Many theater companies search for the perfect formula to fill their seats and ensure a successful season. Often this leads to the overproduction of a few staple scripts. Thankfully, Tacoma Little Theatre's Second Stage goes a different route. If they were using a formula, this is what it would be: one theater (TLT), three actors (Luke Amundson, Coleman Hagerman, Alex Smith), 37 Shakespeare plays (notably Romeo and Juliet, Titus Andronicus, Macbeth, and Hamlet), for 97 minutes (the audience laughing throughout) equals success.

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged (Revised) is the type of production that could be phenomenal or miserable. The key to pulling off the linguistically ambitious script is in the pacing. To be able to condense the Bard's impressive catalogue requires an understanding of the "scope of his characters, actions and words" and to be able to carry out ridiculously fast costume changes with precision. In addition, the abridged and revised works require an ability to cohesively parse together sections of Shakespeare while conveying the larger plot to the audience. This is possible thanks to a good script and the actors' incredible comedic timing.

Read Joann Varnell's full review of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged (Revised) in the Weekly Volcano's Arts section.

TACOMA LITTLE THEATRE, THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, ABRIDGED (REVISED), THROUGH MARCH 3, 7:30 P.M. FRIDAY-SATURDAY, 2 P.M. SUNDAY, $15-$25, 210 N. I ST., TACOMA, 253.272.2481