Brianna Bauch

THR 240
Larry Nye
26 February, 2017
Much Ado AboutSomething More Than Nothing
Southern Connecticut State University Theatre Department approach one of

Shakespeares finest works, Much Ado About Nothing, and bring much love, delight, heartache,

betrayal, redemption, and truth to the story. Exercising Shakespeares original practices of

speaking directly to the audience and keeping the lights on, the company members begin to take

us on this journey with a conversation with the audience and live preshow music. We watch as

the performers transition from actor to character as they put on pieces of their costumes before

our eyes and ere, we begin the play.

Without hesitation, we are immersed into the village of Messina, Italy and the complex

relationships, skirmishes of love, and opinions of marriage. Beatrice and Benedicks sensual and

volatile love-hate relationship is most interesting and entertaining to watch. The two are plain-set

against marriage but are so obviously designed for each other. The audience and the whole

village knows they are perfect for each other, but do they? Beatrice and Benedick, played by

SCSU seniors Brianna Bauch and Shawn Tyler Allen, dove into their multi-layered personalities

and are delightfully scornful, genuine, intelligent, and calloused. The audience gets to experience

the remarkable ride of their rollercoaster of emotions from pure disdain to undeniable love.

Intertwined in Beatrice and Benedicks love story is the relationship of young, hopeful

lovers Hero (Marie Whelan) and Claudio (John Murphy) mixed with the family turmoil between

the Prince, Don Pedro (the appealing Jacob Santos) and his sister Donna Jon (Ty-Zhayia Brown).

Usually portrayed by a man, it was refreshing to see a woman step into the predominantly male
role of Don Jon. We see this gender-blind casting again in Verges (Noel Rieth) and

Antonia/Frier/Sexton (Tiesha Fleming). Director Rebecca Goodhearts casting is commendable

and seems seamless for the collegiate production. A few more of the standouts in the cast are

Jacob Santos whom plays the noble Prince with confidence and valor, but is additionally as

genuine and authentic. Marie Whelan is sweet and endearing as the young lover Hero, and Aidan

Foley as Dogberry/Conrade, who brightens up the stage with his unusual word choice and

eccentric physicality.

Messina, Italy is brought to Southern Connecticut State University in their production of

Much Ado About Nothing. The set design by John Carver Sullivan is simple and clean yet

exquisite. The curtains in the archways seemed a little out of place and I would have preferred

doors, but I really am just nit-picking here. The house of Leonato is two stories and the opening

of every window, door, and archway allows us to see past the set and appreciate the incredible

lighting design of Jamie Burnett. The way he illuminates the cyclorama is extraordinary and the

time of day is always clear and lit appropriately.

The costumes, also designed by John Carver Sullivan, were immaculate (and I do not

throw that word around lightly). The women all dressed in corsets and skirts look elegant and

beautiful. The soldiers are handsome and worthy, Leonatos family look expensive and intricate

and the lower-class appear as if they do not belong in this village (in the best way). The costumes

complement each other and set us back to Shakespeares time.

The one thing about this production that I think is obscure is that the world of the play is

not set in a specific time. The performers wear stylized period costumes while performing

modern day music. Songs like Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow, Heigh Ho, Blurred

Lines, Closing Time, etc. This is a daring choice, and I respect the thought behind it, but it
does not quite translate. In Goodhearts directors notes she mentions, and I

find that the concept is intelligent but did not feel it converted as clear. The music is a lovely

enhancement to the production, however. The strings by Mike Skinner who is also the Technical

Director, Production Manager, and Music Coordinator (how many hats can one man wear?) are

lovely and accompanied charmingly with percussion by Drew McWeeney and clarinet by Erin

MacLeod. Kaia Monroe Raricks choreography fit the feel of the music and the actors executed

the two dances well.

The title Much Ado About Nothing doesnt quite seem to fit this particular production.

Nothing refers to the many misunderstandings and misinformed information that gets passed

along throughout the show. Much of the plot really is about a lot of nothing, revolving around

lies and misunderstandings of whether or not the Prince or Claudio is going to woe Hero,

whether Hero really did have an affair, etc. However, that being said, the actors present the story

so well that the audience fully experiences the joy and heartbreak of the characters and it feels

like something rather than nothing. This production of Much Ado About Nothing is best kind

of something wonderful.