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The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again]
Originally performed by its creators, this 1987 Edinburgh Fringe hit remains the second longest-running West End comedy in history and has been translated into over thirty languages. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) is not so much a play as it is a vaudeville show in which three charismatic, wildly ambitious actors attempt to present all thirty-seven of Shakespeare's plays in a single performance. They have a rudimentary concept of the stories and have imperfectly memorized a smattering of famous lines. Backstage there's a meager assortment of costumes and props. Thus armed, the three brazenly launch into their task with an earnest focus and breakneck enthusiasm.
154 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2000
124 people are currently reading
10297 people want to read
About the author
Adam Long
27 books21 followersAdam Long is an American actor, screenwriter, writer, and director based in London, England, as well as a founding member of The Reduced Shakespeare Company. From 1987 to 2003 he co-wrote and performed "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)", "The Complete History of America (abridged)", "The Reduced Shakespeare Radio Show" for the BBC World Service, and "The Ring Reduced", a 30 minute condensation of Wagner's Ring Cycle for Channel 4 television.
In 1996, Long directed the Reduced Shakespeare Company's London production of "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)" which was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Comedy in 1997, and ran for 9 years at the Criterion Theatre in Piccadilly Circus. Stage production licensing in the U S and Canada is by Broadway Play Publishing Inc.
Long left The Reduced Shakespeare Company in 2003. He then co-wrote and starred in The Barn, an independent feature film which won a British Independent Film Award in 2004 - The Raindance Award, for the film which best embodies the spirit of independent filmmaking. In 2006, he wrote and performed Star Wars Shortened for Sky Movies, and The Condensed History of Tony Blair for BBC Radio 4. In 2007 he wrote and directed Dickens Unplugged, which premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The show was brought to Guildford in February, 2007, and made its West End debut on May 23, 2008 at the Comedy Theatre. It has been published as Dickens (abridged) by Broadway Play Publishing Inc. In 2008, he wrote and performed The Condensed History of Political Parties for BBC Radio 4, and in 2009 The Condensed History of George W Bush, also for BBC Radio 4.
From 2008 to the present, Adam has worked extensively in animation, writing for Netflix, CBBC, CBeebies, Disney, Nickelodeon, and Sprout. He is the voice of Mr. Small in seasons 2 to 6 of the BAFTA and Emmy Award-winning animated series The Amazing World of Gumball. He has also provided voices for Elliott from Earth.
Adam Long currently resides in London.
In 1996, Long directed the Reduced Shakespeare Company's London production of "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)" which was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Comedy in 1997, and ran for 9 years at the Criterion Theatre in Piccadilly Circus. Stage production licensing in the U S and Canada is by Broadway Play Publishing Inc.
Long left The Reduced Shakespeare Company in 2003. He then co-wrote and starred in The Barn, an independent feature film which won a British Independent Film Award in 2004 - The Raindance Award, for the film which best embodies the spirit of independent filmmaking. In 2006, he wrote and performed Star Wars Shortened for Sky Movies, and The Condensed History of Tony Blair for BBC Radio 4. In 2007 he wrote and directed Dickens Unplugged, which premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The show was brought to Guildford in February, 2007, and made its West End debut on May 23, 2008 at the Comedy Theatre. It has been published as Dickens (abridged) by Broadway Play Publishing Inc. In 2008, he wrote and performed The Condensed History of Political Parties for BBC Radio 4, and in 2009 The Condensed History of George W Bush, also for BBC Radio 4.
From 2008 to the present, Adam has worked extensively in animation, writing for Netflix, CBBC, CBeebies, Disney, Nickelodeon, and Sprout. He is the voice of Mr. Small in seasons 2 to 6 of the BAFTA and Emmy Award-winning animated series The Amazing World of Gumball. He has also provided voices for Elliott from Earth.
Adam Long currently resides in London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 187 reviews
February 13, 2012
My husband announced to me recently that he plans to become a famous Shakespearean actor, run for president, and maybe someday captain the U.S.S. Enterprise. I determined that I could manage the First Lady bit, but if he was going to be a famous Shakespearean actor, then I needed to bone up on the works of the Bard from Avon.
