A play by any other name ...

Apparently the title “The People vs. Friar Laurence, the Man Who Killed Romeo and Juliet” just wasn’t long enough.

So the new title for the raucous Shakespearean spoof, which premiered at Hollywood’s Tamarind Theatre in January, is “The Second City’s Romeo and Juliet Musical: The People vs. Friar Laurence, the Man Who Killed Romeo and Juliet.”

Actually, that mouthful came about because the show’s latest incarnation, now playing in Chicago, was co-produced by Second City with the Chicago Shakespeare Theater at the latter’s venue on City Pier. It was Second City that suggested the idea for the show to its alumnus Ron West, who wrote and directed “Friar Laurence” and collaborated on the score with Phil Swann. But Second City chose not to participate in the privately financed L.A. premiere.

That production drew good reviews, however, and Chicago critics are even wilder about the show. “Whip-smart, intensely amusing ... a blast,” wrote Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune. “The funniest new show of the season ... a musical score as clever as you’ll hear this side of Stephen Sondheim,” said Dan Zeff of Copley News Service.

Now in a snazzy 200-seat venue instead of the 85-seat Tamarind, the production uses four members of the L.A. cast, who graduated to Actors’ Equity contract wages. West is also appearing in this round, as Lord Capulet. The production runs through Aug. 15.

Despite its length, the new title “has been good for business, because people see the Second City name up there,” West says. However, he plans to return to the original 12-word title for any future productions.