‘Much Ado’ at ASF is enjoyable and spectacular

If you have got any doubts about why the theater in Montgomery is named The Alabama Shakespeare Festival and is Alabama’s state theater, the present manufacturing of Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” ought to put them to relaxation.

This is Shakespeare performed properly and performed giant; elaborate and delightful units, attractive costumes, an enormous forged, sensible actors, fantastic route, pretty music. This is a dream manufacturing. It has every little thing one might hope for, and possibly extra – I’m unsure one of many dance or music numbers couldn’t have been minimize to streamline the manufacturing.

Still, the result’s each enjoyable and spectacular.

This is one among Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies and it’s straightforward to see why.

The setting for this manufacturing is the summer season of 1919, as the popular, victorious navy commander and nobleman Don Pedro (Chauncy Thomas) and his troopers return to Messina, Italy.

More: Find 2026 Easter egg hunts and occasions within the Montgomery space

One of those troopers, the younger, dashing and inexperienced Claudio (Feliz Torrez-Ponce) falls immediately for the attractive Hero (Sigrid Wise), the daughter of Leonato (J.D. Webster) and seeks her hand in marriage. His buddy, self-professed everlasting bachelor Benedick (Christopher Gerson) resumes his relationship with Hero’s cousin, Beatrice (Tarah Flanagan) – an disagreeable relationship. She is as cussed, as acerbic and as witty as he’s, and the 2 battle and insult one another consistently. They have had a previous relationship and are decided to not have a future one, however their pals surprise in the event that they – to steal a line from one other Shakespeare play – “doth protest too much.”

What evolves are two utterly totally different love tales. There is the extra standard love-at-first-sight love story of Claudio and Hero, and the already-did-that-once-and-won’t-do-it-again romance of Benedick and Beatrice, who loudly profess their lack of fondness for each romance basically and one another specifically. Surprisingly, Shakespeare appears to be saying that the latter, less-innocent love is the stronger, for Claudio rejects the love of Hero as rapidly as he sought it, whereas Benedick stays true to Beatrice.

The play not solely accommodates two forms of loves however two forms of plots and deceptions: Don Pedro and a gaggle of pals attempt to trick Benedick and Beatrice into believing that the opposite’s harsh phrases are solely an try and disguise how madly the opposite continues to be in love with them. Don Pedro’s evil brother Don Jon (Patrick Halley) schemes with a gaggle of villains to trick Claudio into considering Hero has been untrue the night time earlier than their supposed marriage ceremony. So there are two plots, one to destroy love and the opposite to create it.

Director Bruce Longworth, who many will keep in mind for his gorgeous ASF manufacturing of “Our Town,” pulls the story and all its parts collectively, and there are great parts to drag collectively. Josh Smith’s scenic design is gorgeous. Leonato’s restaurant is a beautiful provincial two-story set full with outside tables, an enormous fountain, and a mess of crops. Brien Seyle’s and Matt Pace’s music is gorgeous and seems all through the manufacturing. The 1919-era costumes from Dottie Marshall Englis are great, from the colourful uniforms to the attractive clothes.  

But most gorgeous is the performing. It’s universally good, however there are standouts. Wise and Torrez-Ponce are wonderful as one of many {couples}, and he’s significantly good throughout his grief scene.

I used to be curious to see how well-known TV comic French Stewart, who received acclaim in exhibits akin to “Third Rock From the Sun” and “Mom,” would do with one among Shakespeare’s funniest characters. Stewart, who additionally has appreciable theater expertise, performs Dogberry, a constable who appears equal components pleasure and malapropisms. As the constable, Stewart ought to have arrested himself as a result of he steals each scene he’s in. He nearly turns a policeman’s whistle into its personal comedian character.

More: Where to see stay music round Montgomery for April 2-8

Still, the performances on which the play relies upon are the actors taking part in Benedick and Beatrice. It can be straightforward to heap reward upon reward on the performances of Gerson and Flanagan (They are each extremely good and have been nice in quite a few ASF productions), however the final reward is that they make their relationship, the important thing a part of the play, work so properly on stage. They handle to take the initially outlandish characters and create romantic performances that resonate with the viewers, lifting up all the manufacturing.

This manufacturing makes “Much Ado” about one among Shakespeare’s nice comedies, and also you received’t wish to miss it.

How to get tickets for ‘Much Ado About Nothing’

The Alabama Shakespeare Festival’s “Much Ado About Nothing” runs by means of April 5 on the Festival Stage. Recommended for ages 12 and up. For tickets, name the field workplace at 334-271-5353 or go to asf.net.