‘The Complete Works of William Shakespeare’ Extends Its Run in Madison, NJ

Posted on July 11, 2025 by Karen Nowosad

Good Summer Theater in New Jersey

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (STNJ)’s summer offering is The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again]. It is a fast paced, high energy, and humorous presentation of the works of The Bard.

The STNJ website describes the show as:

“All 37 Plays in 99 Minutes!”

Fasten your seat belts for a high-energy, slapstick rollercoaster ride through Shakespeare’s entire canon! Three madcap actors scamper their hapless way through all the comedies, tragedies, histories, and romances in one hysterical, fast-paced, and irreverent evening that will leave you rolling in the aisles with laughter. 

I wanted to participate in the special Food Drive at the first preview performance so I went ahead and attended the show that night. It was very enjoyable to watch the play because it is very funny and an interesting romp through much of the Shakespeare catalog. I wish I could have seen this play when I took my Shakespeare class in college because it would have helped me better understand all that was there from the Bard.

Different this summer for STNJ is that this play is in the air conditioned Kirby Theatre rather than outdoors. There is a certain charm to seeing Shakespeare outside in the summer, but this allows you to escape the heat and enjoy a first rate show!

Kayla Ryan Walsh giving some funny moments with a kitchen analogy – Photo from STNJ

How it was Written and Who Acts in It

The original version was written by Adam Long, Daniel Singer, and Jess Winfield. It was performed a number of years ago at STNJ. The new revisions are by Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield.

Before the play even beings, your program sets that humorous tone: It lists the TIME: Just enough and then PLACE: Madison, NJ duh

Only three actors are in the play and they cover a number of different parts. The team of three includes Ty Lane, Patrick Toon, and Kayla Ryan Walsh. I would like to know their secret for how they are able to work through the entire show without collapsing! Their energy level is incredible. They are either on stage, or backstage changing costumes, or zooming down the side isles.In a word, the cast is amazing.

The show is directed by Jeffrey M. Bender. Mr. Bender was in that previous production of The Complete Works. In fact, in his Director’s Notes in the program, he writes that it was “truly the most rewarding theatrical experience of my life.” He also recounts that he proposed to his wife on opening night. That alone gives you some idea of how special this show is! Mr. Bender does a very fine job of bringing all the important elements of this show together. Especially impressive is the way he works with the three actors to bring out special characteristics of each one’s approach to humor.

Kayla Ryan Walsh and Ty Lane in one of their many costume changes. Photo from STNJ

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Now Extended

Due to popular demand, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again] has extended its run! Now you can enjoy this show from July 9 – August 3rd, 2025.

Purchase tickets online at ShakespeareNJ.org.

Patrick Toon gives grand opening remarks to the audience (amongst other things!)

In addition to the show, STNJ is offering a nice variety of events on show days. These events do a wonderful job of creating a community within the theater.

Not shown on this list is the gallery available right in the Kirby Theater. Check with an usher for more information.

Special Events

  • •“Pay What You CAN” Food Drive — Wednesday, July 9th starting at 7:00 p.m.: Bring two canned goods and get $10 admission.
  • • Opening Night — Saturday, July 12th at 7:30 p.m.: Celebrate with champagne toast at intermission and a post-show reception.
  • • Symposium — Tuesday, July 15th following performance: Engage with the cast during a lively post-show chat.
  • • Touch Tour — Wednesday, July 16th starting at 1:00 p.m.: Interact with certain props, costumes, and set pieces before the performance, designed for patrons with additional needs.
  • • Know-the-Show Series & Closed-Captioning — Thursday, July 17th starting at 6:45 p.m.: Learn from the Artistic Team prior to the show. Closed-captioning available.
  • • Storefront To Stage — Friday, July 18th starting at 6:30 p.m.: Connect with your local businesses before the show and during intermission.
  • • Symposium — Saturday, July 19th following matinee performance: Engage with the cast during a lively post-show chat.
  • • Ice Cream Social — Wednesday, July 23rd starting at 6:30 p.m.: Join us for a fun and yummy pre-show event!
  • • Sensory Seminar & Audio-Described Performance — Thursday, July 24th starting at 6:30 p.m.: Get a hands-on experience at the Theatre, designed for Blind/low-vision patrons.
  • • Hobnob & Hang — Friday, July 25th following performance: Mix and mingle with fellow theatre lovers after the show!
  • • Symposium — Saturday, July 26th following matinee performance: Engage with the cast during a lively post-show chat.
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STNJ Opens New Season with ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’