So off to Barnes & Noble I did trot
Looking for ways to bone up on the bard
Those collected works were much too thick
I have yet Epinions to read and write
I needed something that was much more quick
But wait! Hidden twixt two heavy volumes
Lay a thin brown book with a mighty claim
These hundred or so pages claimed to be
“The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr (Abridged)”*
I bought this proud book, never looking back,
Barely making it to the parking lot
Before I snatched it from its plain brown bag
Surely this will be a literate tome,
One needs but count the forwards, intros, notes
They asked the queen, they asked Kenneth Branaugh
They even asked a now-famous classmate
They were in turn ignored and insulted;
So spoke they, their Shakespeare needs no intro.
That stopped them not from making author’s notes
One from the editor, each actor, and
Even a ghost-written note from the Bard
Finally, the play would start, but only
After a beer-filled reader threatened them
With a crowbar and language most foul, yea.
How else can the Bard’s complete works begin?
A bio and the playwright’s history
Were told by one actor, though he mixed in
Bits of Hitler on his shuffled cue cards.
Then onto the plays these three brave actors
Did stride, each one picking up every part,
Condensing to make Reader’s Digest blush.
Titus Androgynous, er, Andronicus
Was presented as a cooking show.
The amputated father-daughter team
Did bake up the rapist in tasty pies.
Othello’s story whole was told in rap,
While Macbeth got macfake Scottish accents.
The histories were made a football game
Until a penalty flag flew on Lear,
Fictional kings were straight disqualified.
The comedies, claimed they, were all the same.
So they combined the four gags found in all
Sixteen comedies, into one wild play.
Audience interaction is the spine
of this play, and it increased in act two
as the treatment of Hamlet did begin.
They “workshopped” Ophelia with volunteers,
They mangled, they cut, they made us all groan,
But all bodies were strewn in just one act.
The play is heavy on slapstick humor,
Which can translate poorly to quiet page.
Yet, any lost physical schtick is made
Up through the authors’ boisterous footnotes.
Indeed, as true humor is wont to do,
They make fun of all, leaving no one out.
Latin language is used to say “Screw you.”
Academics will get the inside jokes
Right ere they are skewered by the next line.
It’s a bawdy read that plays well on stage.
Often I laughed loud and wiped away tears,
Finding more zingers with each re-reading.
I missed this show when locally it played,
Tis a shame, for the action’s well-described.
Make not my mistake if it comes to your
Town. Or grab the script from your B&N,
And laugh away any midwinter’s gloom.
*And you can challenge me on Wllm being one syllable, I’m sticking by it!
Review originally posted at Epinions.com http://www.epinions.com/review/The_Re...
So off to Barnes & Noble I did trot
Looking for ways to bone up on the bard
Those collected works were much too thick
I have yet Epinions to read and write
I needed something that was much more quick
But wait! Hidden twixt two heavy volumes
Lay a thin brown book with a mighty claim
These hundred or so pages claimed to be
“The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr (Abridged)”*
I bought this proud book, never looking back,
Barely making it to the parking lot
Before I snatched it from its plain brown bag
Surely this will be a literate tome,
One needs but count the forwards, intros, notes
They asked the queen, they asked Kenneth Branaugh
They even asked a now-famous classmate
They were in turn ignored and insulted;
So spoke they, their Shakespeare needs no intro.
That stopped them not from making author’s notes
One from the editor, each actor, and
Even a ghost-written note from the Bard
Finally, the play would start, but only
After a beer-filled reader threatened them
With a crowbar and language most foul, yea.
How else can the Bard’s complete works begin?
A bio and the playwright’s history
Were told by one actor, though he mixed in
Bits of Hitler on his shuffled cue cards.
Then onto the plays these three brave actors
Did stride, each one picking up every part,
Condensing to make Reader’s Digest blush.
Titus Androgynous, er, Andronicus
Was presented as a cooking show.
The amputated father-daughter team
Did bake up the rapist in tasty pies.
