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Livermore theater group Asbury Players is set to kick off a new production this week, a fast-paced comedy titled “I Hate Shakespeare!”.
“This hilarious mashup of Shakespeare’s plays attempts to answer the question, ‘What’s so special about Shakespeare, anyway?’”, the group described in a statement announcing the show.
Director Martie Muldoon said she chose the play written by Steph DeFerie because she “felt we all need more laughter in our lives.”
“We have a top-notch Shakespeare company in Livermore, with SPARC, so we don’t dare do an actual Shakespearean play, but Asbury Players is known for farces and comedies, so a Shakespearean farce seemed to be a perfect choice!,” she added.
Opening night is set for this Saturday (Aug. 17), with additional performances to follow on Aug. 18, 23, 24 and 25.
“It’s an extremely fast-paced and silly explanation of Shakespeare. Family-friendly – kids would enjoy the slapstick approach,” Muldoon told Livermore Vine. “The show is narrated by Hamlet, who starts by explaining his own story, followed by bits of ‘Romeo and Juliet’, ‘Othello’, ‘Richard III’, ‘Titus Andronicus’, and of course ‘Macbeth’. The play pokes fun at pop culture as well as the Bard,” she said.
“I’ve been describing it as SNL explains Shakespeare, with a touch of ‘The Three Stooges.'”
The cast includes actors from all over the East Bay, including Christopher Hurst, Kelsey Tresemer, Miguel Wacher, Amanda Farmer, Alexandria Lobao, Maren Haws, JD Dozier, Desty Olsen, Ron Correll-Feichtner, Darcy Horne, Bob Canning, Victorian King-Bowman, Grare Davis and Nancy Grover. Props and set design are by Grover, Bill Leach and Tim Arnold.
During the show, there will also be a bake sale at each intermission to benefit the music and youth programs at Asbury.
All performances will be at Asbury United Methodist Church in Livermore. The shows on Aug. 17, 23 and 24 are set for 7:30 p.m. and on Aug. 18 and 25 at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $15 and are available at the door, by stopping by Asbury’s office or by calling 925-447-1950.