Posted on May 22, 2025 by Karen Nowosad
Alvin Keith as Reverend Chasuble, Joyce Meimei Zheng as Cecily Cardew, Marion Adler as Lady Bracknell, Carolyne Leys as Gwendolen Fairfax, Tug Rice as John ‘Jack’ Worthing, Celia Schaefer as Miss Prism and Christian Frost as Algernon Moncrieff. Photo by Avery Brunkus.

Review – The Importance of Being Earnest

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (STNJ) begins their 63rd Season with a rousing production of Oscar Wilde’s most celebrated play The Importance of Being Earnest. Wilde described the play as “a trivial comedy for serious people.” Notes in the STNJ program for this play indicate that it pokes fun “at Victorian society’s obsession with appearances, respectability, and rigid social codes.” These issues are examined in the behaviors of the characters, each with a specific task in mind.

The production at STNJ carries out these issues in grand style under the superb direction of Brian B. Crowe. Crowe gives us characters who deliver the sharp dialog and clever wordplay for which Oscar Wilde is so well known. Additionally, comedic touches flourish throughout the show. Especially impressive is the pace of the show which allows the audience to listen and fully enjoy it all. A strong cast delivers all of this with great polish and assurance making this a very fine play to see and enjoy.

Well designed sets with furniture representative of Victorian society are seen throughout the show. You may even spot a fainting couch! Beautiful costumes complete the Victorian look of the show.

“The truth is rarely pure and never simple.”

This quote gives a brief thought about what Wilde covers in the play. There are many funny lines delivered throughout the play which attempt to explain situations and descriptions of those circumstances the characters are in. But when one looks at it, the characters themselves have created their own situations.

A major focus of The Importance of Being Earnest is on Algernon Moncrieff (Christian Frost) and John “Jack” Worthing (Tug Rice). Both turn in marvelous performances as they create second identities for themselves. Their concern about appearances involves using different names depending on which residence they are at. Coincidentally, both use the name, Earnest. Both have romantic interests and their ladies both fancy the name Earnest. Both men have distinct ideas about marriage which they discuss at length. Much is hidden about them and it takes time to come out.

Richard Bourg plays the roles of Lane and Merriman very humorously. The character Lane is a butler to Algernon and Merriman serves Jack Worthington. His movements and actions are done in comedic style especially one scene when luggage is being moved in and out. Another notable group of actions occurs as Lane is preparing cucumber sandwiches for guests. Much is made of these sandwiches and it is very funny as one realizes how important having them on hand for guests was. This pokes fun at the rigidity of social codes of the time.

Respectability and Appearances

When it comes to the issues of respectability, Lady Augusta Bracknell has them all beat.

Marion Adler as Lady Augusta Bracknell – Photo by Avery Brunkus.

Marion Adler does a superb performance as she rants and raves basically giving etiquette lessons along the way. Carolyne Leys plays her daughter, Gwendolen Fairfax, with an appropriate amount of restraint while eyeing Jack Worthington for marriage.

Joyce Meimei Zheng plays the 18 year old Cecily Cardew. Her character is adorable as she writes in her diary. In her mind, she is already engaged to Algernon. He happily finds this out.

Two more characters add to fun of the show. One is the Revd. Canon Chasuble played by in good humorous style by Alvin Keith. Since there is confusion with the name Earnest, the Reverend steps in with offers of christenings. However, the discovery of a suitcase appears to solve many problems. It has been hidden for years and Miss Letitia Prism tells the story of what the bag is about. Celia Schaefer plays Prism who is Cecily’s governess in a most convincing teacher type manner.

In the end, everyone understands what the importance of being Earnest means. And that pleases them greatly!

Go to See The Importance of Being Earnest

This very amusing play runs approximately 2 hours 35 minutes with one 15 minute intermission after Act I and 5 minute pause after Act II.

