I guess you could say I’m Jeff’s understudy when it comes to theater reviews. I get to cover a few high school productions, and on occassion, he throws me a bone and lets me cover something on the other end of the spectrum. Usually when he is otherwise engaged.

That’s how I found myself at the Chenango River Theatre in Greene on Friday for opening night of “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged).” Not that I’m complaining, mind you. I relished the opportunity to pay another visit to the venue, which happens to be the only equity theater in the Southern Tier. Meaning that each show features professional actors, all card-carrying members of one actor guild or another.

I love our local community theater and school productions, don’t get me wrong, but there is definitely something to be said for seeing professionals on the stage. And we’re lucky to have them right in our backyard.

I’d seen “The Complete Works” performed before and thoroughly enjoyed it, but I raised my expectations up a notch based on my past experiences with Chenango River Theatre. And I assure you, CRT’s 2010 season opener did not disappoint. The show’s three stars – Drew Kahl, Sean Marrinan and Jack Harris, who both acts and directs the show – are all veterans of the stage. Their years of training and experience brought the show to a whole new level in my eyes.