Dad's 'Two Gentlemen:' A Lebowski by any other name?
Shakespeare/Lebowski mash-up bowls with flair, but doesn't pick up the spare.
- Linnea Frye
- HOW ABOUT 'TOILET AND CRESSIDA?' Doyle Reynolds, Mike Schatz and Matt Myers
Two Gentlemen of Lebowski, like Rick Miller's Shakespeare/Simpsons mash-up MacHomer, began as a joke that took on a life of its own. In November of 2009, aspiring screenwriter Adam Bertocci envisioned dialogue from The Coen Brothers' cult classic The Big Lebowski as if written by William Shakespeare, and posted it on Facebook. The gimmick inspired him to write a complete version of the text as a publicity stunt for his "real career," but Two Gentlemen of Lebowski became a viral sensation, leading to an upcoming book version and a full production at Dad's Garage Theatre.
Helmed by new artistic director Kevin Gillese, Two Gentlemen of Lebowski will have you laughing to beat the band for the first 30 or so minutes while the novelty value holds up. Here, for instance, is Jeff "The Knave" Lebowski (Mike Schatz) bemoaning the fate of his beloved rug, micturated upon by ruffians following a case of mistaken identity:
It was of consequence, I should think; verily, it tied the room together, gather'd its qualities as the sweet lovers' spring grass doth the morning dew or the rough scythe the first of autumn harvests. It sat between the four sides of the room, making substance of a square, respecting each wall in equal harmony, in geometer's cap; a great reckoning in a little room. Verily, it transform'd the room from the space between four walls presented, to the harbour of a man's monarchy.