As Polonius once said, “Brevity is the soul of wit.” Well you can’t get much briefer than 15 seconds of song lyrics in the style of a Shakespearean actor.

Well, that’s what a bunch of actors across the pond have been doing for the past week, in what they’ve dubbed #15SecondShakespeare. It started with actor David Fynn (Leap Year), who performed the lyrics to….well, I don’t want to spoil it.

#15secondshakespeare Here's some ancient text for you. Using the correct pronunciation from the Elizabethan era. This is from one of Shakespeare's lesser seen plays. #acting #craft #bard #hollywood #paleo #squats #organic #dreamz

A video posted by David Fynn (@davidfynnn) on Sep 11, 2015 at 4:40pm PDT

Well, rather than just let this great concept come and go, Fynn nominated some friends to do it, and much like the Ice Bucket Challenge last year, it took off, and now the internet is full of these wonderful, little performances. Just search Twitter or Instagram and you’ll be inundated with them.

Arthur Darvill (Doctor Who) got in on it.

Hey. @davidfynn here is my #15secondShakespeare I nominate @neilhimself @JoeSims10 pic.twitter.com/dLl5tOARd0

— Arthur Darvill (@RattyBurvil) September 23, 2015

Some of these are so good you might not even recognize them at first. Did you immediately get that was Michael Jackson’s “Black and White?” I didn’t.

Of course, some are very obvious, but still amazing, like this one from Karen Gillan (Guardians of the Galaxy):

My #15SecondShakespeare thanks @r_jacz and I nominate @imrosemciver and @jenmorrisonlive https://t.co/NjwzCf1FBN

— Karen Gillan (@karengillan) September 23, 2015

Now I want her to do this, but as Nebula.

And just like the Ice Bucket Challenge, all of this great fun will be helping out a good cause, as the originator himself has said #15SecondShakespeare will be used to help raise money for the Red Cross.

#15secondshakespeare will now be supporting the efforts of the charity RED CROSS in the Refugee Crisis. When recording please donate 1st…

— David Fynn (@davidfynn) September 23, 2015

#15secondshakespeare DONATE, then nominate. Details in my next tweet…..

— David Fynn (@davidfynn) September 23, 2015

#15secondshakespeare REDCROSS APPEAL. DONATE @ http://t.co/qcLjzpMU5H txt FAMILY to 70600. (£5) RECORD & NOMINATE. ……

— David Fynn (@davidfynn) September 23, 2015

A Patrick Stewart nomination is still out there. I’d like a 15 minute Shakespeare from him doing “Rapper’s Delight.” Who wouldn’t donate to charity to see that?

Hopefully this phenomenon gets big over here in America, because this idea is too good. Giveth thou best nominees to do this, for any actors anywhere, in the comments below.

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HT: BBCAmerica

Image: Issocompensa.com