Événement

Much Ado about Nothing

Shakespeare's spirited romantic comedy MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING brings the curtain down on the 2019-2020 season for the Hilltop Players starting on Wednesday, April 15th, with a preview on April 14th. This production runs through April 19th.

MUCH ADO is one of Shakespeares most beloved comedies (and the easiest and most accessible for contemporary audiences) and features a tale of two courtships: Beatrice and Benedick elevate the art of the quarrel in their duel of glittering wordplay, while Claudio and Hero are a case study in love-at-first-sight. However, the villainous Don John vows to ruin Claudio and Hero's happiness by being an errant knave. Luckily, comic officers apprehend the dastardly villains -- and a story filled with laughter and love unfolds.

This production, set in a world similar to post-World War I America, brings the color and life of the 1920's to life on stage, complete with music from the period. Beatrice, (Alexandria Glover, junior theatre major), and Benedick (Grant VanCamp, senior theatre major) hurl fusillades of clever insults at each other,. Benedick is determined to die a bachelor, and Beatrice would rather hear a dog bark at a crow than hear a man say he loves her until they are tricked into falling in love with each other. Hero (Delaney Bird, sophomore theatre major) and Claudio (Jalen McCrary, senior theatre major) need no help falling in love. Claudio returns from war, sees Hero, and WHAM, they are in love. With the help of Don Pedro, the match is made and a wedding planned.

Its not all fun and games in Messina, thoughnot when theres a villain, Don John (Anthony Hood, senior theatre major), sowing seeds of rumor and fake news for no reason but to make others as discontent as he is.

No need to fear, though! The dayand the comedywill be saved by an unlikely crew of seemingly hapless officers of the law, led by the indomitable Master Constable Dogberry (Ben Moore, senior theatre major), who does as much damage to the English language as she does to the villains plans.

Other cast members are Hayden Heiserman as Don Pedro; Josie Jarrett as Leonato; Callia Byard as Antonio; Dakota McGrew as Conrade; Odessa Hores as Borachio; Makeena Berka as Verges; Julia Paige Fields as George Seacole; Merritt Craft as Ursula; Fiona Rushton and Doug Torres as the watchmen; Autumn Carver as Margaret; Keenan Seditz as Friar Francis; Anthony Hood the Sexton.

With its engaging plot of deception and self-deception, mistaken identity, its provocative treatment of gender roles, and the inclusion of upbeat songs of the era, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING is sure to be a favorite for students.