Chicago Shakespeare Theater presents MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING.
Beatrice and Benedick despise each other. Their encounters are battles of wit dripping in disdain. Beatrice is the niece of the Governor of Messina. Benedick the loyal soldier to the Prince, Don Pedro. While the Prince is visiting Messina, he decides to play matchmaker. Besides wooing the Governor’s daughter Hero for his other soldier Claudio, Don Pedro concocts an elaborate ploy to get Beatrice and Benedict together. Meanwhile, as the Prince focuses on romance for his men, his brother sets a trap to thwart everyone’s happy ending. Shakespeare’s MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING is a timeless -and perhaps the original- romcom.
Director Selina Cadell masterfully orchestrates a superb ensemble. Her razor-sharp focus is on fun. Cadell ensures every situation, word, and gesture is amplified for its comedic potential. The play starts with Joey Chelius transitioning from musician to messenger. He runs holding a note around the theatre and back to where he was to deliver it. The unnecessary jog is silly… and funny! It hints at the frivolity to come. From the start, the amusement is obviously curated for our pleasure.
Scenic and Costume Designer Tom Piper sets the scene for romance. His stucco villa courtyard has a lovely large tree with a swing. He dresses the ensemble in colorful resort wear for the day and elegant formal attire for the night. The vibe feels very Shakespeare-on-holiday. Cadell brings the ageless classic to life steeped in antics from The Bard’s era. The ensemble address and interact with the audience. The minstrels double as The Watch -and sometimes as stagehands. One of my favorite LOL moments is a versatile Jaylon Muchison fiddling with chair placement when someone yells ‘You’re the Friar now.” And he hilariously and deftly scrambles into another persona. Cadell effectively blurs the line between The Lord Chamberlain’s Men and a Chicago Shakes’ ensemble. The delightful antics allude to the movie “Shakespeare in Love” where production and play weave together.
In the leads, Deborah Hay (Beatrice) and Mark Bedard (Benedick) are hysterically funny. Hay drily zings the one liners while an animated Bedard has flawless timing. In addition, their physicality is over-the-top riotous slapstick. Hay rolls down stairs. Bedard climbs a tree. Their exaggerated shenanigans bring the comedy gold. Collectively, they are perfectly and imperfectly matched. We are thoroughly invested and actively rooting for this coupling. Along with Hays and Bedard’s buffoonery, Sean Fortunato (Dogberry) engages with zany burlesque often mimicked by a winsome Muchison.
Within this fabulous romcom, there is a heaviness spurred by hearsay and double standards.The captivating Mi Kang (Hero) is dumped by -the previously charming- Samuel B. Jackson (Claudio). Claudio, the Prince (played by a dignified Debo Balogun) and her own father (played by the steadfast Kevin Gudahl) publicly scorn Hero. Four hundred years later, Shakespeare’s theme of a woman being shamed and punished for her virtue remains unfortunately intact. Cadell even cleverly adds much appreciated comedy relief at the resulting funeral.
Chicago wants and needs to fall in love this holiday season. And Cadell conjures up a love spell so potent that the entire audience is giddy and lovestruck. MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING is actually really SOMETHING to see! Get a ticket to the best romcom this year!!
Running Time: Two hours and fifty minutes includes an intermission
At Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier
Written by William Shakespeare
Directed by Selina Cadell
Performances are:
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays at 7pm
Saturdays at 2pm and 7pm
Sundays at 2pm
Thru December 21
For more information or tickets
Production photos by Kyle Flubacker
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