Written by orange• August 18, 2024• 12:11 am• Cabrillo Playhouse, Review, San Clemente, Theater, Uncategorized

Much Ado About Nothing @ Cabrillo Playhouse in San Clemente – Review

pc: Eric Modyman

Written by Patrick Chavis

Much Ado About Nothing is playing now at the Cabrillo Playhouse in San Clemente, August 16 – 24, 2024.

It’s comedicly sound and very funny, but wildly unfocused in a good way. This zany rendition is quite fun if you’re not trying to take the material too seriously. Much Ado About Nothing is one of the more popular comedies in Shakespeare and recently one of the more staged productions in Los Angeles and Orange County, from what I’ve noticed. Recently, in the mainstream film world, “Anyone But You” with Euphoria’s (Do I Look like I’m in Oklahoma), Sidney Sweeney and Twisters Glen Powell (or Hangman) made itself glaringly clear as a modern take on Much Ado About Nothing, with changes. And, of course, there’s the Josh Whedon version of Much Ado About Nothing that came out in 2012. This storyline has lasted centuries and is still kicking, so there is something to it.

Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney in ‘Anyone But You’ Sony Pictures / Courtesy Everett CollectionStory:

Story:

The play centers around two relationships: Beatrice (Abigail Cox) and Benedick (Ben Green), and Claudio (Garrett Claud) and Hero (Chelsea Caracoza). Benedick and Beatrice are committed to being single for the rest of their lives and loath the sight of each other. Hero and Claudio are very different, madly in love, but lies and deceit get in the way. Will anyone find love between these pair? This, and more in Much Ado About Nothing.

Watching director Eric Modyman’s version of Much Ado About Nothing was akin to watching a fun cosplay of the material. The change in scenery, which is supposed to be the 1920’s Gatsby era, is fashion. What stands out about this take is not the era or the fashion but the slapstick – improvisational – comedic freedom Modyman gives his actors. Some characters, like Hero, Beatrice, and The Friar, played by Topher Hutchinson, play more straight.

After a while, I forgot it was set in another era. It was not made very important. The rest of the cast is wild and fancy-free, with almost cartoonish expressions and flourishes. No one is more acute in this fashion than Ben Green, whose Benedick delivers his line with the dexterity of a comic. The hilarious Jae LaRosa (Dogberry) brings John Belushi vibes and the extra talents of Kara Bree (Verges), who leans in no filters—much appreciated!

Set/Costume:

This production focused more on the fashion of the costumes from costume designer Amber Pegler and the acting than on set design. A clever use of shadow and light helped communicate one of the plot points in the story in a creative DIY fashion. The lighting mainly consisted of hanging Christmas lights above the dinner theatre-type seating outside the Cabrillo Theater.

Acting:

While this is comedy overall, there are some more serious moments, especially around the deception in “Much Ado About Nothing,” the two leads, Cox and Green, both provided memorable performances in this instance.

Cox’s Beatrice has the confidence and seriousness you’d expect from the role. However, the frustration she has with Benedick could be more believable.

Shakespeare purists may not enjoy it, but the Cabrillo Playhouse has a fun and whimsical tale of this classic all their own.