Much Ado About Nothing

Ben Carlson as Benedick and Deborah Hay as Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing. Photo by David Hou.

Stratford’s current staging of Much Ado About Nothing, directed by Christopher Newton, puts an exotic spin on Shakespeare’s famous romantic comedy. Set in Brazil around the turn of the 20th century, the modified production features a beautiful set with a sweeping staircase (by designer Santo Loquasto) on which the story about two very different pairs of lovers unfolds.

The play opens with a triumphant return from war: Don Pedro (Juan Chioran) arrives at the estate of the aristocratic Leonato (James Blendick) with his miserable illegitimate brother Don John (Gareth Potter) and his friends Claudio (Tyrone Savage) and Benedick (Ben Carlson), just in time for a homecoming celebration. Claudio falls head over heels for Leonato’s daughter Hero (Bethany Jillard), while the proud bachelor Benedick launches into a “merry war” with Hero’s disagreeable cousin Beatrice (Deborah Hay).

In a sincere attempt to make his friends happy, Don Pedro plays matchmaker to both couples, securing a marriage between Claudio and Hero and tricking Benedick and Beatrice into revealing their love for one another. But when his brother Don John catches on to the imminent wedding plans, the conniving villain plots to destroy the joyous occasion with the help of his accomplices Borachio (Michael Blake) and Conrad (Victor Ertmanis). Don John’s malicious scheme is foiled, however, when Borachio and Conrad are arrested by the local Watch, led by the bewildered Dogberry (Richard Binsley), whose misguided attempts at serving justice accidentally succeed in setting things right again.

Much Ado About Nothing is Shakespearean comedy at its best—chock-full of misunderstandings, trickery, gender battles and, of course, love and marriage, this enchanting play offers something for just about everyone. The cast does a fine job under Newton, with stand-out performances by Hay and Carlson as the unlikely lovers Beatrice and Benedick. The real-life couple’s on-stage chemistry is truly magnetic, and we find ourselves rooting for them from the very start. Jillard is also excellent as the wronged Hero, and Blendick steals many a scene as her father, the powerful, but easily influenced Leonato.

Much Ado is a funny, heartwarming show with a touch of Brazilian heat. Catch it until October 27 at the Festival Theatre (55 Queen Street, Stratford Ontario). Visit stratfordfestival.ca for more information and to buy tickets.