The Curate Shakespeare As You Like It

Oberon Theatre Company presents Don Nigro’s The Curate Shakespeare As You Like It. This is a hilarious backstage comedy which can be best described as Waiting for Guffman meets Noises Off, with a bit of No Exit thrown in. Christopher Thomasson directs.

As the story opens, a third-rate troupe of actors prepares to perform Shakespeare”s As You Like It. However it quickly becomes obvious they are not up to the challenge. (In fact, most of them wouldn’t even make the grade as spear carriers.) Half of the cast has no idea what they’re doing and the other half doesn’t want to be there. On top of that, their Orlando has left the company and gone into professional wrestling, while their Phoebe has died of a drug overdose. If that weren’t enough to derail this express train to disaster, there isn’t even an audience in the theatre. Or at least none the actors can see.

Keeping everything together, with his eternal optimism, determination and “show must go on attitude” is the Curate, who shepherds the seven actors through multiple roles as the production staggers from scene to scene, all the while threatening to implode with every missed cue, line, and entrance. It’s an actor’s worst nightmare hilariously brought to life, as the cast gamely struggles on towards the end of the show. Yet through it all, the true meaning of Shakespeare’s text not only shines through, it also illuminates the wonder of the theatre while giving life to the reasons why actors go on stage every night.

Appropriate for audiences 8 and up.

Box office opens 30 minutes before curtain.

This presentation is an Equity Showcase.