shakespeare gets silly

To mock or not to mock? For the Orfeo Group's production of "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)"-or as they like to call it, WOWSA-there really is no question. Mock on.

I saw the show last Friday, an hour-and-a-half production that encompasses all 37 of Shakespeare's plays. While some are simply mentioned, others like "Romeo and Juliet" and "Hamlet" are performed in full...well, sort of. The comedies are condensed to make room for more parody of the tragedies (which are, as the actors tell you, way more fun anyway). Ever seen Hamlet done backwards, in fast forward? Can you imagine Othello as a rap? What about Titus Andronicus as a cooking show?

The hilarious trio of Daniel Berger-Jones, Gabriel Kuttner and Risher Reddick use their shabby costumes and graffiti-covered set to have a whole lot of fun during the show. I found myself laughing so hard during some parts that I was tearing up. Among the best moments were: Reddick in a purple wig pretending to throw up on my sister, a clever Henry Louis Gates Jr. reference, and an actor taking a seat next to one audience member to eat some brownies from her picnic bag.

The humor of WOWSA appeals to adults and kids alike, and audience participation (and targeting!) keeps everyone engaged. They've extended their show (for this weekend and the next) at the Publick Theatre in Brighton, and the laughs are cheap (15 bucks, free with a student ID on Fridays, and free for all on Thursdays).

better than the brady bunch

Went to a concert for the first time in months and manohman was it an experience. A new find recommended by my housemate, we caught Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros at TT the Bears in Cambridge.

A folk-rock band from L.A., the Zeros are a pleasant throwback. The ten members packed themselves onto the (very small) stage-what a feat! It became clear from the first song that the Zeros are just one big, happy hippie family, the accordion player in a sort of trance and lead man Alex Ebert prancing around shirtless with his messy hair flopping over into his eyes. My only major complaint about the show? It should have been done in a field, with circle dancing and flower crowns.

My two favorite songs from the lineup were their hit "Home" (Jade Castrinos' voice opposite of Ebert is lovely) and the bouncy "Janglin." Listen for yourself!

My housemate described the concert as "creative chaos" and I think the phrase fits the band. Band isn't even the right term. As one of the musicians states in the LA Times, "We're a kind of art troupe that plays music."

It's also worth taking a look at this bizarre video (part 1 of an eventual 12) that represents Ebert confronting the middle name given to him by his father, a Native American word that means "devil." Apparently that's his father chanting in the beginning, presumably holding little drooling Alex. Creepy.