Shakespeare's Who's On First

The original "Who Doth Inhabit The Primary Position" performed by Shakespeare Theatre of NJ actors David Foubert and Jay Leibowitz on New Year's Eve of 2006 in Morristown, NJ. Written by Jay Leibowitz and David Foubert and directed by Jason King Jones. Visit www.playscripts... to purchase copies or license for performance. "Who Doth Inhabit The Primary Position" is an Elizabethan twist on Abbot and Costello's famous vaudeville routine. ©2008

[@CmotDribbler]

14 years I’ve been watching this. I love KZbin for its ability to keep alive these snapshots of art.

[@NiallMor]

I like this only because I cannot love it! Whoever wrote this obviously loves both Shakespeare and Abbott and Costello. This has got to be one of the most brilliant things I've ever seen,

[@housellama]

YES. My favorite part of this thing is all of the sly little Shakespearian and Edwardian lines snuck in that obviously go over the audience's head, but are there for people to get, like the "baller's base" bit at the beginning, and referring to a pitcher as a "tosser", although I'm fairly certain that one is timeless. These men are scholars as well as comedic geniuses.

[@mattslupek7988]

Verily.

[@jlighter1]

This continues to be amazing 17+ years later. So delightful

[@JayLeibowitz]

thanks for watching @jlighter1!

[@IamJacksSTD]

I love how he breaks period at one point to yell "STAY OUT OF THE INFIELD."

[@rosewhipple9923]

"Tomorrow." "At what tick of the clock?" "At what tick of what clock?" "AT WHAT TICK OF THE CLOCK TOMORROW SHALL MY LORD EXPECT TO KNOW WHO SHALL BE THE BOWLER?" "Now, Who is not the Bowler-" "SPEAK THEE 'WHO IS PRIMARY' AND I SHALL *GIVE THEE BLOODY TEETH* "

Okay, these men deserve a golden quill. That was amazing and I can't stop laughing.

[@lorinwold6473]

This is one of the most creative pieces of comedy I have ever heard. It flows perfectly and sounds of the Elizibethan era and of the Shakesperean plays.

[@Mark-xx3gh]

I will never get tired of watching this.

[@classicalsteve]

One of the most brilliant takes on the old Abbot and Costello bit I have ever seen.

[@Ben_R4mZ]

On top of the individual who loves both Shakespeare and Abbott and Costello enough to write this with such skill; the amount of talent in these two individuals to memorize the entire thing and pull it off pulled it off so smoothly is a sight to behold.

[@JayLeibowitz]

Thanks for your kind words @BenRamseyBenramz !

[@gregw9351]

"... I shall give thee bloody teeth!"... So that makes him a "bloody fool"? ;) Verily, this is quite clever! Nice job!

[@lazyperfectionist1]

I give you, now, the kind of masterpiece that used to be commonplace on KZbin.

[@Batmanfw]

this is the most intelligent take on who's on first i've ever seen

[@sousaphonist]

you can watch this thing a million times and it NEVER GETS OLD!!!

[@daviddarkmaster]

Clever and Brilliant! Who ever wrote this is a bloody genius!

[@JayLeibowitz]

thx!

[@obiwanobiwan13]

Very creative and excellent use of the language...not just using it to use it, it's actually done correctly and with great effect! Bravo!

[@nr1osfan]

I was IMPRESSED with their timing. No real delays in giving their lines back and forth. They must have practiced and practiced and practiced and .... etc. They were great!! And a great post. Thank you!

[@kd5tmu]

"Speak ye 'Who is primary' and I shall give thee bloody teeth!"

[@friedrichpaulus6114]

I couldn't sleep tonight (today), so I decided to treat myself to some cyber entertainment. The gravedigger scene in Hamlet has always tickled me, but my Google search went awry. Thank God it did! It's nearly four o'clock in the morning and I've already been laughing my ass off for more than an hour. In fact, I've laughed so hard and long that I'm exhausted and finally ready for some REM. These two guys are truly fellows of infinite jest--of most excellent fancy!

[@Zulutex]

Absotively and posilutely fantastical!!!! Kudos to the the translator...

[@ryodes4]

This is BRILLIANT. Absolutely brilliant. perfect Shakespearian translation while keeping all the jokes of the abbot and costello version. And well acted too!

[@Legendary231]

SPEAK THEE "WHO IS PRIMARY" AND I SHALL GIVE THEE BLOODY TEETH! Brilliantly played gentlemen, brilliantly played.

