Reviews: Much Ado About Nothing at Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High School
Written by Sarah Custer of Colgan High School
The reel starts rolling as the lights dim. The year is 1950. The audience takes their seats as the American sailors come marching along to a small town in Italy. This is Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High School's Production of "Much Ado About Nothing."
Much Ado About Nothing is a witty romance written by Shakespeare. This show is about the playful relationship between Beatrice and Benedick and their romantic story amongst the chaos. Meanwhile, Hero and Claudio fight for each other's love even through misunderstandings and fake dramatic deaths. Their inspiration was the 1993 film "Much Ado", which used a bright concept to adapt to the younger generations.
Benedick (Luke Williams) is a sailor who swore off love, but after he meets eyes with Beatrice, all that changes. He comically tiptoes around the stage, slipping behind different objects to keep hidden, while he eagerly hears what his comrades have to say about his girl. Benedick and Beatrice (Emma Ramer) show their growing love for each other through their witty jokes. Both actors make the audience roar by using the whole performance space while telling stories and through their comedic timing.
Beatrice (Emma Ramer) is a sarcastic woman who will do anything for her cousin Hero (Elizabeth Vezina). Ramer's posture throughout the show made Beatrice appear strong and loving. Standing tall when speaking about her beliefs but crouching down to comfort her cousin in her time of need. Ramer elevated Beatrice's sarcastic punchlines by her dramatic curtsies towards her uncle and her fleeing from Benedick has he tries to catch up. Ramer truly connected to Beatrice's sorrow on behalf of her cousin through her tears.
The Watch or the Nonna's (Laurel Heath, Sophia Manley Kristanc, Annaliese Gisla, Olivia Root, and Gianna Starrs) were the comedic relief of this show. They used every minute of stage time to make the audience laugh, from hiding behind benches to beating the sailors with kitchenware. The Nonnas took advantage of the space by chasing the Russian sailors across the stage while holding various objects such as a frying pan, a wooden spoon, and spatulas. This ensemble took physical comedy to another level by playing off each other as once innocent old ladies to feisty Nonnas.
The Dramaturgy Lead (Hannah Malinowksi) thoroughly researched and helped execute the staging of this show set in Italy in the 1950s during the Cold War. Malinowski focused on maintaining the 1950s Italian time period. Malinowski took inspiration from the 1990s film "Much Ado" and used the bright concepts with the 1950s Italian accuracy. Photos were taken of the cast that were angled like a 50s film. They used old photos and drawings from the American side of the Cold War and applied those concepts to the costumes, photography, and introduction film.
The Special Effects team (Dominic Brunsman, Robert Lindsey, and the JP News Reel Crew) used film projections to set the 1950s Cold War tone of the show. With adult support, they designed, edited, and recorded their own film, which was a mixture of real clips during the time of the show, as well as video clips of the actors that they edited to set the tone. The classic black-and-white film explained background knowledge with various songs from the period. Instead of blackouts, the special effects team decided to fade in and fade out in both the lights and sound cues to continue their 50's film-like story.
This concept and show were an unexpected, hilarious pairing. This was Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High School's production of "Much Ado About Nothing", straight out of a 50s film.
Written by Maddie Meshanko of Hayfield Secondary School
Hop on your Vespa and journey down to a sun-drenched Sicilian villa, where lies spark laughter and truth sparks chaos! A story of love, rivalry, and skirmishes of wit, Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High School's production of Much Ado About Nothing brings a warm Mediterranean charm and a modern take to the beloved Shakespearean classic.
First published in 1600 as a quarto edition and later included in Shakespeare's First Folio, Much Ado About Nothing tells the tale of both playful and villainous deception as one couple is swindled into a romance, while another is torn apart. The show follows Beatrice and Benedick as their battle of wit slowly evolves from a 'merry war' to a deep attraction with the help of some spirited matchmaking. Meanwhile, a malicious lie tricks Claudio into believing that Hero has been unfaithful, leading to heartbreak, reconciliation, and a fake death.
In the midst of his friend's trickery, Benedick (Luke Williams) scurries from behind potted plants to the shadows of the villa in a hilarious attempt at stealth and eavesdropping, which culminates in his eventual dive behind a stone fountain. It is in this scene that he learns of Beatrice's alleged affections for him, and his exaggerated reactions set the tone for his transformation from aggravating arrogance to immutable charm. Williams's performance expertly brought nuance to the role of Benedick and was a refreshing presence with his impeccable comedic timing. Emma Ramer mesmerized audiences as the fiercely independent Beatrice with her quick wit, commanding presence, and emotional execution in scenes such as when the lovely Hero had been disgraced, bringing raw feeling to the stage. Her chemistry with Williams was incomparable, as apparent in their delightful trading of jests and amusing banter.
Elizabeth Vezina's portrayal of Hero's lovestruck innocence made her shame-riddled collapse all the more heartbreaking. Her soft way of speaking and ready smile, paired with the bubbly mischief she brought in Hero's trickery, established her as a particularly endearing presence. Vezina expertly captured Hero's adoration for Claudio (Patrick Kurrus) through her unabashed grin or loving gaze during their waltz. The Prince of Aragon, Don Pedro, was played by Gunnar Quinn, who comedically captured the essence of the scheming noble. Pedro's plan to hoodwink Benedick was punctuated by Quinn's undeniable energy and hilarious delivery, eliciting gales of laughter with every wisecrack.
From Benedick's bold tattoo to the timely soft curls seen onstage, the hair and makeup team (Ella Frey) went above and beyond for this production with their incredible attention to detail. Whether it was the way that Hero's soft look contrasted with Beatrice's bold lips and pinned updo, or Benedick's loss of the original stubble to represent his newfound seriousness, hair and makeup was a key vessel of storytelling and character.
Captained by Robert Lindsey, the sound crew for this production was instrumental in immersing the audience in not only the show but the subsequent time period as well. Impressively, the sound effects were completely student-designed. Music could be heard during scene changes and important moments that emphasised the 50's setting while also elevating the mood on stage, bringing a sense of depth to the scenery that created a wondrous atmosphere.
With hilarious physicality and electric chemistry, performers showcased an admirable understanding of the renowned Shakespearean comedy. Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High School's reinterpretation of Much Ado About Nothing had audiences leaving "as merry as the day is long."