By JESSICA NEU

Five empty cans of Lagunitas IPA, a partially empty fifth of Jack Daniels, sexual innuendo, a dance break complete with a kick line, uproarious laughter, and constantly breaking the 4th wall to interact with the audience. Upon hearing these details, you may think of a concert over at PPG Paints Arena, a late-night comedy show at the Improv, or even a Drag Brunch, but not Shakespeare. Yet here we are…nestled in at the Greer Cabaret Theater for the beginning of a nearly two-week run of Shit-Faced Shakespeare: Hamlet. 

From the moment the house lights dim, it is abundantly clear that this is not the same rendition of Hamlet that you studied in High School English class. Shit-Faced Shakespeare is a renowned international touring company that performs a Shakespeare play, typically in under two hours. The catch, though, is that a different cast member is chosen to get intoxicated during each performance. With a rotating cast of performers and a different “shift-faced” actor each night, every performance of Shit-Faced Shakespeare is a one-of-a-kind experience. Still, every show promises to be a raucous good time. 

A wonderfully over-the-top Emcee clad in a fishnet shirt greets the audience with enough energy and fervor to be heard at Heinz Hall. He immediately sets the tone for an interactive, somewhat impromptu, booze-filled evening. The jokes start early and do not let up until the final bows. An audience member who looks like they want to bang is handed a gong to sound in the event that the chosen intoxicated actor starts to sober up. A different audience member is selected to have “the most important job of the night,” which is to hold a bucket. Suppose the “safe word” is uttered. In that case, the chosen audience member is to run on stage and place the bucket under the necessary orifice. 

After the audience is warmed up and the drinks start flowing, the actors take the stage to begin their production of Hamlet. The plot remains the same – Hamlet is visited by his deceased father, the King, to learn that his Uncle Claudius murdered the King to be with his wife, Hamlet’s mother, Gertrude, and subsequently seize the throne. Hamlet then seeks revenge on his Uncle Claudius in order to avenge his father’s murder. Queen Gertrude and King Claudius hold dear their senior advisor Polonius, whose daughter, Ophelia, has feelings for Hamlet. Hamlet’s friend, Horatio, and Polonius’ son, Laertes, are there as well to ensure that the drama continues for the entire show that runs slightly under two hours.  

For opening night, King Claudius was chosen as the intoxicated cast member. With beer in hand, Claudius attempts to enjoy his newfound reign, but is often hijacked not just by his own drinking, but by the antics of his fellow actors. Shit-Faced Shakespeare presents much like a sketch-comedy show in the best possible way. Actors will occasionally break character because they cannot contain their own laughter, the emcee interjects hilarious one-liners that shift the mood from drama to comedy, and the well-known script is transformed into equal parts Elizabethan English, modern-day colloquialism, suggestive jokes, and improv. The ghost of King Hamlet appears looking like Darth Vader’s cousin, and certain scenes resemble those of Monty Python. Each dramatic monologue booms with verbose exaggeration, and the actors revel in poking fun at each other as well as audience members. 

One of the best moments of Shit-Faced Shakespeare came when an audience member was selected to go on stage and portray Polonius. The unsuspecting audience member on opening night was named William, henceforth known as William Polonius. He had several scenes throughout the show and shone every time, even when hearing a love letter between his daughter, Ophelia, and Hamlet that involved toe sucking.  

Shit-Faced Shakespeare: Hamlet is Hamlet if you and your friends wrote a play while sitting at your favorite local watering hole. The actors’ demeanor is relatable, their jokes are hilarious, and the story is told in an approachable way where the only thing that is stiff is your drink, not the performance. Even intense moments such as Hamlet’s iconic “to be or not to be” monologue leave the audience in hysterics as Hamlet is constantly interrupted by another actor behind him trying to set up, and continuously dropping a sign. All of the actors are consummate professionals who approach their roles with the perfect combination of seriousness and an underlying carefree spirit. 

When arriving at the Greer Cabaret, you are faced with an important decision: To be shit faced, or not to be…either way, Shit-Faced Shakespeare: Hamlet will be a night you do not forget. 

Editor’s note to our dear readers – there was no program or cast list, so we did not name names, which is probably a good thing!

TICKETS AND DETAILS

Dentons Cohen & Grigsby Trust presents Shit-faced Shakespeare: Hamlet at the Greer Cabaret Theater from September 17thh to 28th, 2025. Tickest at: https://trustarts.org/production/102483/list_performances

Categories: Arts and Ideas, Reviews