Running time 1:45 (Bible), 2:10 (History)
 - each with one intermission
Take your pick between two evenings of similar shtick

Storyline(s): Both shows follow the same basic concept: hurry up and milk as many laughs as you can from the public's general knowledge of a topic without giving offense to anyone who would be at least broadminded enough to buy a ticket to something with a reputation for comic spoofing. Here they turn their attention one evening to the stories of the Bible with a concentration on the expected .... Adam and Eve, begatting, Noah and the Ark, Moses and the Commandments, Jesus and the apostles. The other evening is devoted to time-tested gags about American history from Amerigo Vespuci's claim to fame to George Washington's refusal to tell a lie and from doughboys in the trenches of World War I (which turns out to be as devoid of comic inspiration as you might expect given the mortality of the topic) to modern Presidential campaigns. The later is spiced up just a bit with barbs at more contemporary targets including a mock debate between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama and a reference to the resignation of the Governor of New York now famous as Client #9.

The company had its origins in California in 1981 with a reduction of Romeo and Juliet to absurdity. Expanding it to a reduced Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) they made their fame at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival of 1987 and then set off to tour the United States. Bringing new performers into the fold, they have managed to keep the gag going now for thirty years. In 1993 they added The Complete History of America (Abridged) and then The Bible: The Complete Word of God (Abridged) in 1995. Since then they've come up with The Complete Millennium Musical (abridged) (which later became Western Civilization! The Complete Musical (abrdiged)) and, finally, All the Great Books (abridged). They brought one or more of their shows to the Folger in 1993 and 1994 and the Kennedy Center six times between 1994 and 2006.

On any given night there will be but three performers on stage but there are six who will be working during the Washington stop of this tour. At the press performances, the three were a tall, lanky bundle of energy named Dominic Conti, an at times genial / at times acerbic comic named Jerry Kernion and Michael Faulkner, an assured leader of the bunch. They took a few minutes to crank up the energy level and hit their stride, but hit it they did. Countless performances of the material and interaction with many an audience have given them an assurance that they can handle any situation, and they seem unflappable. They also know just which gags will land big and which they should move past as quickly as possible. The result may seem a bit predictable but is never less than entertaining.

So, if you are going to attend just one (and one is probably enough for anyone other than a long time fan of the company longing to be immersed in maximum reduction) which one to pick? As is often the case with comedy, less is better than more here. The Bible: The Complete Word of God (Abridged) runs a shorter, brisker and frankly funnier 1:45. It is also a more musical show, performed with a keyboard on the side of the stage to support gag songs (would you expect any other kind?). At a longer, slightly tiring 2:10, The Complete History of America (Abridged) seems to drag on a bit too long. Both feature unfortunate amounts of audience participation so whichever show you chose, if you don't relish the limelight it is wise not to try to draw attention to yourself - don't arrive late and certainly don't raise an umbrella when the cast directs their water guns toward the audience!

Written by Adam Long, Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor with additional "Bible" material by Matthew Croke. Music composed and arranged by Jon Weber. Cast: Dominic Conti, Michael Faulkner, Jerry Kernion, Mick Orfe, Austin Tichenor, Brent Tubbs.