playS and MuSicalS - Contemporary Drama Service
playS and MuSicalS - Contemporary Drama Service
playS and MuSicalS - Contemporary Drama Service
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Shakespeare’s Got Talent!<br />
by LAVINIA ROBERTS<br />
A parody of “America’s Got Talent”<br />
Cast: 8F, 8M, 13 M or F (13 with doubling)<br />
Playing time: About 40 minutes<br />
Complete playkit with 10 scripts <strong>and</strong><br />
rights to reproduce copies: $22.95<br />
Order #R-P1788<br />
Shakespeare<br />
New!<br />
Shakespeare’s characters come to life in this TV talent<br />
show parody! Hosted by Puck, the mischievous fairy from<br />
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, <strong>and</strong> the Fool,<br />
Shakespeare’s characters are silly <strong>and</strong> humorous when<br />
seen from a contemporary perspective. The judges, King<br />
Duncan, Romeo, <strong>and</strong> Portia (Brutus’ wife) are even funnier.<br />
Hamlet mocks <strong>and</strong> threatens the judges, but is challenged<br />
to a pillow fight by Laertes. Macbeth’s three witches refuse<br />
to be voted off stage <strong>and</strong> predict that Macbeth will become<br />
a judge. Soon after, King Duncan disappears. MacDuff<br />
wants to fight Macbeth to the death with rubber chickens.<br />
None of the contestants are able to finish their acts, so the<br />
hosts <strong>and</strong> judges do their own dance act <strong>and</strong> vote<br />
themselves the winners. A fun <strong>and</strong> entertaining way to<br />
introduce students to Shakespeare. Easy to perform in the<br />
classroom or on stage. One scene, minimal costumes <strong>and</strong><br />
props.<br />
Shakespeare’s<br />
Romeo <strong>and</strong> Juliet<br />
by ROBERT HEROLD<br />
An adaptation of Shakespeare’s<br />
classic for student performance<br />
Cast: 21 to 35 roles, mixed (doubling possible)<br />
Playing time: About 90 minutes<br />
Performance rights for stage or classroom<br />
granted with purchase of 15 or more scripts.<br />
Order #R-R128 Script: $5.95<br />
This modern English adaptation provides a literate <strong>and</strong><br />
exciting introduction to Shakespeare. No other play<br />
deals better with the universal concerns of youth:<br />
romantic love, physical desire, conflicts with civil<br />
authorities, impulsive behavior, gangs, honor,<br />
depression <strong>and</strong> suicide. A bare stage can be enough for<br />
this play of action. Costumes <strong>and</strong> props can also be<br />
simple. Production notes explain staging <strong>and</strong><br />
discussion possibilities for this play, Shakespearean<br />
theatre, suicide <strong>and</strong> related topics. Shortened <strong>and</strong><br />
simplified language makes this version an excellent text<br />
for classroom use.<br />
Shakespeare’s<br />
A Midsummer Night’s Dream<br />
by DR. CAROLYN HARPER<br />
A shortened version of Shakespeare’s<br />
most popular comedy<br />
Cast: 22 players, mixed, plus<br />
optional number of fairies<br />
Playing time: About 90 minutes, 1 act<br />
Performance rights for stage or classroom<br />
granted with purchase of 15 or more scripts.<br />
Order #R-R151 Script: $5.95<br />
Twelfth Night<br />
adapted by CHERYL CAPSHAW<br />
A student’s version of Shakespeare’s<br />
delightful situation comedy<br />
Cast: 10F, 8M<br />
Playing time: About 60 minutes, 2 acts<br />
Performance rights for stage or classroom<br />
granted with purchase of 15 or more scripts.<br />
Order #R-R292 Script: $5.95<br />
www.contemporarydrama.com • toll-free 800-937-5297 • toll-free 24-hour fax 888-594-4436<br />
49<br />
The rollicking good fun of Shakespeare’s famous<br />
comedy remains though a narrator serves to simplify the<br />
lengthy original. Puck’s play-within-a-play <strong>and</strong> his cast of<br />
silly fellows provide delightful stage action to accompany<br />
the magical mixed-up love affairs of Lys<strong>and</strong>er <strong>and</strong><br />
Hermea <strong>and</strong> Demetrius <strong>and</strong> Helena. A fast-moving<br />
adaptation that keeps the flavor of Elizabethan dialog but<br />
without confusion or loss of meaning. The cast may be<br />
tailored to suit the availability of performers. The fairies<br />
may be as few as four actors or exp<strong>and</strong>ed to many. Most<br />
of the parts can optionally be male or female. Costumes<br />
<strong>and</strong> staging may be easily simplified as written.<br />
(also available as a one act musical on page 12)<br />
Mistaken identities <strong>and</strong> mixed-up love affairs!<br />
Shakespeare was more than a writer of beautiful<br />
dialog – he made audiences laugh with comical stage<br />
action, too. Two narrators make this delightful two-act<br />
comedy shorter <strong>and</strong> more manageable. After a<br />
shipwreck, twins Olivia <strong>and</strong> Sebastian wash up on the<br />
shore of Illyria. Each thinks the other perished. Viola<br />
disguises herself as a man <strong>and</strong> becomes the favorite of<br />
Duke Orsino <strong>and</strong> Countess Olivia. The Duke wants to<br />
marry the Countess, but she prefers Cesario (Viola’s<br />
disguised male identity). Later, Sebastian arrives, <strong>and</strong><br />
no one knows who anyone is! Add to this many<br />
hilarious buffoon characters, <strong>and</strong> you’ll see why this<br />
farce is another Shakespeare classic. Simplified staging<br />
possible.