Shakespeare Much Ado About Nothing
Going Hip To Hip For Shakespeare
Directed by co-founder and actor Jason Marr, the nonstop 90-minute performance emphasizes the elements of farce as pranks are pulled, dancers prance, and sweethearts fight a merry war of wits. Every main character eventually fools another and is fooled in turn.
On Aug. 5 the comedy, set mostly in a garden, was presented in its most appropriate venue, the beautiful Victorian garden behind the restored gingerbread-style mansion in Flushing known as the Voelker Orth Museum, amidst twining vines, dangling bunches of grapes and all types of colorful blooms.
The story begins as soldiers Benedick (Damon Kindard) and Claudio (Tim Dowd) return home from war to tackle the challenges of love. Claudio hopes to marry Hero (co-founder Joy Marr) while Benedick claims he never wants to marry but is secretly attracted to the one woman he seemingly can't attract: Beatrice (Elizabeth Alice Murray). Calmer than Kate in "Taming of the Shrew," the self-assured Beatrice is just as witty. She and Benedick endlessly war with words, neither revealing their real feelings, until six of the other characters conspire to trick them into doing it.
Claudio's romantic dreams are almost sabotaged by the scheming Don John (Rafael Miguel) and his follower Borachio (Cristina Carrion) until the bumbling constable Dogberry (Kevin Shimko) saves the day. The cast expertly handles the entertaining twists and turns of trickery in "Much Ado" as identities are exchanged, eavesdropping is enacted and seeming tragedy turns to triumph.
Kindard brings great dignity to his role (he alternates as the title character in this year's other Hip to Hip production, "Othello") along with excellent comic timing; Murray's Beatrice is wonderfully confident and comical; and Joy Marr's portrayal of Hero is spirited and charming. The actors demonstrate their versatility by each acting out two very different parts, some originally of the opposite gender.
Headquartered in Woodside, Hip to Hip is a five-year-old non-profit company dedicated to presenting free Shakespeare in various parks (and Voelker Orth's garden) including Fort Totten Park, Forest Park and the Socrates Sculpture Park. Find them at hiptohip.org or call (718) 729-8567 to see their remaining summer schedule. To join their mailing list, email contact@hiptohip.org.
The Voelker Orth Museum is located at 149-19 38th Ave in Flushing. For information about tours, special events and exhibits, go to vomuseum.org or call (718) 359-6227.
Shakespeare Much Ado About Nothing - News
Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing," as performed this summer by the touring Hip to Hip Theatre Company, is a joy, pure and simple. Directed by co-founder and actor Jason Marr, the nonstop 90-minute performance emphasizes the
Each year The Shakespeare Club of Grafton selects three or four plays for in-depth study. Among this year's selections are “Much Ado About Nothing” and “As You Like It.'' A producer leads discussion and adds insights while the characters are cast from
Sebastopol Shakespeare presents William Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing," starring award-winning actor Tim Kniffin as the swaggering Benedick and acclaimed Bay Area actress Danielle Cain as his foil, Beatrice.
After that play you just might have time to hop up to the Miles Playhouse where you can catch Much Ado About Nothing staged by the Not Man Apart – Physical Theatre Ensemble. The tale of two romantically bedeviled couples – are they in love or aren't
The Winters Theatre Company will present "Much Ado About Nothing" during its annual Shakespeare in the Park, weekends Friday to Aug. 20. Performances will be at 8 pm Fridays and Saturdays in the outdoor amphitheater behind the Winters Community Center
Theater: 'Much Ado' caps ShakespeareFest - Lifestyles - MercedSun ...
Merced ShakespeareFest concludes its tenth anniversary season in Applegate Park with Shakespeare's rollicking comedy "Much Ado About Nothing."
"This was our first show, and we're thrilled to be able to bring it to life for you again," director Heike Hambley said.
A tale of fair maidens and gallant soldiers, fools and rogues, "Much Ado About Nothing" is a delightful romp through the home of Leonato, where love is in the air and mischief is afoot.
"I love doing the plays in the park because it brings Shakespeare to people in an outdoor setting at no cost to them," actor Bert Roper said.
Roper has performed in every Merced ShakespeareFest production, and is excited to reprise the role of Antonio.
"(It's) the same role I did the first time we produced and performed it in the park 10 years ago," he said.
Although he loves the works of Shakespeare, Roper finds that some people shy away from them because they think they won't understand the words. He said that shouldn't be a problem in this production.
"The play has an excellent cast who will, I think, make the play very understandable," he said. "There is a wonderful synopsis in the program and the actors will make every effort through their speaking and acting to make sure that the audience understands and enjoys the play."
This will be actor Josef Wise's first time performing outdoors.
"I am thrilled to meet new challenges like noises and temperatures I'm unaccustomed to as an actor," he said. "I love the passion, excitement and drive that Heike, the director, consistently brings to our rehearsals. It's infectious!"
Wise is looking forward to sharing.
"It will be a great diversion from the mundane," Wise said. "This show will be compelling and enlightening to those who've never experienced a Shakespeare play. Compared to his other stories, this is among the most charming and quick- witted.
Much Ado About Nothing - W. Shakespeare
Went to see 'much ado about nothing'! Was brilliant and had lavender ice cream except that it was pouring down = true shakespeare fan!
The Waste Lands - Stephen King, Much Ado About Nothing - William Shakespeare.
"I do love nothing in the world so well as you: is not that strange?" -William Shakespeare, Much Ado about Nothing
"I love you with so much of my heart that none is left to protest." -William Shakespeare, Much Ado about NothingShakespeare Much Ado About Nothing - Bookshelf
Much ado about nothing
... CHARACTER DON PEDRO DON JOHN CLAUDIO BENEDICK LEONATO ANTONIO BALTHASAR CONRADE BORACHIO FRIAR FRANCIS DOGBERRY VERGES A Sexton A Boy HERO BEATRICE ...Much ado about nothing, with new and updated critical essays and a revised bibliography
Features information on Shakespeare's life and world, a history of notable productions of this famous comedy, and new dramatic criticismMuch ado about nothing, a comedy in six acts
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING. BY WILLIAM SH AK SPEAKS. WITH THE STAGE BUSINESS, OAST OF OHARAGTMS COSTUMES, RELATIVE POSITIONS, ETC. NEW YORK: PUBLISHED BY HL ...Much ado about nothing, a comedy in five acts.As arranged for the stage
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, A COMEDY IN FIVE ACTS, WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, AS ARRANGED FOR THE STAGE HENRY IRVING, AND PRESENTED AT THE LYCEUM THEATRE, ...Much ado about nothing
Depicts the humorous mishaps which follow when young Claudio is duped into believing his fiancee has been unfaithfulUseful Information Directory
Much Ado About Nothing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Much Ado About Nothing: List of Scenes
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