photo by: Mike Yoder

From left Will Averill, Nathan Short, and Skye Reid rehearse a scene from “The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr (Abridged)” Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020, at Theatre Lawrence.

Last updated at 1:05 p.m. Friday

Three actors. Thirty-seven plays. Ninety-seven minutes.

“The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr (Abridged),” a comedic romp through the Bard’s plays (and sonnets!), opens Friday at Theatre Lawrence.

Director Doug Weaver described the plot as three friends who kind of like Shakespeare getting together to see if they can “mention every play.” What ensues is a comedic and improvisational show suitable for a diverse, yet mature, audience.

“If you’re not a fan of Shakespeare, you’ll still have plenty to enjoy. But if you are, we’ll give you some inside jokes that will make you giggle,” Weaver said.

How do Shakespeare’s plays, many of which are tragedies, come together to form one comedy? For starters, the play doesn’t take itself too seriously, Weaver said.

Shakespeare’s “Titus Andronicus,” one of the playwright’s “grossest” works, according to Weaver, is portrayed as a cooking show — a nod to the play’s cannibalistic plot.

“We do tackle the tragedies, but we tackle them with a lot of fun and our tongues buried deeply in our cheeks,” Weaver said.

Weaver said the three actors in the show — Will Averill, Skye Reid and Nathan Short — are adept with Shakespearean language and have improvisation training, making them ideal thespians for this production.

Evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m. and will take place on Jan. 17, 18, 23, 24 and 25. Matinee performances begin at 2:30 p.m. and will take place on Jan. 19 and 26. All shows are at Theatre Lawrence, 4660 Bauer Farm Drive. Tickets are $30.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Nathan Short introduces a scene from “The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr (Abridged)” Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020, at Theatre Lawrence.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Will Averill portrays Juliet with Skye Reid as Romeo in a scene from “The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr (Abridged)” Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020, at Theatre Lawrence.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Will Averill and Skye Reid rehearse a scene from “The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr (Abridged)” Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020, at Theatre Lawrence.

Kaw Valley Eagles Day

The widely attended Kaw Valley Eagles Day event returns Saturday with its live birds of prey, eagle watching and a lecture on Kansas nesting bald eagles.

The event is from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Free State High School, 4700 Overland Drive.

Marty Birell, the nature education supervisor at Prairie Park Nature Center, said the event, which has been a Lawrence staple for over 20 years, has gathered over 2,000 visitors in recent years.

The event will feature two programs featuring live birds of prey (at 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.) and a 12:15 p.m. lecture from Mike Watkins, a retired Army Corps of Engineers wildlife biologist who will discuss his years of research documenting and tracking eagles in Kansas. Buses will also transport attendees to Clinton Lake to go eagle watching at 10:30 a.m. and 1:15 p.m.. Local biologists who are “excellent birders” will assist with the eagle watching, Birell said.

There will be hands-on activities for children and about 30 organizations — such as Friends of the Kaw and the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism — will have informational tables.

This event, put on by the Jayhawk Audubon Society, is free to attend. In case of poor weather, the event will not be rescheduled, Jayhawk Audubon Society President Jim Bresnahan said.

photo by: Richard Gwin

Charlie Jones, 4, of Lawrence, spreads his wings while sitting in an oversized nest at the 20th annual Eagles Day at Free State High School on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016.

Correction: A previous version of this story included incorrect information about a possible rescheduling in case of poor weather. Jayhawk Audubon Society President Jim Bresnahan said the event will not be rescheduled if weather is poor on Saturday.

Kansas “Sister” March

Washington, D.C., was a bit too far for some Lawrence women to travel for this year’s women’s march, so they’re hosting their own in South Park on Saturday.

The Kansas “Sister” March is a gathering for people to stand for acceptance, food security, health care, earth care, equality and tolerance, according to a news release about the event.

Ardith Pierce, one of the event organizers, said a group of Lawrence women decided to host their own march because there was indecision regarding whether similar marches in Topeka or Kansas City would be held.

Pierce said she had no idea how many attendees to expect.

“Sometimes you just have to show up, so that’s what we’re doing,” she said. “This is an opportunity for people to show up.”

Attendees will gather in South Park and are encouraged to bring posters. Representatives from the League of Women Voters will be in the park, registering people to vote.

Marchers will start in the park, then walk up and down Massachusetts Street and end back in South Park. The event is expected to last about an hour and begins at 1 p.m. at 1141 Massachusetts St.

Restaurant Week

If desired, one could participate in restaurant week deals all day long.

Lawrence’s restaurant week includes lunch and dinner establishments, as well as breakfast joints.

“You really get the option of trying all three meals, which I think is unusual,” said Lawrence Restaurant Week coordinator Sally Zogry.

Nearly 40 restaurants will participate this year, including first-time participants Black Stag Brewery, Cheesy Street at Lucia, Dempsey’s Burger Pub, RPG and Ta Co.

Some restaurants will offer fixed price menus for $35 or less, and others will offer special menu items for $5 and up. Zogry said there would be “something for every budget.”

Restaurant week begins Friday and runs through Jan. 25.