MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING Reviewed
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
Reviewed by Jeff Smith of the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle.
Now through September 28th, the Marin Shakespeare Company is crowning its 19th season by staging MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING at the Forest Meadows Amphitheatre in San Rafael.
While the action or the plot-line centers on the saga of the cruelly maligned and slandered Hero (played by Khamara Pettus) and her tragically duped suitor Claudio (played by Christopher Maikish), this play clearly orbits about the reluctant, resistive, involuntary lovers: Beatrice (Cat Thompson) and Benedick (Darren Bridgett).
The play does contain a little transitory pathos, but at its core are the hilarious machinations by which Eros, friends, comrades, fate and hormones deliver Beatrice and Benedick to that slippery slope leading to wedding cakes and the propagation of the species.
Despite the best efforts of their scathing wits, combative egos, bruising bantering and trenchant reluctance, love is ultimately victorious.
Cat Thompson plays a fiery Beatrice—no intentional reference to her beautifully coifed hair—too intelligent and too heavily armed with cynicism to willingly step into the snares of love.
Beatrice fends off any and all romantic overtures and seductive assaults of even the most well-intentioned suitors; excepting the gallant and charming Benedick.
Thompson creates a Beatrice so dazzling that even the most prudent suitor would forget to sign his portion of the pre-nuptial contract.
Darren Bridgett who has practically grown up on Marin Stages—as an actor that is—gets measurably better every season: he stands straddling the stage: one foot in comedy and one foot in acting; and he does remarkably well in both domains.
Darren's delivery—highly animated, densely punctuated with comic facial expressions and physical comedy—brings the audience to an understanding of the richness of Shakespeare's humor regardless of the degree of fluency one enjoys in Elizabethan English.
Darren is arguably the best comedian north of the Golden Gate and south of Prince Rupert Island.
Looking at the polish of this production, it is hard to believe that Shakespeare survives on a shoestring.
The secret is resourcefulness: artistic directors Robert and Lesley Currier are magnets for earnest talent.
Michael Berg—the costume designer—is one of the more conspicuous talents in the crew: Michael also does costumes for Center Rep in Walnut Creek, the Ross Valley Players and for the Mountain play.
In this production, he has gussied up the Italian soldiers—Benedict, Don Pedro, Don John and Claudio—so well, it looks almost as if these Italians dandies could actually win a war; if not then perhaps a battle, or a skirmish, or better yet a board game like Backgammon or Parcheesi.
If you are thinking about a convincing costume for a Masquerade Ball, a Halloween Soiree or a Bank Heist, Michael Berg should be your point of contact.
The Set Design, by Bruce Lackovic, is befitting the opulent Italian Villa it portrays: then too, it is rugged enough to double as a Jungle Jim: half the cast has the opportunity to climb on his Rose Pergola; Darren Bridgett swings inverted by one foot from this Pergola, and yet—to everyone's relief—its budges nary an inch.
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING is quality entertainment that is both edifying and hilarious; you will not find such a winning combination anywhere: the ballet, an opera, the drag races, kickboxing nor a tractor pull.
So drop the TV remote and bring the kids out for audience friendly Shakespeare that the whole family will enjoy.
Bring a picnic dinner and a six-pack of your favorite wine; if you sit in the orchestra section Darren Bridgett will join you during the play, so have an extra glass of chilled Pinot Grigio waiting for him.
For tickets to a most enjoyable and enchanting evening, call the box office at 415-499-4488.
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