Enjoy Shakespeare with a Buzz in New York City

Image via The Wall Street Journal

You can find most anything in New York City, including the occasional drunken William Shakespeare play.

What fools these mortals be, or something.

The Wall Street Journal's Pia Catton reports on several acting troupes that choose to make libations a major component of their Shakespeare plays.

First, WSJ takes a look at Drunk Shakespeare, " a society of actors in New York who perform the playwright's timeless work, sort of."

Here is a video that gives you an idea of the fun, frivolity and mania that takes place when you pair classics with shots:

The troupe hits various watering holes around the city, typically stopping by Quinn's Bar & Grill, located near Times Square, which makes it a perfect location to forget all the money you just spent on souvenirs to bring home.

David Hudson, the company's director, explains the charm behind a seemingly ludicrous undertaking: "There's something exciting about not knowing what's going to happen."

The video does a tremendous job encapsulating that very sentiment, showing patrons as well as actors enjoying a raucous good time.

Like any good improv, the subject is just the jumping off point, because sometimes the Shakespeare train goes well off the rails.

Catton writes, "One actor in the play is given five shots of alcohol, often whiskey; he or she gives one to a volunteer from the audience to prove it is real hooch. Then, the thespian can interrupt the show by yelling 'Drunk Point of Order!' and make up a rule that the other actors have to abide by."

Drunk Shakespeare isn't the only game in town, because the report mentions Shotspeare, which performs Romeo and Juliet at the Slipper Room, with a twist.

According to the report, several audience members have the ability to yell "Shotspeare" during the performance, causing the obvious to be imbibed by the actors. Of course the crowd gets in on it with a drinking game that takes place as well.

Catton explains that similar performances can be found in, "Chicago, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and at Scotland's Edinburgh Festival Fringe."

But it seems like Manhattan is the hotbed of some seriously inebriated Shakespeare.

Judging by some of the comments on WSJ's page, not every literary critic is a fan. From my standpoint, this is all in good fun, which never demands being in great taste.

And a fantastic point is made by Three Day Hangover's David Hudson, who spoke with Catton about the original playwright's setting: "People were on their feet, eating, drinking and interacting with the performers."

Now it's all much the same, minus the standing.

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