One of Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies, Much Ado About Nothing, receives a fresh, fast-paced treatment in EclecticPond’s production. Polly Heinkel, co-founder of EclecticPond, sets the play in the 1920s, when the boys were coming back from World War I, and women had just gained the right to vote and were finding their public voice — an ideal setting for a play about an outspoken woman (Beatrice) verbally jousting with a returning soldier (Benedick).
The play begins with Don Pedro (Lisa Anderson) returning from war with soldiers Benedick (Jeremy Grimmer) and Claudio (David Marlowe), welcomed by Leonata (Sarah Holland Froehlke) and her daughter Hero (Meagan Matlock) and niece Beatrice (Kate Homan). Claudio has fallen in love with the sweet and innocent Hero, and a marriage is hastily arranged. Beatrice and Benedick, however, trade verbal barbs and insults, declaring they will never marry — much to the amusement of observers. Don Pedro, Leonata, and Claudio conspire to bring the two sharp-tongued “frenemies” together before the Hero/Claudio wedding, hoping to make it a double event. Benedick overhears that Beatrice has declared her love for him, and Beatrice hears that Benedick loves her. However, things backfire when mean-spirited Don John (Elysia Rohn) hatches a plan to besmirch Hero. Don John’s messenger Borachio (Zack Neiditch) and Margaret (Janice Hibbard) set up a compromising scene just before the wedding. Claudio accuses the innocent Hero at the altar and leaves, while Beatrice and Leonata comfort the shattered Hero. Beatrice confronts Benedick about his friendship with Claudio, demanding that he choose sides, which he does — breaking his ties with Claudio. Leonata falsely gives out that Hero has died from grief, hoping to expose the liars responsible for her daughter’s aborted wedding. In the meantime, the not-so-clever watch (Janice Hibbard and Elysia Rohn) have caught the conspirators responsible for setting up Hero, and Dogberry (Ben Schuetz) turns them over to Leonata and Don Pedro. The bereaved Claudio agrees to marry Leonata’s niece, who is the very spitting image of Hero — and discovers it is actually Hero. Benedick and Beatrice declare their love for each other, and the play ends with merriment.
EclecticPond has a habit of bringing in gifted actors and letting them loose. Schuetz’s Dogberry is part Pink Panther’s Inspector Clouseau, with hilarious results. Homan, who has been in several EclecticPond productions, has great chemistry with Grimmer — the two really bring Shakespeare’s zingers to life. In fact, the entire cast is tight and focused on bringing out the best in one of the Bard’s funniest plays.
Much Ado About Nothing runs Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and a special performance on Father’s Day, June 16 at 5:30 p.m. at the Irvington Lodge, 5515 E. Washington St. Tickets are $14 in advance, $18 at the door. Visit www.EclecticPond.org to order tickets.