Much Ado About Nothing, Chicago Shakespeare Theater

 



Chemistry. This is the key to any successful show but perhaps especially a successful production of Much Ado About Nothing, one of the brightest gems of Shakespeare's comedy canon. Chemistry between the cast of Selina Cadell's production at Chicago Shakespeare Theater shines through and brings to life the friendships and love embedded in the text. These people seem like they really, really like each other, if they don't they're fooling us brilliantly.

The banter driven romance between the witty, initially quarrelsome Benedick (Mark Bedard) and Beatrice (Deborah Hay) is what makes the play beloved although it's in most respects the "B plot". Don Pedro, (Debo Bologun) is a nobelman who has recently won a great military battle along with his best friends Benedick and Claudio (Samuel B. Jackson) and has come to idyllic Messina to visit Leonato (Kevin Gudahl). Claudio falls in love with Leonato's daughter Hero (Mi Kang) and all looks well until Don Pedro's devious brother Don John (Erik Hellman) schemes to ruin the impending marriage by deceiving Claudio into believing Hero has been unfaithful.

Claudio's violent public shaming of the woman he supposedly loves is probably the hardest pill for modern audiences to swallow in this otherwise joyful play. Jackson's charming, sympathetic performance, and probably some judicious omissions from the text make this storyline go down easier. Even Hellman's Don John seems more like a guy whose pranks went a little too far than a genuine villain.

Benedick and Beatrice are what we came for of course and Bedard and Hay do not disappoint, both absolute naturals who exude not only easygoing wit and charm but even a bit of gravitas and pathos and genuine bonds of affection and respect. They love each other and we love them.

The always amusing Sean Fortunato rounds out the cast as comic watchman Dogberry who unravels the plot despite his incompetence.

Tom Piper's scenic and costume design feel very much like we're with these people at a fantastic party.

As Benedick resolves to be with Beatrice, I was horribly in love with this show.

Sun, Dec 7:2:00pm
Wed, Dec 10:1:00pm & 7:00pm
Thu, Dec 11:7:00pm
Fri, Dec 12:7:00pm
Sat, Dec 13:2:00pm & 7:00pm
Sun, Dec 14:2:00pm
Tue, Dec 16:7:00pm
Wed, Dec 17:1:00pm & 7:00pm
Thu, Dec 18:7:00pm
Fri, Dec 19:7:00pm
Sat, Dec 20:2:00pm & 7:00pm
Sun, Dec 21:2:00pm

Price: $65-$132

Show Type: Comedy

Box Office: 312-595-5600

Running Time: 2hrs, 40mins

www.chicagoshakes.com



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