Othello’s story whole was told in rap,
While Macbeth got macfake Scottish accents.
The histories were made a football game
Until a penalty flag flew on Lear,
Fictional kings were straight disqualified.
The comedies, claimed they, were all the same.
So they combined the four gags found in all
Sixteen comedies, into one wild play.
Audience interaction is the spine
of this play, and it increased in act two
as the treatment of Hamlet did begin.
They “workshopped” Ophelia with volunteers,
They mangled, they cut, they made us all groan,
But all bodies were strewn in just one act.
The play is heavy on slapstick humor,
Which can translate poorly to quiet page.
Yet, any lost physical schtick is made
Up through the authors’ boisterous footnotes.
Indeed, as true humor is wont to do,
They make fun of all, leaving no one out.
Latin language is used to say “Screw you.”
Academics will get the inside jokes
Right ere they are skewered by the next line.
It’s a bawdy read that plays well on stage.
Often I laughed loud and wiped away tears,
Finding more zingers with each re-reading.
I missed this show when locally it played,
Tis a shame, for the action’s well-described.
Make not my mistake if it comes to your
Town. Or grab the script from your B&N,
And laugh away any midwinter’s gloom.
*And you can challenge me on Wllm being one syllable, I’m sticking by it!
Review originally posted at Epinions.com http://www.epinions.com/review/The_Re...
May 2, 2015
In all honesty, I didn't read this. Instead, I watched it. Since it was already a play, there was absolutely no injustice. I swear.
Some parts were really funny, like the Othello rap and the football Histories, while others kinda fell flat like the 16 comedies in one. And then there was Hamlet. The audience's workshop of Ophelia's scream was not only deconstructionist, but it actually WORKED. I was a bit surprised that the obviousness of their method actually pulled off an emotional response in my chest. Who'd have thunk?
Sure, the whole thing was corny and forced, but that was kinda the point. Why else would anyone reduce anything to absurdity?
I think I want to make one of Titus's famous rapist pies for lunch.
Some parts were really funny, like the Othello rap and the football Histories, while others kinda fell flat like the 16 comedies in one. And then there was Hamlet. The audience's workshop of Ophelia's scream was not only deconstructionist, but it actually WORKED. I was a bit surprised that the obviousness of their method actually pulled off an emotional response in my chest. Who'd have thunk?
Sure, the whole thing was corny and forced, but that was kinda the point. Why else would anyone reduce anything to absurdity?
I think I want to make one of Titus's famous rapist pies for lunch.
July 31, 2008
oh my freakin' word! if you haven't seen this play you need to find it and watch it...because it is amazing! easily one of the funniest scripts i have ever read. i would love to put this on with a couple of friends one day...it is just that wonderful. funny, funny, funny...oh, and did i mention that it is funny? it will have you rolling whether you read the script first or watch others put it on. enjoy...i know i will for years to come.
April 4, 2012
I saw the play a few years ago. I don't know if it was this but wow. It was one of the funniest, wittiest, most original things I've ever seen. It was two guys and a girl onstage going through Shakespeare's plays. The second act was Hamlet and the first was everything else. I thought it was cool how the girl played Hamlet. They did a little gender bending, good stuff. I'm sure there was a lot of adlibbing going on. Very good, very very very good. If you ever have a chance to see this don't hesitate.
December 12, 2024
Puține lucruri pe lumea asta iubesc cu toată inima, iar piesa asta e una dintre ele!
Teatrul e salvarea prieteni, nu mai credeți în medicina! 💖
Teatrul e salvarea prieteni, nu mai credeți în medicina! 💖
read-ebooks-and-audiobooks
December 12, 2024Nici nu-i dau rating plm de Othello caramelo
January 8, 2009
Fall-down funny. Spit-milk-through-your-nose funny. "A lovely bisexual animalistic orgy" of funny.
February 28, 2025
I’m doing an acting class and for our one act play the class selected “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again]”. Just reading through the script has made me excited to do the play live in front of an audience.
