Reduced Shakespeare Company in The Complete History of Comedy (abridged) (3 stars)

This article is from 2014

Reduced Shakespeare Company in The Complete History of Comedy (abridged)

A playful and clever retelling of the birth and subsequent life of comedy from the Reduced Shakespeare Company

The Reduced Shakespeare Company are famous for their irreverent wit and quick-fire comedic stagecraft. To see them turn their efforts to a history of their own profession presents a treat in unexpected ways. Alongside countdown lists of history’s least funny people (hello, Adam Sandler) the company take the opportunity to give homage to their comedic influences.

From a superbly skilful remake of Abbot and Costello’s ‘Who’s on First?’ routine to a ukulele-plucked love letter to the comedic greats, the other RSC demonstrate both skills and passion aplenty. The performance has its share of less successful moments however; some jokes are lost and the energy of certain set pieces dips as they wear on. A sketch of a stand-up Abraham Lincoln falls particularly flat.

For the most part, there is an unmistakable joy in watching the company at work,

Pleasance Courtyard, 0131 556 6550, 31 Jul - 25 Aug (not 6, 13, 20), 1.05 pm, £12-£13 (£9-£10)

Reduced Shakespeare Company in The Complete History of Comedy (abridged)
  • 3 stars

Reduced Shakespeare Company ‘A wild, wild ride! It's funny. Really, really funny… And most of all, it's really, really smart’ (Cincinnati Enquirer). The subject they were born to reduce! Festival favourites return with The Complete History of Comedy (abridged), dissecting humour from Aristophanes to Zaltzman. The bad boys…