Written by Alina Mae Wilson• August 4, 2015• 5:52 am• Irvine, Review, UCI, Uncategorized

New Swan Shakespeare Festival Presents : Much Ado About Nothing @ University of California, Irvine – Review

Written by Alina Mae Wilson

In true Shakespearean form, all the way down to the authentic round Shakespearian Theatre, UCI pulls off an admirable showing of one of the first real observational masterpieces on the wackiness of love. However, the change in time period from Shakespearian time to a more present time does very little to elevate the already classic source material.

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Photo courtesy: Paul Kennedy

Story:

In Much Ado About Nothing, we see chaos ensue in a house that seemingly desires nothing but merriment. The year is 1945, and soldiers are returning from WWII for a grand celebration. Prince Don Pedro arrives with a troop of men, including his spiteful brother, Don John. While Don Pedro decides to help his friend Claudio wed his love Hero, Don John sets in motion plans to ruin the engagement. Meanwhile, fellow soldier Benedick and the lady Beatrice endlessly bicker with one another, and more drama of the heart ensues.

Acting/Direction:

The cast was expressive enough to convey most of the vital pieces of information to the audience. The standout performance is everything to do with Don John- played by actor Zak Houston. Houston’s sullen and ill-tempered demeanor creates some semblance of motive for the viciously scheming Don John. As a modern-day viewer, I don’t find Don John’s status as an illegitimate brother obvious.

The cast’s movement is free enough to look natural yet choreographed sufficiently, so everything in the circular New Swan Theater flows well. At no point are we unable to see or comprehend a moment.

Final Thoughts

For the most part, this production was put together exceptionally well. However, one serious drawback can’t be ignored- the time period. As is pretty standard, someone decided the play should take place in a different time period than the one Shakespeare wrote about. There is no harm in this, as it often drives a point home or better explains a situation to the audience. I also get the point; you switched the time periods to showcase the story’s timelessness. Still, the use of the time change added nothing to enhance the narrative or make this version stand out from any of the other previous updates.