Much as I think reading Shakespeare’s scripts lack a needed component to understanding/appreciating his plays, perhaps this script loses some of the punch from the humor it would have with performers doing it in front of me. Regardless this is a very funny (occasionally cheesy but I’m fine with that) play and clearly written by someone that knows The Bard and how to both honor and mock his work. I particularly liked how it handled MacBeth, Shakespeare’s King (here rewritten as a football game) and everything related to the Hamlet rewrite/rewind/etc. There’s plenty of fun meta humor and I liked how it's designed to be improvised/updated for the times and by each new performance (perhaps giving it the same longevity as Shakespeare’s plays).
I haven’t had this much fun with a Shakespare parody/homage since watching Rick Miller’s “MacHomer”. It was fun to read and I can’t wait to perform it!
Much as I think reading Shakespeare’s scripts lack a needed component to understanding/appreciating his plays, perhaps this script loses some of the punch from the humor it would have with performers doing it in front of me. Regardless this is a very funny (occasionally cheesy but I’m fine with that) play and clearly written by someone that knows The Bard and how to both honor and mock his work. I particularly liked how it handled MacBeth, Shakespeare’s King (here rewritten as a football game) and everything related to the Hamlet rewrite/rewind/etc. There’s plenty of fun meta humor and I liked how it's designed to be improvised/updated for the times and by each new performance (perhaps giving it the same longevity as Shakespeare’s plays).
I haven’t had this much fun with a Shakespare parody/homage since watching Rick Miller’s “MacHomer”. It was fun to read and I can’t wait to perform it!
July 16, 2023
“All the world’s a stage…” – William Shakespeare, pretty famous playwright/poet
“Brevity is the soul of wit.” – Polonius, Hamlet, Act 2, Scene 2
“What the hell is going on out here?” – Vince Lombardi, legendary NFL coach
This is a book that needs no introduction (incidentally, it doesn’t have one, even if it did).
Let’s face it: life is short. And, being that is so, many of us busy people do not have the time to read the complete works of the genius of Shakespeare in our lifetimes. So, why not knock it all out in one book?
I remember this being all the rage years ago (I guess maybe more in literary circles). I even had a VHS tape copy of The Reduced Shakespeare Company’s production of Shakespeare’s works back in the day. I recently happened to stumble upon this book, which I had purchased years ago.
So, reading the play and watching it performed on stage can be two different experiences entirely. This trio of actors uses quite a bit of physical comedy and interaction with the audience, so sometimes this might not translate as well in print form. Luckily, I found a video of this online, so I was watching some parts while reading.
There are some definitely laugh out loud parts to this “rendition,” especially if you are familiar with some of Shakespeare’s works. It seems like the predominant ones they focus on are Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet (Hamlet is sort of the finale, with them performing a super quick version, followed by a backwards version). They lump quite a bit of the some of the “lesser known” plays into a few scenes.
I thought that the jokes—and interpretations—were mostly humorous, but did not really care for some of the sidebars, footnotes, etc. included in the book (some of these are a tad outdated as well). They are funniest when they are strictly lampooning Shakespeare’s works, less so with some of the extra stuff.
Overall, I was stuck between 3 and 4 stars, but bumped it up because I was laughing at some of their gags and lines. As it is Shakespeare, there are some suggestive/offensive scenes, or scenes that could be deemed offensive or more than PG 13 in their crassness.
Anyhow, hopefully the Bard has forgiven these guys by now.
“Brevity is the soul of wit.” – Polonius, Hamlet, Act 2, Scene 2
“What the hell is going on out here?” – Vince Lombardi, legendary NFL coach
This is a book that needs no introduction (incidentally, it doesn’t have one, even if it did).
Let’s face it: life is short. And, being that is so, many of us busy people do not have the time to read the complete works of the genius of Shakespeare in our lifetimes. So, why not knock it all out in one book?
I remember this being all the rage years ago (I guess maybe more in literary circles). I even had a VHS tape copy of The Reduced Shakespeare Company’s production of Shakespeare’s works back in the day. I recently happened to stumble upon this book, which I had purchased years ago.