[@AJsDarlin3]

My God, this is sheer brilliance. Well done.

[@Lacroix67]

These guys have great chemistry and awesome comedic timing. I wonder if they do more skits together.

[@charlesb8713]

OMG! This is the funniest, wittiest, cleverest, most incisive skit I have ever seen! You, Sir are a GENIUS sans pareil! Thank you for this contribution! Well met!!!

[@kagomeshuko]

+Charles B A little over the top, huh? They just took "Who's on first" and put it into Shakespearean English. It is funny, but it is not original.

[@housellama]

Oh no, it's FAR more than that. It would be easy to take WOF and put it in Shakespearean English. This is something else altogether. This is a product of a person or people who have studied not just the original sketch, but also the comedy of Shakespeare and Edwardian culture. There are so many little things in here that show that this is far more than just a "translation". This is a thing in itself, and it is bloody BRILLIANT.

[@thegreatandpowerfuldc5977]

“SPOKEN TWICE AND EACH BREATH THE SAME!!!” 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@theRethalaSystem]

OH MY GOD This is hilarious! I must learn the script and practice it with someone else!

[@JayLeibowitz]

+Blue Wolf get it at www.playscripts.com/play/2127

[@bbbvvv312]

This is one of the best comedy routines I have ever seen. These guys were great.

[@MarkLucasProductions]

Utterly, utterly, utterly brilliant!

[@TheMobileDJ]

pure genius the more i watch the better it seems my daughter love who's on first must show her this

[@thehauntedpeacock]

Amazing. Absolutely brilliant!

[@NinaQueenofSpades]

Oh my God. This is brilliance!

[@I.am.Sarah.]

Apart from Abbot and Costello this is the best version I have ever seen.well done guys. Also it looks like 45 people doth not know who inhabits the primary position.

[@lonniecraig5186]

Sadly, 'tis up to 57.

[@tonywilliams4066]

Unbelievably hilarious!! A credit to great comedians...job exceedingly well done. Thank you.

[@02liska]

Wow... It's incredibly rare that I write a comment on KZbin - I maybe have done it once before - but this is so brilliant I had to say thank you. Beautiful, beautiful!!!

[@Comictango]

An excellent parody of a classic comic routine. very funny and very clever.

[@Meandroid]

Interesting take on the classic skit. Hysterical!! Bravo!!

[@phemyda94]

Few people can do this done-to-death classic as well as the original... and even fewer can improve upon it, which you have done brillliantly!

[@tls1967]

Absolutely Brilliant!!!

[@nem2201]

Hahaha this is awesome. The script is absolutely perfect.

[@AJCham]

I wouldn't have thought it worth even attempting a reworking of this classic routine. I was wrong. Bravo!

[@graph180]

This brightened my day, thank you!

[@BobLewis1]

Excellent! I haven't laughed that hard at Who's on First in a long, long time.

[@filkerdave]

Oh, most excellently played, sir!

[@theatrehoney]

I agree with this, I would love to get a copy. Its hysterical. would be awesome for a directing class!!! Fantastic Job

[@MrUnidyne]

I'm a fan of both A&C and the Bard. I simply LOVE this!

[@idontknow164]

KZbin Recommendations occasionally strikes gold. But I'm 13 years late.

[@JayLeibowitz]

Welcome @ idontknow164 !

[@tampatek]

OUTSTANDING! superbly done!

[@jdavis194]

Bloody brilliant!!!

[@CynicalPete]

i've watched this like ten times and it's still funny!

[@liquidS1984]

That is kickass. And hard! Good job guys

[@Kater0330]

I have to share this with my niece who is studying Shakespear in college!! :D This is to funny!! :D

[@phemyda94]

Verily, good sirs, your theatrical endeavors did inspire much mirth in this humble youtuber! "Call you these ballers base?" is a most excellent pun, and one that did cause me to laugh most heartily.

[@jamievee8375]

This is wonderful and a lovely take on the joke XD

[@ParaguayMK]

Wonderfully done! Liked and favorited.

[@lmordro]

This is Fantastic and incredible. Very well executed.

[@alejandroomi]

That is an extremely clever adaptation of 'Who is on First'. Thanks!

[@christiankittyluver]

"SPEAK THEE WHO IS PRIMARY AND SHALL GIVE THEE BLOODY TEETH!!!" HA HA I love that line =)

[@musicchic28]

thou has impressed me with an amazing script. Brilliantly done. And I dare say it is quite hilarious.

