In the Off-Broadway comedy, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), playing at The Century Center for the Performing Arts, director Jeremy Dobrish has tried to compress every one of Shakespeare's plays into an energetic hour and a half. Further breaking with convention, Dobrish has chosen only three actors to play the many roles. All extremely talented and creative, Peter Ackerman, David Turner, and Jeremy Shamos bring a special nuance to the enchanting works.

The play takes a very refreshing look at the often-trite productions of Shakespeare's plays by inserting snippets of contemporary culture, ranging from Britney Spears to professional football, in laying out the plays for modern day entertainment. Off-color jokes, rap, and a skit depicting one of Shakespeare's comedies as a cooking show, creates entertainingly original interpretations in the play. The portrayal of Hamlet in correct order, then in reverse order, takes the comedic creativity to a new level. The playful climax of the play comes when audience members are actually taken on-stage to try and act out the emotions of the confused and tormented Ophelia.

The synchronized costume changes, which, according to Dobrish, number seventy-five, give the play a glowing sense of humor and speed which helps create a sense of the play never being slow or dragged-out. The participation of the three actors in all the parts shows the diversity of the flamboyant cast. Their ability to go from scene to scene, able to change characters instantaneously, is worthy of grand applause.

Complete Works is a mind-boggling work. Its utilization of creative methodology in application to the Bard's works gives a slant to drama which is rarely seen. Surprisingly, little prior association with Shakespearian works is needed to appreciate this comedy, though it would be beneficial to the playgoer. The play's modern use of sarcasm in sexual connotations and modern icon is lively and new, though many of the repetitive jokes become tiring after a while. The ongoing tangential dialogue between the actors arguing whether to continue the show or not is especially tiresome.

The acting is the greatest virtue of the play and the main reason to actually see the comedy. Though the play is hilarious at times, it sometimes becomes nothing more than a mishmash of sarcastic jokes and imitations. The Complete Works set out to entertain its audience with dazzling costume changes and humorous caricatures of the many roles, and it that sense it is a complete success. However, its humor is derived from its unique portrayals of Shakespeare's works, and it's a joke that doesn't last long.