The Mad Mechanicals

 

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Welcome to the Mad Mechanical Web page: home of more fun than you can shake a rubber chicken at.

 

Who are the Mad Mechanicals?

·      Francis Flute - Bellows Mender, wannabe actor

·      Nick Bottom - Recovering jackass

·      Snug Fytt- Joiner..yes, a joiner.

·      Robin Starveling - Seamstre..ooo kitty!

·      Thomas Snout - Tinkle..er..ahem..tinkerer

 

 

With dozens of years of performing experience between them, these five players straight out of William “Three Scripts to the Wind” Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream bring hilarity, profundity, and other ittys along with a handful of rubber chickens to any stage.  Using hastily thrown together props, hastily thrown together scripts and hastily thrown together actors, these folks believe they are the cream of the crop. By the end of their show you will believe it as well.

 

While seemingly haphazard and confused, these five professionals will do whatever it takes to bring smiles to the faces of all in attendance.  With formal stage training, improv training, and even (gasp) combat training under their belts, all this experience on their end equals one great experience on yours.

 

 

What do you get with the Mechanicals?

 

9 different 20 minute shows:

·       Pyramus & Thysby: As seen in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, those wacky Mechanicals put on the play that gave them life...and do a little altering of their own accord (like Shakespeare is a perfect playwright anyway)

·       Romeo & Juliet: Almost a Musical: Using their diaphragms (and a lot of creative licensing), the Mechanicals belt out that age old tale of star-crossed lovers and the horrible lines and songs that drove them to suicide!

·       Beowulf: Shakespeare isn’t the only writer to be wronged, folks.  Francis Flute lovingly illustrates this timeless tale that will put smiles on your faces, and popcorn in Thomas’ lungs.

 

 

·       Stage Noir MacBeth:  Is it bad luck if I type it?   A different view of this ‘accursed’ classic follows the story of a gruff Investigator MacDuff as he tries to unravel the mystery that’s staring him right in the face.  “Is that a danger I see before me?”

·       A Midsummer’s Day Dream:  That’s right, folks, we don’t leave out the wee ones.  This fairy tale will have young and old alike rolling their eyes from one end of the theatre to the other.  We wouldn’t have it any other way.

·       Henry V:  Thomas Snout gives us some history as he tells us all the story of England’s greatest leader.  The rest of the Mechanicals do their best to act out Snout’s wishes…or they do what they always do.  You figure it out.

·       Hamlet: A Fairy Tale:  How this happened to Willy’s greatest play is beyond this humble writer, but the Mechanicals again take an interesting view of the worlds most popular tragedy and turn it from grim to Grimm…even though we all know what happens in Act three…

 

 

·       Robin Hood:  Francis Flute rants and raves some more, this time spitting out the story of Robin Hood and his Merry Men.  Tights anyone?

·       Summer Stocks: The Taming of the Shrew:  What do the Mechanicals do when they get placed in the stocks (more common than you may think)?  Why, put on a Shakespeare show of course!  This time it’s that age old love story…as told by sock puppets. 

 

These plays offer everything; comedy, history and they even use the audience in a playfully interactive way.  No one knows what will happen at a Mechanicals show (half the time we’re in the dark, too), so showing up is half the fun! 

 

 

We also offer:

 

·      Random Acts of Shakespeare:  Any Shakespearean play an audience member names will be performed in three acts (and under three minutes!).

·      Popcorn Theatre Presents:  When the Mechanicals need a rest, Francis Flute borrows from his bag of snacks and performs Shakespeare’s plays using popcorn, grapes and the occasional English Pickle of Doom.  Audiences beware as Shakespeare can get a bit gruesome.

·      Joke Juggling:  Using objects, ideas and inspirations from the audience, the Mechanicals quickly throw together jokes that may make you laugh, but more than likely will cause you to groan and throw things at the stage.

·      Song Showers:  Under the direction of one Nick Bottom, the Mechanicals perform their versions of your favorite period and Elizabethan songs.  Didn’t think The Tempest could have its own theme song?  We have loads of songs; more being added every long van trip (I’m not kidding)! 

 

Plus more from the individual performers with years of theatre going experience!

 

·      Contact Juggling:  Wonder how they do it as Robin Starveling and Thomas Snout effortlessly roll crystal balls from hand to hand, arm to arm, and occasionally hand to floor (stinkin’ gravity).

·      Throw Juggling:  Yes, rubber chickens are back along with the standard balls and clubs that jugglers have been using for centuries.  Robin and Thomas again throw objects and insults at each other, trying to out do the other.

 

 

·      Story Telling:  Nick Bottom and Snugg Fytt takes time off from the older gentlemen to spend time with the kiddies and work together to great a splendiforus story that they will want to tell again and again.     

·      Cards, coins and cups:  Never one to keep his attention on any one thing, Thomas Snout can amaze audience with dozens of magic tricks from the traditional to the sublime.

·      Plus many more things we don’t even know how to do yet!

 

 

The Mad Mechanicals – We Put the “Shake,” in Shakespeare!™

 

Updated June 14th, 2008

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