BERNARDSTON — As part of this year’s Scarecrow in the Park, Bernardston residents are guaranteed to experience Shakespeare like never before, by watching all 37 of his works in 97 minutes.
The show, a fast-paced, screwball comedy called “The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr (Abridged),” will be performed under a heated tent in Cushman Park on Oct. 21 starting at 7 p.m.
Tom Mann, co-chair of Scarecrow in the Park, said he decided to try adding a play as a new feature of the annual fall festival. The festival, which is sponsored by the Bernardston Kiwanis Club, acts as the club’s largest fundraiser, raising money to support annual scholarships.
Mann said he thought the play would provide a cultural night of adult entertainment, when Scarecrow in the Park has been traditionally very family oriented.
“It somewhat broadens the horizon of the Kiwanis Club to offer cultural events in addition to our fundraisers,” Mann said.
The idea came to him after meeting Lucinda Kidder, managing director of Silverthorne Theater Company, at a business function. Kidder discussed how her company — which was founded in March 2014 — had performed “The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr (abridged)” at Greenfield Community College, and how the play was moving to The Arts Block starting Friday.
“I thought we’d have an adult night of wine and hors d’oeuvres,” Mann added. Cameron’s Winery of Northfield will offer wine from 6 to 7 p.m. before the play, during which time there will also be raffles for gift baskets.
The play was written by Reduced Shakespeare Company in 1987 and touches upon all 37 of Shakespeare’s works in just 97 minutes.
“It winds up that they can’t do it in any kind of serious way,” she said.
Kidder explained that each work is highly-condensed. For example, the second act of Hamlet is completed in just 10 seconds. Some parts are performed backwards, or the actors and actresses rap the script, making it “good, plain, fun entertainment.”
“(The performers) are flying about the stage, literally,” Kidder said. “It’s completely bonkers is what it is.”
Kidder said Silverthorne Theater Company is performing the play for the first time this fall.
“It just caught on because it’s so zany and just so much fun,” she said. “It’s timeless. You don’t have to know anything about Shakespeare to have a terrific time.”
Kidder said that while the play is heavy on props, it is done with only three actors and actresses, making it easily portable to a tent in Cushman Park. Director David Rowland will oversee performers Steve Henderson, Julian Findlay and Schuyler Evans.
Mann is selling only 150 tickets, each for $10, and said that if the play is well-received, he will consider including a larger play at next year’s Scarecrow in the Park. Mann asks those interested in attending contact him by phone at 413-770-4077 to reserve tickets.