History can be a drag – unless you’re whipping through it at breakneck speed.
Such is the case with “The Complete History of America (Abridged),” a play performed by Durango Arts Repertory Theatre that hits the stage starting today (July 7) at Durango Arts Center.
The play by the gentlemen of the Reduced Shakespeare Company – Adam Long, Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor, smooshes 600 years of history into about 6,000 seconds. And, according to their website, the play strives to “tackle such controversial questions as: Who really discovered America? Shouldn’t there be a Bill of Wrongs as well as a Bill of Rights? How many Democrats does it take to screw in a lightbulb? History is normally written by the winners ... now it’s the RSC’s turn.”
In DART’s production, Jason Lythgoe, the rep’s artistic director, is joined by Geoff Johnson and Brian Devin, the same three who staged last year’s “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged),” also by the same playwrights.
If you go
WHAT: The Durango Arts Repertory Theatre presents “The Complete History of America (abridged),” a play by Adam Long, Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor.
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. July 7-8, 14-15, 21-22; 2 p.m. July 9, 16 and 23.
WHERE: Durango Arts Center, 802 East Second Ave.
TICKETS: $20 general, $10 students. Available online at https://tinyurl.com/j7ba4hzh.
MORE INFORMATION: Visit durangoarts.org.
“Nothing is off limits; it’s just a wacky romp through different time periods through different TV and movie styles,” Lythgoe said. “There’s a whole film noir thing in there; a whole radio show section; a vaudeville sketch with Lewis and Clark. It’s kind of ridiculous.”
In the DART production, there are no set changes; the three actors are in constant movement, running on and off stage for quick costume changes. The three are aided by crew on either side of the stage, costumes and props at the ready and, in some case, throwing items out to the actors.
“I think each of us play at least 15 different characters or people specifically, and then some random little people that run on for one little line and a little in a sketch,” he said. “I play I think at least six different presidents myself.
“There is a lot of work and it’s tiring and it’s draining, but so much fun,” he said. “That’s the key – to enjoy the hard work you put into it.”
While the fast-paced comedy is fun to watch – and perform – Lythgoe said it also makes for challenging theater in terms of character work and the technical aspects of the show. In a play like this, there are a million little details to keep track of, not to mention the numerous characters each of the three actors is taking on.
But, he says, it’s all done in the name of fun – history buffs will appreciate the facts and fun behind it, and those whose grasp of the past is a little fuzzy may even leave the performance a little smarter.
“Theater like this is really fun and accessible to people. You don’t have to really know the material,” he said. “It’s kind of inherent in what we learned in school and ... this cultural knowledge that we know but sometimes we don’t really think about some of the details.”
katie@durangoherald.com
