By Stephen Hemelt
L’Observateur

RESERVE — Talking directly to the audience and referencing pop culture all while having actors playing themselves playing famous roles — this isn’t your father’s William Shakespeare.

Nor is it meant to be.

Local stage veterans Lance Ural, Jared Tregre and Moe Ahmad are starring in the parody comedy “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, abridged and revised” this week at St. John Theatre, and they want everyone in on the fun.

Over the course of approximately two hours, Ural, Tregre and Ahmad will take the audience through many of Shakespeare’s most famous plays and characters with an eye toward hilarity and a fast-paced style aimed to keep each audience member’s attention. This is important, because anyone is in play for a role during this production.

“This (performance) really lets me try something different,” Ural said. “Playing so many different Shakespearian roles is challenging but so much fun. Plus, doing this with Jared (Tregre) and Moe (Ahmad) makes it worthwhile.”

Ahmad joked his character feels he is the smartest of the group thanks to his near-constant use of big words.

He hopes the effort keeps the audience entertained and informed, although he can’t promise the second part.

“I hope they laugh and appreciate that we can memorize all these lines,” he joked, adding his appreciation for Shakespeare is stunted, “because I still don’t know what I’m saying.”

Verbal gymnastics aside, the comedy does allow for some bold performances, especially from Tregre, who is sure to catch many eyes with his character’s female display.

“I feel like the character in this play that I play is made for me,” Tregre said. “He is the same goofy type of person I am, which made this role so much more special. I hope the audience enjoys watching the show as much as we are performing it. I never had a full understanding of all 37 of Shakespeare’s plays, but it was a blast to learn about it while doing what I love.”

Longtime St. John Theatre director Mike Brooks is helming the shows, which start at 7:30 p.m. nightly Thursday through Saturday.

Tickets are on sale at Allied Express in LaPlace and available at the theater box office, 115 W. 4th St. in Reserve.

Call St. John Theatre Managing Director Crystal Faucheux at 504-676-4700 for more information.

Ural said the show’s build up has given him a greater appreciation of Shakespeare, and it is something he wants to share.

“It is a lot more fun than I ever could have imagined,” he said. “I hope that not only does everyone have a lot of fun, but they learn a little something.”