Tickets and more information are available through the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey website or call the Box Office at (973) 408-5600.

This production runs through June 1, 2025 on the Main Stage, The F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Avenue at Lancaster Road in Madison, NJ.

Special Events at the Theater

•Hobnob & Hang is on Friday, May 23 at 7:30 p.m. This is a chance to mix and mingle after the show. Snacks and cash bar are available.

•The Wilde Garden Party is on Wednesday, May 28 starting at 6:30 p.m. This is your chance to Go Victorian when you join STNJ on the patio for a festive Wilde-themed pre-show gathering.

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The Shark is Broken at GSP Goes Behind the Scenes

Posted on May 8, 2025 by Karen Nowosad
A scene from The Shark is Broken at George Street Playhouse

A Review of The Shark is Broken at George Street Playhouse

In June, 1975, the movie Jaws began running in movie theaters. Directed by Steven Spielberg, it was such a powerful film that countless numbers of people became afraid to go into the water. This year, the film celebrates its 50th anniversary making it a terrific time to see the play, The Shark is Broken. Written by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon, it is presented by George Street Playhouse now through Sunday, May 18, 2025.

Peter Flynn directs The Shark is Broken as it provides a funny but somewhat frustrating look at the action behind the scenes as the movie was being filmed. Jaws began making history right from its start when Director Spielberg decided to film it on the ocean making it a first for a motion picture set. A mechanical shark which broke many times was used. The team avoided using water tanks, the more traditional approach. But with this break in tradition came many unexpected problems.

The unpredictability of working on the ocean at Martha’s Vineyard and the temperamental nature of the mechanical shark were huge issues the actors and crew faced. In fact, Spielberg went way over the original budget both monetarily and actual shooting days. The play focuses on the three main cast members as they struggle to survive all the production issues.

The Movie’s Cast and How They Tried to Work it Out

There are three actor representations from the film who are featured in the play. A very young Richard Dreyfuss (Max Wolkowitz), up and coming Roy Scheider (James Babinsky) and actor and writer Robert Shaw (Jeffrey M. Bender) work together under stressful situations. There are times when the best of each of them comes out, but then many more times that the worst comes out. The well written dialog is funny and keeps the play moving at a good pace. But it is not all funny; at times it is insightful and filled with thoughts from the three men about a number of things.

To pass the time between their moments on camera, the three play cards, drink, and talk. Each one has a reason they took their respective roles and that is part of the conversation. One of the most intriguing scenes involves Robert Shaw as he became involved with refining the monologue about the fate of the U.S.S. Indianapolis. It became known in the movie as the U.S.S. Indianapolis Speech. His attempts to take the original pages given to him and his ability to bring it into a more usable format are a highlight of the show.

The actors do a good job of conveying the difficulty of working under the difficult conditions they had to endure. Interesting to watch is how they basically have no idea of the impact Jaws will have on the movie industry. At the end, each of them talk about their next project showing that need to move on.

Outstanding Set, Lighting, and Sound

The creative team for this play did a phenomenal job creating the set. The all important boat where the action takes place is big and well designed to allow a variety of scenes to take place.

A scene from The Shark is Broken at George Street Playhouse

On Opening Night, the audience broke into an enthusiastic round of applause as the boat appeared on stage. It is an impressive prop which provides an open space in the center where the cast spends most of their time. A ladder on the back is used to show the actors as they go on and off of the boar. A backdrop of moving ocean water is used along with sounds of the sea which are effective in creating a nautical feel. Lighting and additional sounds all add to the sensation of being on the ocean. Sit back and close your eyes for moment and you might actually feel like you are at the shore. That”s how good this set is.

We never see the mechanical shark, but descriptions of how it breaks help to explain how the title of this play comes to be. Yes, the shark was broken but when it worked, the cast moves into action and finally the time to film the movie comes to a conclusion.

To See The Shark is Broken

This is a very enjoyable show to see particularly if you are a fan of the movie Jaws. Having an opportunity to see a true story play out makes for good theater and this does exactly that.

For tickets to go see The Shark is Broken, go to the George Street Playhouse website. The run of this play ends on May 18, 2025.

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