Theater Conspiracy finds port in the storm

FLORIDA WEEKLY "The Complete Works of Shakespeare (abridged)" is the Theater Conspiracy's lastest play at the Off Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre. In the midst of ongoing trials and tribulations, Theater Conspiracy theater production company has already managed to enact a new production at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theater. This after theater group lost its place at the Foulds Theater due to contract issues.

Now, Bill Taylor, producing artistic director of Theater Conspiracy and Will Prather, owner of Broadway Palm Dinner Theater are collaborating. Prather is letting Taylor use its smaller, Off Broadway Palm theater for summer productions.

"He and I go back quite a ways," Taylor said. "We did the first shows in that space when he first built it...a good ten years ago."

Titled "The Complete Works of Shakespeare (abridged)", the Theater Conspiracy's new show promises to cover all of Shakespeare's plays and sonnets. This means there will be 191 works (37 plays and 154 sonnets) incorporated into two acts. They are to be blended into each other in a manner intended to provoke hilarity. "That's just it," said Taylor. "It's a nutty thing."

Interestingly, the play will have a cast of only three men dressed in anything but the latest Elizabethan fashion and promises to "send the bard rolling in his grave."

After the "Dunes", an understated drama and the last production Theater Conspiracy put on at the Foulds Theater, this is quite a departure and evinces verve and strength of will on Taylor's part. Also, he intends to try out his previously suggested found theater productions.

The actors will be some old Theater Conspiracy members, Jordan Wilson and Christopher St. Louis, and there will be a newbie, Christopher Brent.

The comedy was written by Daniel Singer, Adam Long, and Jess Winfield and will be directed by Richard Westlake.

If you find Shakespeare intellectually daunting, fear not.

"Obviously in an hour-and-a-half we can't do all the plays - it's just three guys playing multiple characters," said Taylor. "That's the way this thing is written. To work for a modern audience even if you don't know Shakespeare."

Taylor effused gratitude for Prather allowing him this opportunity and said it would be a "springboard for our success in the future."

However, when asked about the future, Taylor expressed some uncertainty.

"We've been looking around but we have yet to find a space," Taylor said.

"There are some things that may work out but nothing is guaranteed at this point we are still hoping that some kind soul that has a space for us."

If you go:

>>What: "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)"

>>When: Aug. 2 through Aug. 18, Thursday through Saturday evenings and selected matinees.

>>Where: The Off Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, 1380 Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers

>>Admission: $19-$39

>>INFO: Call (239) 278-4422 or go online at www.BroadwayPalm.com.