Tom Delise, director of the Rude Mechanicals, a Shakespeare theater troupe based at Century High School in Eldersburg, wants to take the movie setting out of plays.

"This is a theater," he said. "We're not going to try to be like films and use all the fancy bells and whistles."

Faced with the cavernous auditorium in Century High, Delise stripped the troupe's latest production to its basic elements, and situated the audience inches from the action.

In fact, he said, audience members should be warned: They might even find themselves part of the Mechanicals' latest show, "The Taming of the Shrew."

In this production, audiences will actually sit on the stage in what Delise describes as a "modified black box theater" -- a simple, small, undecorated platform atop Century's auditorium stage.

The setting provides for a fast-paced, interactive play, Delise said.

"All Shakespeare plays should be done like this," he said. "I've been dying to do this type of production for a long time."

The play continues its run this week, with shows at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20 and Saturday, Nov. 21, at Century High School, 355 Ronsdale Road, Eldersburg. Tickets are $7 and are sold at the door.

The Rude Mechanicals is the Century High School offshoot of the Shakespeare Factory, a semi-professional troupe that Delise founded several years ago.

During the past four years, the Rude Mechanicals has performed not only at Century, but also at the Carroll Arts Center, Baldwin's Station Restaurant, Fairhaven Retirement Community, Eldersburg Library and schools throughout the county.

Rude Mechanicals' productions have always tried to mix traditional tales with modern touches, including music choices.

For "Shrew," the production features Cat Stevens' "Hard Headed Woman," Billy Idol's "White Wedding," "Happy Together" by The Turtles and Pat Benatar's "Hit Me With Your Best Shot."

The staging is the biggest twist -- but actually traces back to the roots of Shakespeare theater. Delise said he borrowed the idea from the American Shakespeare Center, in Staunton, Va., which in turn modeled its stage configuration after the Globe Theatre, in London.

Delise said he used to look out at the audience during his troupe's prior productions of Shakespeare's classics, and the people seemed so far away.

"We've done all our shows up to this point facing front, with this huge gap between us and our audience," he said.

At one point, he even roped off part of the seats to force folks closer the stage.

Now, he said, all fall productions for Rude Mechanicals will be in this form. No microphones, no sets -- just costumes, props, acting and imagination.

"We're trying to do a lively, engaging theater that's making Shakespeare relevant, making Shakespeare fun," Delise said.

Though the stage is smaller, the actors -- made up of mostly Century High students -- have been challenged to learn some tricks of the trade, Delise said.

For instance, the troupe was taught how to work on a small stage, making sure they reduce the moments when their backs face any one part of the audience.

Another challenge has been learning to "cast" the audience -- a method in which actors, on the fly, have to spot who might be best for a small role.

That, too, is part of Delise's "warning" to the audience ... and part of the fun.

"You're not going to a show," he said. "You're in the show."

Cody Harrod, 17, of Sykesville, plays the lead male, Petruchio, who attempts to tame the shrew. What's his strategy for finding audience members to be in the show?

"Always go for the most vulnerable," he said.

Laura Wise, 17, of Sykesville portrays the shrew, Katherine. She said that if an actor has a line about a bald man, she might want to see in advance if there's a bald man in the audience -- so she knows where to go when she delivers her lines.

She said it was challenging in rehearsals having the audience so close to her, but knows there will be a payoff.

"It's a bit intimidating, especially when the director is in the audience staring at you," she said, laughing. "But, it's a lot of fun, too because you can walk up to people and see their reaction and make them laugh."

That reaction is exactly what the experience is about, Cody said.

And, he said, it is what Shakespeare intended.

"Shakespeare said himself, 'All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players.' "

If you go

The Rude Mechanicals' production of "The Taming of the Shrew" will be held Friday and Saturday, Nov. 20 and 21, 7 p.m., at Century High School, 355 Ronsdale Road, Eldersburg.

Tickets $7; limited to 150 per show. Tickets will be on sale beginning at 6:15 p.m. on each show day.

For more information, call 410-218-1479 or e-mail info@theshakespearefactory.com.

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