‘Much Ado About Nothing’ in parks
Repercussion Theatre’s 29th Shakespeare-in-the-park
From July 13 to August 15 inclusive, Repercussions Theatre presents Much Ado About Nothing for its annual family-friendly Shakespeare-in-the-park (SITP) tour.
The show will be in Knowlton on July 15 at 7 p.m.
Directed by Repercussion’s Artistic Director Amanda Kellock, the production blends seasoned and emerging actors and designers to create a magical evening of theatre under the stars. Continuing its expansion into new neighbourhoods, Repercussion adds Greenfield Park, Town of Mount Royal, Lasalle and Rivière-des-prairies to the tour, along with Cornwall, Ontario. (Please see the full schedule below.)
Much Ado About Nothing examines deception and gender inequality through a confluence of plot lines. Claudio, a young soldier returned from war, asks Don Pedro to woo the beautiful Hero on his behalf but once won, Claudio’s affections quickly vanish when he is falsely led to believe that Hero has cheated on him. Meanwhile Beatrice and Benedick, committed bachelors, humorously illuminate the downside of traditional gender roles through an ongoing and rigorous battle of wits. Claudio’s instant attraction to Hero, his public renunciation and eventual betrothal highlight the fickle side of love yet, as powerful in its vulnerability as it is comical in its capriciousness, love triumphs over treachery in the end, and both couples are happily united.
Director Amanda Kellock elaborates on the play’s themes. “This play involves good people making bad choices, hurting those they care about and their actions are so extreme it’s hard to imagine any form of reconciliation. But in order to do this play we have to ask ourselves: ‘How do we truly atone for our mistakes? How does forgiveness work? How do we keep moving towards each other, even when it feels impossibly hard?’ Audiences might watch the show and think, ‘I would have known better!’, but as Benedick says, ‘Everyone can master a grief but he that has it.’”
Dakota Jamal Wellman, a recent Bishop’s University graduate who toured with Geordie Productions this past season, is the young and impressionable Claudio, who falls for the beautiful and chaste, Hero,