Raven’s Call Theatre (RCT) opens its debut main stage production: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) at Max Cameron Theatre starting Friday, October 7.
The cast includes Blake Edward Drezet, John Walter Dean and Imtiaz Ali Taj. Taj is RCT’s managing artistic director, and is also directing and producing the show.
Taj has acted, directed and produced this show before when he was the artistic director of Classical Briefs Acting Ensemble in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and thought it might be a good way to introduce the Powell River community to his new theatre group. The cast is very well rounded. Drezet brings experience and comedic timing to stage while Dean has a fresh and innocent presence.
“I have produced this show three times in Pittsburgh, Geneva and New York and always received excellent reviews,” said Taj. His last attempt in 1995 received this Pittsburgh Post-Gazette review, “It was like watching the Three Stooges on speed performing Shakespeare. To be fair, the three-man ensemble shows much more intelligence than Moe, Larry and Curly. But ‘The Complete Works’ contains the same kind of giddy slapstick comedy.”
“I love the support the community has shown,” said Taj. “As soon as I asked for help, the pouring in of costumes, props and physical help has been amazing.”
The only piece of scenery is an original portrait of Shakespeare painted by Autumn Skye Morrison for this production. Posters were designed by Meghan Hildebrand. The crew of the show includes Tony Colton, Kyle Auclair, Nicole Narbonne, Zoe Pelton, Lika Olfer, Angie Davey, Kate MacLeod and Caroline Jobe.
The title says it all: The show is the complete works of Shakespeare. All 37 plays are performed in under two hours. It’s a Reader’s Digest condensed version, but with a lot of energy and style.
“These are the kind of shows I want to do,” he said, “educational yet fun and yes, socially relevant because art and education are always relevant. If you like Shakespeare, you would enjoy the show, but if you hate Shakespeare you’ll love it.”
Advance tickets can be purchased at Powell River Academy of Music box office, Breakwater Books and Coffee, CMG Printing and River City Coffee. Same day tickets will also be available at Max Cameron Theatre. All tickets are $15.
Show times will be 7:30 pm on Friday, October 7, Saturday, October 8 and 15 and 1:30 pm matinee on Sunday, October 16.
For more information, interested readers can visit facebook or email [email protected].
