Trio abbreviates Bard for final bow Trio abbreviates Bard for final bow (May 26, 2004)

During their four years at Menlo-Atherton High School, three thespians and longtime buddies have made their mark on the school's theatrical scene.

Before they go off to college in the fall, Anthony Nikolchev, Carl Holvick-Thomas and Clay Elliot will take one last bow before the M-A community with the staging of "The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged)," which they are producing, directing and acting in Friday through Sunday, May 28-30, and Saturday, June 5.

The modern farce combines Shakespeare's 30-something plays (will that debate ever be resolved?) and 154 sonnets into 90 minutes of "theatrical shock and awe," they say. A three-man show, it weaves Shakespearean themes from love and ribaldry to murder and deceit into an irreverent spoof that has been a long-running cult hit on the London stage.

The J-Building, where the show will be staged, will be transformed into a black-box theater. There will be involuntary audience participation, ensuring that no two shows will be the same.

The three seniors, friends since they were second-graders at Las Lomitas School, are co-presidents of the Lunatics, M-A's comedy improvisation group. Last fall, Carl and Anthony co-directed a well-received staging of Shakespeare's "Othello," in which Clay co-starred as Iago. Anthony is the president and Carl the vice president of the M-A chapter of the International Thespian Society.

In the fall, Clay plans to study at the USC School of Theater; Anthony, at Wesleyen College in Connecticut; and Carl, at UC Berkeley.

Show time is 8 p.m. each day, with a 1 p.m. matinee set for Saturday, June 5.

Tickets are $8 for adults, and $5 for students. They may be purchased at the door. Profits will benefit the Foundation for the M-A Performing Arts Center.

For more information, call 854-5867.

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