Appleton East stages updated Shakespeare play 'Much Ado About Nothing'. Here's what to know
What: Appleton East presents Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing”
When: 7 p.m. April 18 and 19; and 2 and 7 p.m. April 20
Where: Appleton East High School Auditorium, 2121 E. Emmers Drive, Appleton.
Admission: $10 at AEPatriotPlayers.org, or 920-215-0551
Background: The Patriot Players take Shakespeare’s classic rom-com back to the future. Picture this: it’s the totally tubular 1980s, and love is, like, the raddest game in Messina. The boys are back in town and ready to mingle. Hero and Claudio are ready to, like, totally tie the knot, but the wicked Don John throws some major shade, causing mondo drama. Meanwhile, Don Pedro meddles and manufactures sparks to fly between the too-cool Beatrice and the class clown Benedick, who trade gnarly banter. Can they stop bickering long enough to catch the love bug? It’s a righteous rollercoaster of romance, misunderstandings, and totally tubular tunes.
"Much Ado About Nothing" is Shakespeare’s ultimate romantic comedy, revolving around two romantic pairings and packed full of dramatic misunderstandings, flirty banter, and in typical Shakespearean style – plenty of weddings. The play also deals with gossip, rumors, and secrets, which lead to drama between the couples.
What they’re saying: “Even more than usual, with Shakespeare, we as actors have to understand the context of the scenes very clearly in order to bring them to life for an audience,” said sophomore Brenna Rades, who plays Antonia. “We did this by spending time paraphrasing the original text and finding ways to relate the story to our lives today. It has been a good challenge for us all!”
Take-home message: “We are so excited to bring this vibrant retro adaptation of ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ to the East stage,” said director Amanda Petersen. “The play deals with many relatable topics, but as the characters navigate their relationships, the message of the importance of communication, and the true nature of love shines through. In the end, ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ reminds us that sometimes, the biggest dramas in life are the ones we create ourselves.”
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Appleton East stages Shakespeare's 'Much Ado About Nothing'