So, reading the play and watching it performed on stage can be two different experiences entirely. This trio of actors uses quite a bit of physical comedy and interaction with the audience, so sometimes this might not translate as well in print form. Luckily, I found a video of this online, so I was watching some parts while reading.
There are some definitely laugh out loud parts to this “rendition,” especially if you are familiar with some of Shakespeare’s works. It seems like the predominant ones they focus on are Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet (Hamlet is sort of the finale, with them performing a super quick version, followed by a backwards version). They lump quite a bit of the some of the “lesser known” plays into a few scenes.
I thought that the jokes—and interpretations—were mostly humorous, but did not really care for some of the sidebars, footnotes, etc. included in the book (some of these are a tad outdated as well). They are funniest when they are strictly lampooning Shakespeare’s works, less so with some of the extra stuff.
Overall, I was stuck between 3 and 4 stars, but bumped it up because I was laughing at some of their gags and lines. As it is Shakespeare, there are some suggestive/offensive scenes, or scenes that could be deemed offensive or more than PG 13 in their crassness.
Anyhow, hopefully the Bard has forgiven these guys by now.
July 14, 2022
Even if you hate theatre, or even if you hate Shakespeare… you’ve gotta check this show out. I had the pleasure of performing in it back in 2019, and it was easily the most delightful, engaging, hilarious show I have ever been a part of. It increased my adoration of Shakespeare tenfold!
November 16, 2022
trupa S.R.L. - Shakespeare Redus la Limită ..... și eu am fost redus la limita puterilor mele mentale după secțiunea cu Othello în "Epic Rap Battles of History" style. Mă duc să-mi Mac-tai venele.
January 4, 2021
not a masterpiece, but kinda funny. i loved the Star Wars reference :)).
Read
December 1, 2023Listen, this is just not for me. I get why people like it, and I understand why Shakespeare theatres produce it, but these are not my kind of jokes. I will say that I am grateful for the revisions in the "[revised] [again]" version. It does make the whole enterprise less offensive.
August 19, 2024
Very enjoyable read and I can't wait to see how this plays out as my school's fall production!
April 4, 2020
10/10 would recommend to any Shakespeare enthusiasts
April 21, 2016
I haven't read it but, like some others here, I did watch the play, and it is HILARIOUS! I thought I should rate it on goodreads so more people might be tempted to see/read this play. I had my doubts when we brought the tickets and I realised the entire play had a cast of just three or four people playing different characters, but the whole play was ingenious and so well delivered. Quite possibly the funniest play I've ever seen, and if it was still playing in London, I would go and see it again.
I believe the Reduced Shakespeare Company is still touring around the USA, so if you're lucky enough to have them coming to a venue near you, do go to see them. http://www.reducedshakespeare.com/tou...
And no, I am not affiliated with them :-) I just think they deserve praise for their wonderful play.
I believe the Reduced Shakespeare Company is still touring around the USA, so if you're lucky enough to have them coming to a venue near you, do go to see them. http://www.reducedshakespeare.com/tou...
And no, I am not affiliated with them :-) I just think they deserve praise for their wonderful play.
January 7, 2017
To me this was trash. The humour was more suited for a younger, immature audience. Fart jokes, casual racism, rape jokes, casual homophobia; it was just a mess. I skimmed over where they are interacting with the audience because it added nothing. I stopped reading the footnotes because they felt like they were written by a try hard theatre major who desperately wanted to impress with wit but failed. I've only read Hamlet which was the final act of their play so I hoped I would find it entertaining but alas I was just glad it was over. I really do believe American humour differs from British and that might be why I didn't find it funny. Or maybe I just had high hopes. I dunno, they just reminded me of uni folks who try so hard to be funny and comical but it just comes across cheesy.
Sorry, I know it's well loved by many but it just wasn't for me.
x
Sorry, I know it's well loved by many but it just wasn't for me.
x
September 27, 2023
This play was a wild ride from start to end. While this style of play is not one I connect with or particularly enjoy, I can appreciate the comedic genius of the work and the mighty effort it is to try and pull a show such as this off. The characters were interesting, and there certainly is enough action occurring within the play making it a fast paced read. Some of the comedic jokes and plots have become outdated making it very much a product of its cultural timing but there isn’t necessarily anything majorly offensive or wrong about it.
