The world’s literature was condensed into a 90-minute roller-coaster ride in All the Great Books (abridged), presented by the Reduced Shakespeare Company (RSC) as part of the 2006-07 Wittenberg Series, Sept. 8.

A three-man comedy troupe known for taking long, serious subjects and reducing them to short, sharp comedies, RSC has created six-stage shows, two television specials and numerous radio pieces since its early years as a pass-the-hat act in California.

Described by Ed Siegel of the Boston Globe as “verbally dexterous and physically agile,” the company has performed throughout the United States, including at the White House, Lincoln Center and the Kennedy Center, as well as in Great Britain at London’s West End. The RSC has also been seen on all the major American and British television networks and has been heard frequently on both National Public Radio and the British Broadcasting Company.