EAST CALAIS – William Shakespeare (1564-1616) wrote almost an equal number of comedies, histories and tragedies, all populated by vivid characters of his creative imagination. In “Much Ado About Nothing,” now playing at the Unadilla Theater in East Calais, a plot veering towards tragedy is transformed at the last moment into a more comic happy ending, thanks to some bumbling watchmen and a ridiculous constable.
As in other comedies of the Bard, the self-important muckety-mucks of the upper class are saved by the smarter representatives of the lower classes.
What gives momentum to the drama are two pairs of would-be lovers: Count Claudio and Hero, and Signior Benedic and Beatrice. The men are companions of Prince Don Pedro, while the women are, respectively, the daughter of Leonato, the Governor of Messina, where the action takes place, and his niece.
The marriage of the first couple is temporarily halted by the villainous scheming of Don John, the bastard brother of Don Pedro. On the other hand, both Benedick and Beatrice publicly proclaim that they never intend to marry, until their friends manipulate them into a mutual attraction.
“Much Ado About Nothing” is very ably directed by Jeanne Beckwith, and she has assembled a superlative cast that is clearly having a lot of fun in the production. Vince Rossano is entirely believable as the dignified Governor of Messina, Leonato, and Arthur Anderson well fits the role of Don Pedro, a well-meaning nobleman. Chris Hennessey is appropriately sinister as the deceiving Don John, who slanders the virtue of innocent Hero with the help of his two henchmen, Borachio (Keiren Lee) and Conrade (Caleb Pincus).
Brenna Lee and Lila Stratton alternate as the character of Hero, which requires some convincing acting in the scenes where she is wrongly accused of having a secret affair. Elijah Myer as Count Claudio is excellent in expressing his very strong emotions after he has been led astray by Don John and denounces Hero publicly on the day they were to be married.
Alex Yabom-Halsberg is a very accomplished actress as Beatrice, delivering her lines with high energy and moving about the stage with an animated expressiveness. Thelonious Shores has great stage presence as Benedick, using his face, hands and whole body to reinforce the words meaningfully, really entertaining to watch. Susan Loyud embodies the humorous figure of Dogberry, the Master Constable, whose incoherent and self-aggrandizing speeches are a delightful spoof.
Other supporting players who well demonstrated their dramatic skills were Cynthia Sekler as Margret (and later as Verges, Dogberry’s partner) and Jessica Goodlin as Ursula (later George Seawal, Deputy), two gentlewomen serving in the Governor’s house, Mary Scripps as Antonia, the Governor’s sister, Neal Punsal as Balthazar (and later as a watchman), Bob Carmody as a Sexton and Shanda Williams (AKA Sister Sankofa) as Sister Francesca.
Much Ado About Nothing can be seen at the Unadilla Theater on the next two weekends, on July 25, 26, 27 and August 1, 2, 3 and 4. For more information, call (802) 456-8968.
David K. Rodgers
David K. Rodgers is a writer, mason and card carrying dilettante, who dabbles and babbles in art. He has lived in East Craftsbury for the past 40 years.