Overall, I can appreciate the craft and talent that went in to creating this work, but it just didn’t connect with me and I found it an alright read.
Overall, I can appreciate the craft and talent that went in to creating this work, but it just didn’t connect with me and I found it an alright read.
December 24, 2022
Oh my God is this play funny. It navigates low-brow humor (throwing up on the audience) with high-brow humor (intellectual references only Shakespeare diehards will get) in a highly effective manner, not too dissimilarly to the Bard himself. It is both a love letter and a roast of Shakespeare, making this play perfect for anyone who loves, hates, or is just now being introduced to William Shakespeare. Having the ensemble be a cast of three is brilliant and adds so much charm to this piece. Overall, Complete Works is a delightful play for any audience and is a playground for any actor.
January 4, 2021
Aceasta este una dintre cele mai proaste piese pe care le-am citit până acum. Are unele elemente bune, însă este atât de ieftin realizată încât nu pot trece cu vederea. Ironizarea pieselor lui Shakespeare este un concept foarte bun, însă realizarea lui de către acești trei artiști este oribilă.
July 24, 2008
Nothing to say except Go See this if you can
November 24, 2009
You will never stop discovering new beauty in these words...
January 3, 2012
We are doing this play this year for my local charity Shakespeare group.
Loving every insane minute!
Loving every insane minute!
June 13, 2013
Comedy and I don't get along, I don't know why I bother.
March 7, 2017
FIRST READ-THROUGH COMPLETE - This is the next play I'll be in and I could not be more excited. It's an incredible and outrageously funny script :D
December 20, 2023
"The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr (Abridged)" by Adam Long is a hilariously irreverent and fast-paced comedic play that condenses all of William Shakespeare's works into a single performance. Presented in a lively and comedic style, the play combines elements of parody, slapstick, and clever wordplay to bring the Bard's masterpieces to life in a condensed and often absurd fashion. The production typically features three actors taking on numerous roles, creating a whirlwind of theatrical chaos. "The Compleat Works" is a celebration of Shakespeare's genius while poking fun at the intricacies and quirks of his vast body of work. It's a delightful and entertaining homage to the timeless playwright and a treat for both Shakespeare enthusiasts and those new to his works.
August 17, 2025
No, I have not read all of his works, but a great many of them. I did spend a lot of time in theater in college and though was not fortunate to be in one of his plays did respect and love his craft. My favorite of his plays, however, would have to be Romeo and Juliet, not because of it being the quintessentially known work, but because of the plight of hate between people, specifically families. This play predates them, but think 'the Hetfields and McCoys' fued, its a familiar trope in humanity. It shows us in the modern era that people, though technologically advanced and socially far more equitable, are still struggling with old instinctual behaviors that, while are often negative, had at one point a purpose now long since unneeded.
March 30, 2018
Comedy routine or inspired lunacy–whatever it is, this is the complete script of it, including the shortest “Hamlet” ever performed (and then done backwards for an encore), and “Titus Andronicus” as a cooking show. There’s lots of fun between these covers for both the bardolator and the bard-hater, including a strange collection of annotations by a not-quite-so learned professor. Although some bits don’t play as well on the page, it’s not that long and at least you don’t have to suffer through some inane laugh track.
October 26, 2018
4.5
While reading the play doesn't have any magic to it, watching it is a completely different thing. You can find the complete play on YouTube, and it's one of the most amazing things I've seen.
Read it for a class.
While reading the play doesn't have any magic to it, watching it is a completely different thing. You can find the complete play on YouTube, and it's one of the most amazing things I've seen.
Read it for a class.
February 6, 2024
Any performance of this play is great fun but reading it is hilarious because of the addition of supposed “footnotes” which are really awesome sidebars and commentaries from the writers that supplement the text in ways that a live act would not be able to include.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 187 reviews