The Reduced Shakespeare Company is still going strong at 35 but has probably never quite repeated the hit formula that made its name. That is until their 2016 presentation, which sports a title that is a real mouthful.
William Shakespeare's Long Lost First Play (Abridged) has been rediscovered and it is a hoot.
Like the original, this takes Shakespearean themes, characters (including the unforgettable Malvoliago) and lines and mixes them up into comedy that is consistently funny.
For around 80 minutes, the experienced writers Austin Tichenor and Reed Martin and younger recruit Teddy Spencer give their all, aided by a dresser who deserves plaudits for what must be an exhausting as well as thankless task.
If you love Shakespeare or want an afternoon’s light entertainment that frequently surprises with its ingenuity, this could be the perfect Fringe show.