[@pixietwitch]

LMBBO!!! This must have taken weeks to get straight! Love it love it love it!

[@terrex28]

Absolute brilliance!!

[@Lacroix67]

This was too cool! I'm a big Abbott and Costello fan and I never saw it done this way! Very good job, guys!

[@kagomeshuko]

I cannot tell! Tertiary!

[@EhBlahEh]

Well done. Very well done indeed.

[@ProductionsofBoese]

This is awesome. Very well done and just as hilarious as the original.

[@zelda64rules]

Primary: Who Secondary: What Shortstop: It matters not Tertiary: I cannot tell Bowler: Tomorrow Wicket Keeper: Today Sinister Field: Why Intermediate Field: Because Now tell me the name of the gentleman in the Righteous Field.

[@MooseTheMoose]

No

[@zelda64rules]

伊佐洲 Thou refuseth to tell me the righteous gentleman, when thou swore to tell me the names?

[@matthewwallack601]

I do not giveth a darn is in righteous field

[@willferrous8677]

+zelda64rules it's "dexter"

[@zelda64rules]

Will Ferrous Correct you are, sir. Now tell me the name of Fieldman Dexter.

[@Hovwov]

No matter how many times I watch this I'm on the floor laughing.

[@rew05766]

Amazing! I loved it.

[@kenmurray9748]

that was frickin' awesome!!! loved every minute!!!

[@MoonBeast5]

This is the best thing I've ever seen.

[@NinaQueenofSpades]

God, this kills me everytime. Absolutely brilliant.

[@nobertosanchez647]

I love this.

[@leesandro5187]

this is great stuff. Abbott and Costello would be pleased.

[@JayLeibowitz]

Thanks, Lee!

[@Elryze]

I honestly pity the 37 people that disliked this masterpiece.

[@scottreacher4620]

Outstanding!

[@kenpotex]

awesome...very well done!

[@prospectnyc]

these guys are amazing!!!

[@eagleeyez128]

"speak thee who is primary and i shall give thee bloody teeth!" Great line! I believe english teachers will enjoy this version! ~verrily.

[@eightimprov]

That was awesome and such an original take on two classics in one. You posted a comment on my site. I do the original Abbott& Costello at events in the MYC area. Obviously great talents with a big future in our BIZ.

[@ctooner1]

Brilliant!!!! Bloody BRILLIANT!!!! 'Bloody?' I believe thow hast stuck myself with the manner of the Shakespearean era.

[@briack2001]

Brilliant! Well done!

[@drivernjax]

This version of the classic is as good as the original. It's been a while since I laughed as hard as I did at this video.

[@Terrafissa]

Very nice. Just about the best set of alterations to a 'classic' skit I've seen.

[@TheMikester307]

Love it! Reminds me of Blackadder! :)

[@JayLeibowitz]

ha! thanks!

[@KurtWittman]

I pray-thee - repost this wonderful vid with corrected ending! It's SO awesome!

[@standupman6422]

FANTASTIC!!

[@MaskedMan66]

Agreed as well! I'm with an old time radio recreation group, and we'd love to have something like this just for our monthly meeting or even to do as an extra at the end of a show.

[@frisco21]

Brilliant, inspired, unique.

[@templarw20]

Over a decade and a half later… still laughing.

[@JayLeibowitz]

thanks for watching!

[@cecilgrubbs4893]

These guys are so brilliant. ROTFLOL

[@SoleMan117]

Quite possibly the greatest routine ever written, by the BARD!

[@Shabannie]

Very funny! Thank you for sending this to me! ------Ellen

[@libertas1776]

Brilliant, absolutely brilliant!

[@Silversky109]

Hahaha this is actually really good :-). Well parodied!

[@seamus1956]

Verily, a cornucopia of chuckles and guffaws. Masterful! Simply masterful!

[@shufen2]

That was hilariously amazing. Great adaptation.

[@Jillbles]

Oh, well done. Thanks for posting.

[@Asperger1993]

Absolutely amazing idea, extremely well executed. Hilarious.

[@miciarokiri5182]

This is fantastic! Amazing job!

[@gconnor2]

Zounds and egad!!! In truth my slides doth split with sheer and unadulterated joy. 'Tis the funniest play thus seen whithin this visual medium called KZbin. Bring forth your best comments as what I speak is, by all that's holy, in truth an understatement!!!