One man, one stage

COEUR d'ALENE - The best of Shakespeare in just one hour?

It's not impossible when Tim Mooney is on the stage.

The actor/author from the Chicago area will be performing "Shakespeare's Histories," an engaging, lightning-fast, one-man show, at 7:30 p.m. Monday in North Idaho College's Todd Lecture Hall.

Mooney will be performing monologues and scenes from Shakespeare's history plays, injecting his own adaptations and explanations of the stories. He squeezes all 10 of "Shakespeare's Histories" into one hour, capturing the history of England from 1066 to 1533. The show combines some of Shakespeare's most brilliant speeches and challenging plays into an epic sweep of The Bard's historical vision.

"It's amazing when you realize that all of these famous lines, words that live in our everyday language, had their origins in these obscure plays. Almost every speech rings that echoing bell of familiarity at the same time that it informs you of exactly why that very speech was an important and profound contribution to human consciousness," Mooney said. "As a bonus, we realize that these very hard-to-follow plays tell one complete, much easier-to-grasp story when performed in chronological order."

Mooney has previously toured seven different one-man shows and has performed all through the United States. He has a Master of Fine Arts degree with an emphasis on directing from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as well as skills and expertise in theater, drama, acting, plays, stage, improvisation, performing arts, theatrical production, teaching acting and directing.

"Shakespeare's Histories" is sponsored by the NIC Theatre Department. Admission is free. Donations will be accepted, but are not required. It is open to the public.

Info: 769-3220 or www.timmooneyrep.com.