Reduced Shakespeare Company's irreverent triumph

1:12pm Friday 14th November 2008

IT wasn’t the first time I’d seen this Reduced Shakespeare Company (RSC) version of the Bible – but it might have well as been.

The beauty and skill of the team behind this comedic romp through the entire two testaments meant that it was liberally sprinkled with gags picking up on not only the latest news events but also local references too.

Manna from heaven indeed for the audience which ended up collectively on its feet, hands aloft –making Worcester’s Swan Theatre more like a Christian revival evening.

The RSC has, it says, been reducing expectations since 1981 and has created six stage shows, all of which tackle vast serious subjects by reducing them to short, sharp comedies.

The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged) is a roller-coaster ride through religion that, while packed with the most inane of gags physical, clever and often just plain daft, skilfully steers a path through most religious sensitivities without managing to offend anyone.

The three-man team put in a fast-paced, energetic performance of such skill and delight that when fluffs came – and there were some – their ready wit enabled them to turn the situation to their advantage.

With plenty of audience participation too (water guns, Noah’s Ark done as Old MacDonald Had a Farm), the evening was an irreverent triumph – and all done in the best possible taste.

The Reduced Shakespeare Company are at Worcester Swan Theatre tonight (Friday) and tomorrow (Saturday).