducted to play Ophelia (her only line being a scream), and the audience was divided into three parts of her super ego. They were commandeered into chanting “because you’re worth it” and waving their arms.
For a large section of the audience who were not theatre regulars, it was even more a treat. It came as a revelation, albeit exaggerated, that the Mandi House jholawallas were doing such absurd and amazing stuff behind their backs. The bats that sortie Shri Ram Centre, when the arc lights are switched on, strengthened their perception that there’s something sinister on street of Safdar.
The Royal Sheikh’s Spear Company aces in most departments like acting, direction, lights and so on. Their presence was just amazing, dexterity of wit and command over the script, laudable. Unfortunately, they forgot to mention the creators of the play Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield — who are still going strong — in their pamphlet and on stage. These masters of parody only win a credit on the company’s Facebook page.
