Definitely Not Your Parents’ History Lesson

By Broadside Style Editor Sherell Williams

It’s not often you see performers spitting water at audience members and hitting them with fish at the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, D.C., but attendees of the Reduced Shakespeare Company’s production of “The Complete History of America (abridged)” should anticipate more laughter than learning.

Sharp and witty, the scripted show’s informal, light-hearted atmosphere and occasionally inaccurate portrayal of some of the biggest moments in America’s history make it worth the $40 cost of admission.
“America (abridged)” takes over 500 years of American history and condenses into 90 minutes of comedic gold. In less than two hours, performers Austin Tichenor, Jerry Kernion and Dominic Conti accomplished what history teachers have been trying to do in schools for decades- make history fun.

Dressed in suits and sneakers and armed with simple props conveniently placed behind a large American flag in the center of the stage and their explosive comedic talents, the trio explained and mostly exaggerated all the memorable parts of America’s history like Abraham Lincoln’s assassination and Watergate. Tichenor, Kernion and Conti raced through the years beginning with the discovery of America and ending with more recent events like the war in Iraq and the current 2009 presidential elections.

During the second act, Conti dressed as Senator Barack Obama and wore a pair of huge ears while Kernion mimicked Hillary Clinton in a blonde wig and pink suit. Kernion did a great job replicating several of Clinton’s mannerisms as did Conti as Obama, winning both of them raucous laughter during their dialogue. Audience participation was encouraged here as members were allowed to ask each candidate a question.

All three had equal time on the stage as they performed in various different segments. The show kicked off with Conti and Tichenor mimicking a conversation between Amerigo Vespucci and a woman named Sophia, played by Conti, who toted an oversized prop of a fish across the stage as they spoke about Amerigo’s expeditions. No more than a few minutes into the show, the late arrivals of a few ticket holders brought the show to a halt and gave all three men the perfect opportunity to interact with the audience and showcase their improv abilities.

In another crowd favorite, Kernion portrayed Lincoln in a reenactment of his assassination that showed Tichenor holding an oversized cut-out of a gun. Conti gave the bullet movement as he stalked across the stage over towards Kernion and popped the inflated balloon that was serving as Lincoln’s head.

Despite being a show about the history of America, there were plenty of jokes about familiar celebrities such as Whoopi Goldberg, Beyonce and Carrie Underwood to keep the show from seeming dated.

RSC was started in 1981 and since its creation, the company has toured all over the world, most notably in London’s Piccadilly Circus and in other countries such as Holland, Ireland and Sweden.

Their latest tour of Washington, D.C. began on March 11, 2008 and will continue through April 13, 2008. Tickets are still available for all performances through April 13.

Prices range from $40 to $53 and can be purchased at the Shakespeare Theatre box office in Harman Hall or online at www.shakespearetheatre.org.