I read this several months after having seen the show in a run of binging on scripts and trying to actually read through all 37 plays (currently working on King John and Titus Andronicus). Reading it was as delightful as watching it performed, if only made so by the numerous footnotes throughout. They were delightfully funny and had me bursting into laughter. I even enjoyed the introduction, preface, author's notes, etc. which tend to be the parts of the book I skip.

3.5⭐️

Thanks to Dr. Gregory's May-mester Shakespeare class, I am fairly certain I read most of Shakespeare's plays (in addition to the others I read during Lit.Trad. classes at UD). Awesomeness! If you're daunted, watch the BBC production WHILE reading the play. At least for one or two til you get yer sea legs. ;D

Most amusing. Lots of laugh out moments to cause your children to stare at you in wonder.
Written in script form.
Footnotes potentially offensive, often funny, but as with all footnotes, distracting. I skipped most.

It would be great to see this acted out.

Three actors, 37 plays, 90 minutes. In one of the funniest plays of all time, a trio of masterful clowns whisks their audience through the complete works of the Bard in a style influenced as much by the Marx Brothers and Monty Python as by Shakespeare himself. This revised edition of the stage hit updates some of the jokes, tweaks some scenes, and makes for a slightly more contemporary experience just as good as the original.

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!

At times this piece can seem too witty for its own good, and yet it is still a brilliantly condensed and very funny attempt to perform a version of every Shakespeare play ever written within 90 minutes, employing devices as varied as a cooking show, a football game and a fast-forward Hamlet that then gets replayed backwards.

It's a wonderful way to pique young students interests in the Bard of Avon, however they would need to have a little background on the pieces for some of the satire to be effective.

English was my major in college. One semester was devoted to Shakespear's plays and sonnets. His tragedy plays show how man reacts to tragedy. Tragedy plays sometimes just have an unhappy ending. His historical plays are truly historic in nature. His comedies may mean that the play's outcome was good. There are some that are truly funny. His sonnets pale in comparison to his plays.

Quite frankly, this is possibly the most perfect show ever written.

This play is hilarious and good if you're familiar with any of Shakespeare's works (although the more you know the funnier it will be). It's a very quick read, and a funny show to put on if you're looking for something to do with a small cast!

This is absolutely hilarious! Although, it is best if you can see it performed. The RSC has a video available for sale, which I think I've seen at either Borders or Barnes & Nobles. It's also available on youtube.

Want to know a bit about all of Shakespeare's plays to seem knowledgeable enough to hold an intelligent conversation? This play will . . . okay, might help you.

However, even if it doesn't help you hold that intelligent conversation, you'll definitely laugh!