July 27, 2005
Bard on the Boardman
Riverside Shakespeare presents 'Much Ado About Nothing'
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
"Shall I never see a bachelor of three score again?"
Setting the tone early in Act I, Scene I of William Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing," Brian Dungjen as Benedick launches the romantic comedy onto its fast-paced course. With twists and turns, betrothals and betrayals, it is the Bard in top form. The show culminated with two marriages: two young lovers transcending a wicked plot against them and Benedick marrying Beatrice, played with haughty cool by Jill Beauchamp.
"In the summer, most people are into light comedy," noted Beauchamp, who co-founded the Riverside Shakespeare Company in 1999 with Dungjen.
"Much Ado About Nothing" debuted for a five-show run Saturday night at Hannah Park, drawing nearly 200 people to the grassy slopes despite the overcast skies. Another 150 people sweated out a show on the steamy Sunday evening. A performance tonight at the Michigan Legacy Art Park in Thompsonville plus two more at Hannah Park this weekend will complete the run. Four area musicians are rotating duties to provide accompaniment during the shows.
"It's a great setting for it," said Fred Goldenberg of Bellaire Saturday evening.
Goldenberg, his wife Debbie and two other couples set up a picnic banquet at the natural amphitheater, setting up chairs and tables and unpacking everything from hors d'oeuvres to a main course. Shakespeare fans all, they relished the combination of nature, theater and dinner.
"I think anywhere that you can enjoy Shakespeare is fun," added Goldenberg. "Anytime you can enjoy friends, food and the Bard, it's great."
After presenting "Macbeth" last year, their first foray into drama, Riverside Shakespeare founders wanted to return to lighthearted fare. Previous productions included "Twelfth Night," "Love's Labor Lost," and "A Midsummer Night's Dream."
"There are lots of comedies still to do, but we probably will do a drama every third year," noted Beauchamp, who has acted in five of the six productions.
Beauchamp and Dungjen chose this play shortly after "Macbeth" closed last year and tapped Jan Dalton for directorial duties. Dalton had previously performed in an Old Town Playhouse production of "Much Ado About Nothing."
He relished the chance to present it in the more informal setting of Riverside Shakespeare. The ducks quacking, motorcycles roaring, planes laboring overhead and passing pedestrians are part of the scene. Even the picnicking audience pays homage to Shakespearean tradition.
"Actually, it's a lot of fun when they picnic, because people in Shakespeare's time would bring things to eat and they would throw it if they didn't like something," Dalton said. "You just have to focus and concentrate and it's a complete gamble when you do the show, there's motorcycles and the rain of course. But you just have to deal with it."
"That's what they did in Shakespeare's time, unless they get obnoxious or abusive, you just have to keep going," he added.
An actor at heart, Dalton culled some of the longer dialogue and trimmed obscure language, estimating he cut 30 minutes from the play. He met his goal of keeping the play just under two hours, including an intermission, to make it more accessible.
"Cutting is painful but it's more about getting people to enjoy it," said Dalton, who held most rehearsals in the park since May. "It's all about having people understand it and having a good time, getting everything that was being said and the joie de vivre."
Dalton points to a 1993 Kenneth Branagh production of "Much Ado About Nothing" as an inspiration. He also watched numerous other versions of the play, featuring a variety of settings and interpretations, to give him additional perspective on the show.
"I'm always looking for different wrinkles that people did," he said.
"Much Ado About Nothing" will be presented tonight at the Michigan Legacy Art Park at Crystal Mountain in Thompsonville. In addition, it will play on the following dates at Hannah Park, Sixth and Union Streets: Saturday, July 30 and Sunday, July 31. All shows begin at 6 p.m. and admission is free but donations are encouraged.