Review By Matt Adams, Front Row Reviewers
Much Ado About Nothing is one of William Shakespeare’s romantic comedies, and Utah Shakespeare Festival’s production in Cedar City leans heavily into the comedy. Following a successful military campaign, soldiers led by Don Pedro (Rodney Lizcano) visit the estate of Leonato (Henry Woronicz). Leonato’s daughter seems excited to see the returning soldiers, but her cousin Beatrice (Melinda Parrett) is much less so. Among Don Pedro’s soldiers is Benedick (Walter Kmiec) with whom Beatrice has traded barbed insults in the past. Benedick is decidedly against romance or settling down and Beatrice is of the same mind. As this is a romantic comedy, you can naturally guess that these two supposed adversaries end up together. Other characters amuse themselves by arranging for Benedick and Beatrice to each overhear conversations suggesting that the other is hopelessly in love them. Convinced of the other’s infatuation, they each decide they can explore the possibility of a relationship. One of the most memorable lines from the play is Benedick’s “When I said I could die a bachelor, I did not think I should live till I were married.”
The other ill-fated couple is Leonato’s innocent daughter, Hero (Dariana Elise Perez) and Claudio (Jimmy Nguyen), a young soldier. Claudio professes that he has been pining for Hero while they were away on campaign. Despite Benedick’s discouragement, Claudio enlists the help of Don Pedro to approach Hero’s father on his behalf. Soon the two young people are happy to be engaged to wed. However, Don Pedro’s illegitimate brother John (Marco Antonio Vega) is out to make trouble. He conspires with fellow soldiers to have Claudio and Don Pedro witness a tryst between a soldier and one of Hero’s attendants, and convinces them that it is Hero herself being unfaithful to Claudio. This leads to a dramatic confrontation at the wedding; but fear not, Shakespeare finds a way to disentangle these webs and give Hero and Claudio a happy ending at last.
Parrett and Kmiec are well paired as the sharp-tongued Beatrice and the reluctant Benedick. Both deliver Shakespeare’s lines with just the right amount of modern intonation and sarcasm to add to the comedy. Perez shines as Hero and Nguyen displays range as the tortured Claudio. Ensemble member Spencer Watson deserves special recognition for singing two lovely original musical pieces composed by sound designer Jennifer Jackson.
The expert direction by Brad Carroll features more physical comedy than I had expected. Of special note in this department are Blake Henrie and Evelyn Carol Chase as the constables Dogberry and Verges, and Darin F. Earl II, Matthew Wangemann, and Braedon Young as the recruited members of the watch. Their bumbling scenes had the audience in stitches. Parrett and Kmiec also do their fair share of physical comedy. Kmiec manages to deliver an impressive amount of swagger with a bucket stuck on his foot.
Jason Lajka’s scenic design feels like a welcome breeze on a hot summer day. (It was indeed a hot summer day in Cedar City.) Gorgeous archways frame the back of the stage, while other pieces are flown in to suggest varied settings like the church or the arbor. The lighting designed by Claire Chrzan provides lush colors indicating different times of day. The costumes at the Festival are always beautiful, and this show is no exception. Brenda Van der Wiel costumes the actors in elegant but modernized outfits.
The conflict in Much Ado About Nothing arises from characters overhearing and believing untrue gossip and rumors. But this isn’t just a rumor: USF’s Much Ado About Nothing is seriously fun and funny. Don’t just take my word for it… see for yourself.
Utah Shakespeare Festival presents Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare.
Randall L Jones Theater, 195 W Center St, Cedar City, UT 84720
June 21-October 5, 2024, times and dates vary
Tickets: $30-85
Contact: 1-800-752-9849
USF Facebook Page
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