Theatre Ensemble Presenting William Shakespeare’s Long Lost First Play

The MVC Theatre Ensemble presents the uproariously funny comedy,  William Shakespeare’s Long Lost First Play (Abridged), by Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor, at 7:30 p.m. Sunday April 23 and Monday, April 24 at in the Eckilson-Mabee Theatre.  This pun-filled parody is free and open to the public and is presented in celebration of the 400th Anniversary of the publishing of Shakespeare’s 1st Folio in 1623.   

Student performers are Elizabeth McDonald, Colin Williams, Sophie Cott, and Azul Hernandez Jimenez. Faculty performer is Troy Hunt

The play centers around a troupe of actors who have discovered the manuscript of Shakespeare’s 1st play next to some old bones in a pothole in a parking lot in Leicester.  The troupe soon discovers that they are in over their heads as they are missing several members of the company, and as written, the play is far too long to be performed in one sitting.  With multiple cuts and casting changes, they slash their way through the text to bring the play to life for the very first time.  

It’s as if Monty Python decided to do Shakespeare at the last minute on Saturday Night Live.  The Washington post hailed it as,  “A breathlessly irreverent, pun-filled romp!”  For more information, contact Harold Hynick at hynickh@moval.edu.